Evason Hideaway & Six Senses Spa at Ana Mandara

On verdant hills that seem to tumble down to the sea, 54 thatched-roof villas face Ninh Van Bay’s natural rock formations, which stand like sentries in the distance. The 2004-built Evason Hideaway at Ana Mandara Resort, sited on a pristine 600-acre lot on a peninsula that can be reached only by boat, takes its design cues from traditional Vietnamese architecture, with exposed, thatched ceilings and teak-and-bamboo four-poster beds. Even the construction methods are traditional: local craftsmen used only interlocking wood (no glue or nails) throughout the property. Rooms have private plunge pools carved into boulders, teak daybeds, and panoramic views (especially from the Hilltop villas). Competing with the view is the Six Senses Spa, where holistic remedies and yoga classes are performed beside the rhythmic sea.