Azerai Ke Ga Bay, an all-suites-and-villas oceanfront resort in southern Vietnam, overlooks a 5-kilometer stretch of sandy beach in a coastal area that’s renowned for its bustling little fishing port and fresh local seafood.
In one of Azerai’s most distinctive new resort activities, guests are invited to learn how to “Fish Like a Local.” The experience begins with a detailed briefing on the regional fishing culture, and guests then learn from expert guides the technique of casting a large traditional Vietnamese fishing net directly from the shore into the bay and – with any luck – haul in a fresh catch of fish.
For those wishing for an even more immersive fishing experience, the resort offers guests the opportunity to fish from a circular basket boat in the bay. Basket boats are an important part of the culture and tradition of coastal communities in southern Vietnam.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay General Manager Julian Moore says, “We have created these activities for our guests to echo Azerai’s hospitality philosophy, encapsulated in its tagline: ‘The destination is just the beginning.’”
“By blurring the boundaries between our properties and the abundant local culture that surrounds us, Azerai seeks to provide guests a moment to be at one with our host community. Azerai Ke Ga Bay’s ‘Fish Like a Local’ activity is a great example of this, as our guests have an opportunity to experience hands-on a way of Vietnamese life that’s been passed down for generations,” Moore says.
The activities are further complemented by Azerai Ke Ga Bay’s newly updated oceanfront cooking class inspired by coastal herbs, spices and catch-of-the-day ingredients. (The guests’ fishing haul isn’t part of the class but culturally ties the two activities together). Or guests can skip the preparation altogether and simply feast on a Vietnamese BBQ set menu featuring locally sourced seafood and classic southern-style marinades. Last year, Azerai Ke Ga Bay introduced private beachfront dining that offers the most exclusive way to enjoy the resort’s breezy seaside setting.
Located a comfortable 2.5-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City on a new highway, Azerai Ke Ga Bay is nestled amongst 5 hectares of verdant gardens, framed to the east by Hon Ba Island with its historic lighthouse and to the west by soaring sand dunes.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay was named one of Southeast Asia’s best boutique hotels by The Times (UK) in April, and it was voted the No. 2 “Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World” in March in a global contest sponsored by the U.S.-based magazine Luxury Travel Advisor.
Meanwhile, in historic central Vietnam, Azerai La Residence, Hue also offers exclusive new guest experiences that embrace local culture. The 122-room luxury heritage hotel has unveiled newly updated Vietnamese cooking classes with Executive Chef Nguyen Dong Hai, who was honored in April with the national title of “Master Culinary Artisan of Vietnam.” The cooking class spotlights homegrown local herbs from the hotel’s onsite garden and popular Hue specialties.
One standout option guests can choose to prepare is bánh khoái – a golden, crispy Hue royal-style pancake once served to emperors. A beloved local dish, bánh khoái reflects the elegance of Vietnam’s former imperial capital. Filled with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts, and served with a rich peanut dipping sauce made with ground peanuts, pork liver, sesame and fermented soy, it truly lives up to its name – “khoái,” meaning delight.
For a more comprehensive dining experience in the former seat of the Nguyen dynasty, hotel guests can don the costumes of king and queen and indulge in an “Imperial Feast” that features dishes once prepared for royal rulers. The meal is served at Le Parfum restaurant with Hue Royal Music playing in the background.
“Hue is the culinary capital of Vietnam, famous for its gastronomy. During the Nguyen dynasty, the Emperors summoned the finest chefs to the Citadel in Hue, creating a legacy of culinary excellence. As a result, Hue is home to roughly 2,000 of Vietnam’s approximately 3,000 national dishes,” Azerai La Residence, Hue General Manager Minh Phan Trong said.
The hotel also recently unveiled an exclusive new two-night stay package that takes guests on a sacred journey to the region’s most celebrated religious sites. The “Ancient Capital Pilgrimage Package” showcases central Vietnam’s deep spiritual heritage with a half-day tour in which guests immerse themselves in time-honored rituals and receive divine blessings and guidance.
Azerai La Residence, Hue is centered on a colonial mansion built in 1930 as part of the residence of the French Resident Superieur. The mansion’s distinctive façade, including its long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes, are hallmarks of the streamline moderne school of art deco architecture.
Azerai La Residence, Hue was recognized as one of Vietnam’s top 16 hotels for 2025 by The Times, one of the UK’s oldest daily newspapers.
