Azerai La Residence, Hue, the historic hotel overlooking the fabled Perfume River in central Vietnam, has been named one of the world’s “500 Best Hotels” by the industry-leading, U.S.-based Travel + Leisure magazine.
Azerai, part of legendary hotelier Adrian Zecha’s latest portfolio, is one of only 12 hotels in Vietnam to receive the honor – and the only one in the country’s former imperial capital. The “World’s Best” awards, which were announced in Travel + Leisure’s May 2026 issue, are among the most prestigious accolades in international travel.
“Azerai believes a great hotel should do more than provide a place to stay. It should reshape how guests experience their destination,” said General Manager Minh Phan Trong. “That’s why our guiding philosophy is simple: The destination is just the beginning.”
“Earning a spot on Travel + Leisure’s ‘500 Best Hotels’ for 2026 reaffirms that our approach resonates, and we are excited to welcome more travelers and help them feel genuinely at home during their stay,” Minh added.
The 122-room Azerai La Residence, Hue is centered on a colonial mansion that was 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.
The honor from Travel + Leisure follows other major accolades for Azerai La Residence, Hue. The hotel was named one of Vietnam’s best hotels last year by The Times of London. MICHELIN also recognized Azerai La Residence, Hue as one of the Guide’s top boutique hotels in northern Vietnam for cultural getaways.
Minh was named Vietnam’s “General Manager of the Year” in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia-Pacific 2025 and Azerai was honored as one of Vietnam’s best upcountry hotels.
Last month, Azerai La Residence, Hue and its sister property, Azerai Ke Ga Bay, a bayside all-suites-and-villas resort in southern Vietnam, both became new members of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World,” an exclusive collection of unique international boutique properties.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay was awarded a prestigious MICHELIN Key in October last year in the Guide’s inaugural Vietnam edition and it was also named one of Southeast Asia’s best boutique hotels by The Times. The resort was also voted the “Most Instagrammable Hotel” in Asia-Pacific in a contest sponsored by Luxury Travel Advisor.
