Travelers who used to enjoy Da Nang, Vietnam only for its beaches and resort pools can find a different kind of retreat on the Son Tra Peninsula. A luxury resort that blends nature, architecture, and culinary content sits on the peninsula north of Da Nang.
It is the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, designed by world-renowned architect Bill Bensley. Here, visitors can have a more varied experience. Walk through a forest home to endangered wildlife, meditate on the water, and dine in a Michelin-starred restaurant in the evening.
Architect Bill Bensley designed each space inspired by Vietnamese traditional architecture and temples, fishing villages, and colonial-era buildings.
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort was developed on 39 hectares on the Son Tra Peninsula north of Da Nang. The resort consists of four levels—Heaven, Sky, Earth, and Sea—and a funicular links the forest and the sea.
The hanging seating at Citron restaurant was inspired by the Vietnamese traditional hat, the non la. Those who want a closer look at the resort's design can join the Bill Bensley digital design tour.
Nearby are UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Ancient Town of Hoi An, the Imperial City of Hue, and the My Son Sanctuary. The Son Tra Peninsula where the resort sits is also called Monkey Mountain. It is also a habitat of the endangered red-shanked douc langur.
The resort runs programs with experts to explore the ecology of the Son Tra Peninsula. They include a roughly three-hour hike to an 800-year-old banyan tree, a 1-kilometer eco-walk, and a wildlife expedition to the summit of Mount Son Tra.
From the summit, after passing through dense primeval forest, the city of Da Nang and the sea come into full view. Unlike a stay spent only inside the resort, the standout feature is using the natural environment itself as travel content.
Wellness programs have also been strengthened. At the on-site Mi Sol Spa, sound therapy using tuning forks is offered. In the oceanfront yoga pavilion, guests can experience sound meditation and frequency yoga.
Recently, the resort also introduced aqua yoga and aqua sound baths conducted on the water. In addition, five pickleball courts were added so guests can enjoy both exercise and relaxation.
The resort has six restaurants and bars.
A signature spot is the Michelin-starred restaurant La Maison 1888. The French fine-dining restaurant is led by Christian Le Squer, chosen as the 2023 Gault & Millau Chef of the Year.
At Tigra, a teppanyaki restaurant set above the jungle, guests can enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine with 360-degree views. Citron serves Vietnamese traditional dishes, while Terra Mare offers cuisine from Italy's coastal regions. At Long Bar, guests can take in ocean views with cocktails.
The resort also highlighted accessibility for Korean tourists. From Korea, Da Nang is reachable via direct flights not only from Incheon but also from major cities such as Busan, Cheongju, and Daegu. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in the first half of this year 2.16 million Korean tourists visited Vietnam.