InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort - Where Myth Meets Luxury

    The latest escapade came as a result of an AIA incentive trip (or not). I was given a free trip to Danang, Vietnam for achieving a certain level of production. I've always intended to take the wifey along on this trip as Danang was one of the places she wanted to visit. However, the company didn't allow me to bring a partner (too many qualifiers, too little space). As a result, we ended up taking the trip on our own, separate from AIA. How glad we were that it turned out this way.

    InterContinental Danang is situated in the hills along the famous Son Tra Peninsula, away from the main city of Danang. The somewhat secluded location affords the resort it's own space, which includes a vast private beach. Our class of room gave us access to the Club InterContinental facilities, which included 24-hrs butler service, breakfast and afternoon tea, and 24-hrs access to the Lounge (including drinks and finger food). 

    One can never be bored as this resort offers interesting activities that are mostly free-of-charge. You can go hiking in the nearby monkey hills, try your hand at steering a traditional basket boat, go snorkelling in the pristine surrounding waters or even sing your hearts out at the costume-themed karaoke.

the famed afternoon-tea and view from the Club InterContinental Lounge. We met a caucasian couple staying in Hoi An who made the 1 hour trip just for it. 

hotel funicular

private beach

View from our room

    We were even invited to the grand opening of the Khai Silk shop on the hotel grounds. The wifey went ga-ga over the selection of colourful designs. The quality and designs can give Hermes a good run for its money, in my opinion.

    We have a habit of celebrating the final evening with a bang. This time it was dinner at restaurant La Maison 1888, the only Michelin starred (3 stars) restaurant in Danang. The food certainly didn't disappoint. 

whole Lobster

     The crescendo had to be the spa session at the in-house HARNN Heritage Spa. You know it had to be good if the masseuse can tell my wife that her regular masseuse isn't that good because of the "knots" in the wifey's muscles.

     InterContinental Danang is indeed a place where myth meets luxury. We will be back.

UNESCO site 1 - Hoi An

    The second day of our Danang adventure consisted of a day-trip to Hoi An. It was fortuitous that the hotel provided free transport to Hoi An. Hoi An as you know by now is a UNESCO Heritage site. The old town can be explored within a day. We took about two hours. The weather started off scorching. Unfortunately, the wonderful invention of the air-con, seemed to have skipped this quaint town. I found myself walking at a faster pace than usual, wanting to reach the next shade.

lantern-making using the traditional method

    This little town is dotted with ancient Chinese architecture. The shops had old Chinese signboards and the temples were all in Chinese style. It wasn't much of an eye-opener as we are familiar with Chinese culture. Europeans may find Hoi An a little more exotic and interesting. 

Vietnamese chicken rice. Very different from what we are used to.

White Rose Dumplings (shrimp paste wrapped with rice paper, i.e. Cantonese har gao style)

traditional pork noodles (reminds me of Ramen)

     The weather turned rather abruptly. One second we were perspiring like pigs, another second, it started to drizzle. Hoi An remains a "been-there-done-that" spot for us. For a UNESCO Heritage site, it's a little disappointing, to say the least.

UNESCO site 2 - Imperial City of Hue

    Being the history buff that I am, I couldn't tolerate the thought of not visiting the ancient city of Hue since we're in Danang. It would be like vacationing in Bali without visiting the famed Tanah Lot Temple (an inside joke). Thus our next adventure found us with a private guide in the luxury of a Toyota MPV on the way to Hue. Surprisingly, I found the sights on the way far more mesmerizing than the city itself. Check them out.

Beautiful beach and cove. Currently inhabited by a colony of outcast lepers. Unfortunately for them, it has been sold to some MNC to build resorts.

Ancient fortification high atop Hai Vin Pass. In turn used by the Imperial Vietnamese, French, Americans and Communists. Now left to ruin.

View atop Hai Vin Pass, overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the horizon.

Lan Co Bay, voted one of the most beautiful in the world. A Christian village amidst a Buddhist-dominated country.

Oyster Farm at Lan Co. Reminiscent of Europe. If only the weather was cooler.

Fresh Oysters anyone? US$4 for 1 kg.

Entering the Imperial Citadel of Hue - in style!

    The tour included an authentic Hue meal. The restaurant was converted from the bungalow of a former Hue Imperial Official. The tastes and smells were very similar to Chinese cooking. Chinese influence is very prevalent in this part of the country. The former royals wrote and spoke Chinese. It was the French that gave English alphabets to represent the Chinese characters that the Vietnamese used. In a sense, Vietnamese can be considered a dialect of Chinese.

    The wifey, who has been to the Forbidden City in Beijing, mentioned that the Hue Imperial Palace was almost an exact copy of the one in Beijing. Even the names of the various halls were similar.

     The last stop was an elaborate mausoleum of the Vietnamese Emperor Khai Dinh. He was extravagant in both life and death, loved gambling and the show of ostentatious wealth.In fact he was merely a puppet of the French. His tomb took 11 years to complete, a superbly long time, even for ancient standards. Reflecting both European and Chinese influence, the tomb was grand on the outside. But the inside blew me away. Unfortunately, the ever law-abiding wifey didn't take any photos because she thought it was allowed.

     This rounds up our recent trip to Danang, Vietnam. Stay tune for more travel adventures when we head to France at the end of the month.