Follow your nose and you’ll come to a bar, a couple of restaurants and a library, all high on wooded stilts to give views of sea and ridge. But the villas are hard to beat and guests often stay by their pool, with room service bringing whatever they need. You get big bathrooms with showers in the garden, sitting rooms with enormous daybeds and bedrooms with exquisite views. Excursions can also be planned, as can snorkelling, diving or dinner on a private beach.
Highs
- The sense of seclusion is magical
- You'll find luxury at every turn: this is the real thing
- The villas are out of this world (as you’d expect given the price) and they're huge, 150 sq.m.+
- You will need to look far and wide to find a better bathroom
- There are no cars at the resort, though there are bikes and buggies (bliss)
Lows
- Most guests tend to chill out at their villas, so it’s not a particularly social place
- The food doesn’t quite match the splendour of the resort, and the lighting is low - perhaps too low
- With so many villas, it's larger than most i-escape properties
- Some villas are close together so you sometimes lock eyes with your neighbours
Best time to go
Our top tips
- Luxury Resort
- 66 rooms
- Restaurants and bar (open daily)
- Best for ages 6+
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Tennis Court
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
There are various beautiful private villas, most strung out along the shoreline. The landscape that cradles them adds to the aesthetic appeal, making them beautiful inside and out. Predominantly made of wood and glass, large sliding doors bring in the views and flood the rooms with light.
The Beachfront Pool Villas (1 or 2 bedrooms) have a pool terrace and a path leading down to the beach (a casual 30-second stroll from bed to sea). Big airy bedrooms house crisp linen sheets and glass doors opening out onto loungers and parasols. Though (like some of the Hilltop Villas) this area lacks a sea view due to the curtain of clipped greenery that ensures privacy. The sitting room is upstairs and open to the breeze, giving long views over the bay. Bathrooms are out of this world, with huge metre-deep wooden tubs and deluge showers in extremely private gardens.
The Hilltop Villas have a completely separate wooden lounge pavilion that opens onto a huge deck and pool. They come with exquisite views of the ocean. Some are set back from the water (slightly limiting the views) but most are up on the hill, with vistas stretching across treetops and out to sea. There's also a 3-bedroom Hilltop Reserve with an enormous infinity pool gazing over the bay.
The Water Villas (connected by small ferry boats operated on a rope system) and Rock Villas seem to paddle in the ocean and have rather good views of the East Vietnam Sea. Infinity pools hang in the rocks, scoring maximum wow factor points. There are steps from the Water Villas straight down to the sea, while wild rock formations shield the Rock Villas from the outside world, giving nothing but views of the sea and the ridge. The pavilions, which hang above the water, have an ensuite shower room and can be made up as an extra bedroom at night.
The Rock Retreat and The Water Reserve are enormous, hidden away on the rocks at the far end of the resort. They each have their own jetty and three large bedrooms. The pool in The Rock Retreat is surrounded by wild boulders, the one in The Water Reserve is suspended over the sea.
On a purely subjective basis, the Rock Villas, Beachfront Pool Villas and Hilltop Villas tickled our fancy the most (and in that order).
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Coffee / tea making
- DVD player
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Plunge pool
- Safe box
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
Potter up to the restaurant and you find more fabulous views; not a bad place to scoff your bacon and eggs. The breakfast menu offers the full excess of patisserie and cereals, fresh fruits and juices, cold meats and cheeses and cooked favourites.
A relaxed lunch menu is served all day poolside, packed with comfort food (salads, pizzas, pasta, cheeseburgers, baguettes and toasted sandwiches), along with a tempting selection of cocktails. Dinner is a more formal affair and available in two locations. The main restaurant is Dining by the Bay, a split-level space on the water's edge serving up Asian-fusion dishes. This is the best for families. The second choice is Dining by the Rocks where local meat and seafood are the stars, and the setting is more intimate (only kids aged 12 and over are allowed to maintain a peaceful atmosphere).
If you want a special meal, you can have a BBQ in your villa (or on the beach if you’re staying in a Beachfront Pool Villa). Alternatively, dine by candlelight at the end of the jetty or in the very groovy wine cellar, which is built between the rocks. A 6-course tasting menu is available here with a separate glass of wine with each course. For those who want to go further afield, meals can be arranged on a private beach or in a secluded cove, where you eat on giant slabs of rock.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Kids' meals
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Pamper yourself: the Six Senses Spa is set back from the beach at the foot of the mountain that rises behind. A full menu of facials, pedicures, massage and scrubs is available
- Take a boat trip over to the Five Islands, where you’ll find some of the best reef snorkelling in the area. You can get your PADI while staying here
- Complimentary yoga lessons take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 8-9am
- Take a cooking lesson with the resort's experts
- Head to the life centre at the jetty and check out all the water toys: kayaks and windsurfers are free for guests. You can also water ski, try a hob-cat or sail a catamaran
- Go on a champagne sunset cruise - the ultimate in romance
- Learn to meditate or brush up your Tai Chi
- Three streams fall down the mountain and work their way into the sea. You can hike up them into the hills, find natural swimming holes and even scale the summit. Hot work though!
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cooking classes
- Golf
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Private guided tours
- Scuba diving
- Scuba diving courses
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Well being
- Windsurfing
- Yoga
Kids
Although all ages are welcome, we would not recommend this resort for children under 6 as most of the villas have steep staircases with unfenced balconies and/or ledges which overlook the bay from heights of up to 20 metres. That said, there is a complimentary kids' club daily, and no charge for using existing beds
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
The Beachfront Pool Villas and Two-Bedroom Pool Villas are the best option for those staying with children. The Rock Retreat and The Water Reserve both sleep up to 9 people, and have water slides into the pool that kids would love; sit directly above the water so young children will need to be monitored.
Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Daytime babysitting is available via the kids' club, or you can book a private babysitter to you villa - charges may apply
Creche/Kid's Club:
The complimentary Vooc Village club runs from 8.00am until 6.00pm daily. Children can make use of a large playhouse with games, a soft corner, arts ‘n’ crafts, and a whole host of games. Outside, there's a Pirate's Lair playground and a great selection of activities including beach games, photography lessons, and traditional Vietnamese music.
Children's meals:
Children's menu available. Kids 5 and under eat for free from the children's menu. Kids of 6-11 can also dine from the regular menu at a 50% discount
Families Should Know:
Be aware that the beach is not supervised
Distances:
- Airport: 1 hour
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is situated on the dramatic Ninh Van Bay, close to Nha Trang on the east coast of Vietnam, and is accessible only by water.
By Air:
Cam Ranh (65km away, near Nha Trang) is the closest airport. It's served by domestic airlines from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang (from other cities you will have to go via the above three). If you're coming from Europe, you'll probably fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. From these airports you can either transfer onto an internal flight or travel overland to Nha Trang if you're planning a longer trip. Click on the links below for a list of airlines.
From the Airport:
Six Seasons Ninh Van Bay can collect you from the airport and take you to the reception on the mainland, where a private launch will be waiting to ferry you across. See Rates for more details.
Getting Around:
You may not want to leave the island, but if you do shuttles are available for an additional cost.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Vietnam and getting around
Airports:
- Nha Trang 65.0 km NHA
- Ho Chi Minh (Tan Son Nhat International) 450.0 km SGN
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 18.0 km
- Restaurant 18.0 km