Tucked away on Vietnam’s south-eastern coast, the new Gran Meliá Nha Trang is the luxury respite all urbanites are looking for.
If French luxury is characterised by ostentation and British luxury by understated refinement, then the Gran Meliá Nha Trang epitomises Spanish luxury and the brand’s mantra “A life well lived”.
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Relaxation is the focus here so on arrival, attentive porters take charge of the luggage while we step into the airy lobby. Boasting captivating views across the hotel’s infinity pool and the ocean, the lobby is bathed in natural light, soft earthy tones, smooth curves, and subtly stylish furnishings that set the stage for the hotel’s tasteful interiors. A sense of calm immediately descends.
After an efficient check-in by welcoming staff, a butler—the service is woven into the Gran Meliá DNA—whisks us away to a sleek Deluxe One-Bedroom Beachfront Villa. Inside, the 180-sqm space features furnishings by Minotti, custom art, and a private terrace and pool (although it’s a little lacking in privacy) which envelop guests in comfort and seclusion.
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Still, it’s the little things that count, including handy USB-C and international outlets by the nightstands, 400-thread-count sheets, and a decadent bathroom sporting a dash of Spanish luxury in the form of Carner Barcelona amenities and ceramics by Spain’s Porcelanosa.
Similar details permeate all 94 villas at Gran Meliá Nha Trang, with configurations being the main difference. Clever partitioning allows villas to be split into studio-like rooms ideal for short stays or combined to offer groups more space. The ultimate indulgence, though, is the four Ocean Front Villas, boasting mesmerising sea views, a lavish sense of space, and individual design schemes—request the racing-inspired iteration that’s dressed in sleek lines and darker hues.
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Manifesting Gran Meliá’s vision of “Passionate gastronomy” is its sumptuous signature restaurant, Hispania. The first Asian outpost of the Michelin-starred Brussels restaurant by chef Marcos Moràn, Hispania showcases premium Spanish cuisine that fuses Hispanic flavours with local ingredients.
The fresh, seafood-driven menu is complemented by a curated wine selection and a resplendent but deceptively simple dining room. At its grand launch, three award-winning Spanish chefs joined Moràn to deliver an extravagant collaborative dinner featuring dishes like Barramundi Rice and Red Mullet Fritters paired with selections from Spain’s Muga winery.
In a quiet corner of the resort, Shibui celebrates refined kaiseki meals infused with ocean-fresh ingredients. The omakase experience surprises and delights in equal measure, with guests treated to indulgent dishes like a rich Foie Gras Truffle Chawanmushi or A4 Miyazaki marinated in balsamic teriyaki and grilled to medium-rare perfection.
Just beyond the lobby, Theia is the light-filled bar specialising in coffee mixology and craft cocktails—this is the place for potent Vietnamese coffees by day and decadent sangrias by night. Upstairs, seasonal Vietnamese cuisine is the focus of casual all-day dining destination Natura, but it is its breakfasts that are the real stars. Days ideally begin on the terrace, where guests enjoy sweeping ocean panoramas alongside a lavish international buffet supplemented by made-to-order hot dishes.
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Rounding out the facilities at Gran Meliá Nha Trang are wellness offerings that emphasise the brand’s focus on enjoying life’s simple pleasures. The elegant Song Spa might have just four treatment rooms, but there’s a full menu of indulgent rituals. The soothing Vietnamese Traditional Massage includes cupping to release all muscle tension and is best paired with time in the Turkish-style hammam. A dip in eight hot-and-cold plunge pools, hidden in the bathhouse overlooking the resort’s lagoon, extends that moment of zen.
You could spend your entire stay on the property, but for those who want to venture offsite, Gran Melià Nha Trang organises curated experiences that immerse guests in the local surroundings. Spend a relaxing morning on the water on a crewed catamaran, swimming at hidden beaches and indulging in a brunch of Vietnamese and Spanish-inspired snacks; or exploring historic Cham temples like Po Nagar. Next to the hotel, the Life Puppets show at the modern Do Theatre is a contemporary take on traditional water puppets and offers a quick 45-minute immersion into Vietnamese culture.
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With all its well-curated facilities and accommodations, Gran Melià Nha Trang is a convincing all-in-one stay in one of Vietnam’s up-and-coming holiday destinations. Guests can check-in and spend a few days unwinding in “Spanish luxury”. One thing to note, however, the resort is still creating its two onsite beaches, so guests must travel 15 minutes to Nha Trang to get their toes in the sand.
