La Residencia . A Little Boutique Hotel & Spa

Although the hotel first opened in November 2015, La Residencia’s design stems from a description found in the personal diary of a local woman who lived with her Portuguese husband in Hoi An in the 19th century. The notebook, retrieved from a trunk several decades later, contained a detailed account of both the interior and exterior of the family home, and was used by a relative of the couple to design the hotel. As a result, La Residencia combines traditional local elements such as colorful lanterns, dark-wood furniture, painted floor tiles, and traditional pottery ornaments, with Portuguese colonial architectural characteristics and decor touches, including big arched windows and doorways, and bamboo cane barrel chairs. 

Towering above most of its neighbors and located half a block from the river, La Residencia used to have expansive views of the surrounding area. But in 2016 construction of a large hotel began right next door, blocking the view from many of its rooms, and leaving its pool, which was fully covered but outdoors, entirely in the shade. What used to be an empty lot is now a similarly sized building, and the space between both structures is now a narrow courtyard. The hotel, however, has gone to great lengths to make it appealing, and has decorated it with tons of lanterns and plants. When we visited in late March 2017, the building next door was still under construction, and some guests complained that it could be loud during the day. It is for this reason (and, to be fair, also due to the hotel’s proximity to the Ancient Town) that, although it was fully booked, La Residencia emptied out after breakfast. The vast majority of the guests we saw were European couples and families, but the hotel is mostly popular with Asian tourists in the summer.

La Residencia is a great upscale pick with reasonable rates, but those on a tighter budget may want to consider the Royal Riverside Hoi An Hotel, which is located nearby and has a similar style. The Essence Hoi An Hotel and Spa is a more luxurious and family-friendly option with two pools, two solid restaurants, and elegant rooms. For about the same price as La Residencia, the Hoi An Historic Hotel is a livelier property with a bigger pool. 

La Residencia is just outside of the compact pedestrian area in Hoi An’s Ancient Town. There aren’t any restaurants or cafes on the hotel’s block, but many can be found less than a five-minute walk away. All major historic attractions in the Ancient Town can be reached on foot, including the Japanese Bridge, Hoi An’s most recognizable landmark, which is less than 10 minutes from the hotel. The night market, the Museum of Trade Ceramics, and all of the Old Houses are within a 15-minute walk of the hotel. The Vegetable Village is a 10-minute drive away, and the stunning Marble Mountains can be reached in about half an hour by car. The hotel offers free shuttle service to An Bang Beach several times per day. Danang International Airport is a 45-minute drive away.

Decorated with the same elegant mix of Portuguese colonial and local style as the rest of the property, the rooms at La Residencia are charming and classic. Handsome wood furniture, painted floor tiles, traditional pottery, and antique-style rotary phones combine with a few pops of color and big images of Hoi An to create stylish spaces that transport guests back to a bygone era. Lower-category Junior Suites are a roomy 430 square feet, complete with a couch, a big desk, and a spacious built-in closet. Residence Suites are the only other room type here, offering small seating nooks, bigger bathrooms, and a few extra decor touches, such as four-poster beds and embroidered and lattice screens. All Residencia Suites are located on the corners of the building.

Each room is equipped with free Wi-Fi, a big flat-screen TV with international channels, electric kettles, and individually controlled air-conditioning. Minibars are stocked with several types of beer, a few sodas, and water, and snacks are available for purchase on small trays. Free water is provided daily, as are small sachets of tea and instant coffee. All rooms have a furnished balcony, some overlooking the river and the city. However, since the construction of the next-door hotel, many have views of the small space between buildings. This makes some of them a tad dark, and while the courtyard has been decorated with lanterns and plants, some guests may find the lack of exterior views a little disappointing. 

Bathrooms are also classic in style, with white tiles throughout, marble countertops, wooden accents in cabinets and mirrors, and antique-style copper taps. Junior Suites have spacious glass walk-in rain showers, while Residencia Suites have rain showers and deep stand-alone tubs.

Amenities at La Residencia cover all the basics for leisure travelers. The hotel has an outdoor pool big enough for laps in the back of the property, but although it is pleasant and the water is heated in the winter, the entire pool is covered. While this is convenient in the rainy season, the deck gets no sun whatsoever, which may be less than ideal for those looking to sunbathe. The air-conditioned fitness center is located right off the pool and is spacious and well-lit. It offers a wide array of modern cardio and strength-training machines, as well as several sets of free weights. 

The restaurant has a couple dozen tables in a lovely space off the lobby, decorated with bright red walls, elegant wooden furniture, painted wooden ceilings, traditional pottery displayed on shelves, and black-and-white photos of local scenes. There are also a few tables on a skinny bi-level terrace with lanterns, trees, and umbrellas. All rates include a varied, tasty breakfast buffet with a range of local and international options, such as pho, fried rice, eggs, sausages, fish dishes, Vietnamese pancakes, and lots of fresh fruit. Good Vietnamese cuisine is served for lunch and dinner, and the bar has a drink menu with local and imported beers, wine, liquor, sodas, and juices. Room service is available 24/7. 

Located on the second floor, the spa is small but charming, with dim lighting, a soft, fresh scent, and four treatments rooms, including one for couples. There is also a separate room for foot massages and salon services, including waxing. Guests booking a body treatment can use the sauna free of charge.