Nam Hai

A high-design property has arrived on the South China Sea, and its sleek style is a testament to the impressive talent behind its inception. Aman resorts founder Adrian Zecha, French architect Reda Amalou, and Indonesian interior designer Jaya Ibrahim (whose past projects include the Chedi Milan) all collaborated on the Nam Hai’s 100 freestanding villas, which are made from local woods, with elaborate hand-carved screens, pressed-eggshell surfaces, and stone floors. The property sits on a remote beach in Central Vietnam outside the quaint town of Hoi An—once a 16th-century trading port—and houses three swimming pools and a spa with sublime overwater relaxation rooms. Cool extras include luscious wool-and-cotton-blend bathrobes and outdoor showers. Executive chef Christine Townsend’s eclectic dishes run the gamut from Vietnamese-style snapper carpaccio to Indian curry—helping to make this one of the most exciting newcomers around.