In March 2025, I checked into the Club Terrace Suite Panoramic Oceanview and Heavenly Penthouse at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. The luxury beach resort – comprising 189 rooms, suites, villas – is nestled deep in the heart of Son Tra Peninsula Nature Reserve, the only remaining coastal rain forest in Vietnam and also home to the critically endangered rare red-shanked douc langurs. Nearby visitor sites include Danang City Centre (14km), Hoi An (27km), Bana Hills (30km) and My Son Sanctuary (44km). Danang International Airport is a 30-minute drive away, while a trip to Hoi An will take around 80 minutes.
Notable nearby hotels include Moire Hoi An, Vignette Collection, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa as well as Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An.
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): Romantic, Whimsical, Mythical Peninsula Luxury in Danang.
The must-dos (if any): Enjoy breakfast at the Club InterContinental lounge, take a long bath using luxurious Diptyque bathroom amenities, have dinner at La Maison 1888, take a ride on the Nam Tram and try to spot a red-shanked douc langur, take a visual tour of the resort.
INTERCONTINENTAL DANANG SUN PENINSULA RESORT
Designed by architect/landscaper/designer Bill Bensley (who is also responsible for the distinctive visuals of InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, Shinta Mani Wild, Capella Ubud, Capella Hanoi and Park Hyatt Siem Reap), the resort draws its inspirations from Vietnamese architecture, culture and nature, from local temples, imperial tombs and palaces to monkeys, lotus flowers, traditional lanterns and Ky-Lan (a mythical creature that is half-dragon, half-dog).
Spaces are primarily decked in black-and-white in reference to the yin/yang dichotomy, and the monochromatic palette makes the frequent bursts of bold colours pop even more. Paintings of monkeys and birds adorn the walls of Citron – itself playful with its color palette of lemon yellow and acid green – whilst the al fresco private dining booths take the shape of inverted Non La (Vietnamese conical hats), which make them some of the most photographed subjects on property. Bronzed simian sculptures are scattered around the resort, occasionally spurting water from penile pipes, while the male restrooms resemble yesteryear apothecaries. Statues of, inter alia, a Merlion and the Statue of Liberty stand around randomly in the open near the entrance driveway. The design choices are simultaneously whimsical, over-the-top and fantastic all at once.
The resort spans across four levels – Heaven, where the hotel reception, the Club InterContinental lounge and dining restaurants Citron and Tingara are situated; Sky, where you can find the boutique as well as Bill Bensley’s private BENSLEY Outsider Gallery which showcases a collection of his original, avant-garde artworks; Earth, which houses the Michelin-starred La Maison 1888 helmed by famed chef Christian Le Squer along with the Buffalo Bar for truly serious drinks; and Sea, where you can access the resort’s wellness amenities (Mi Sol Spa, The Nail & Hair Studio, the Soar Gym with indoor and outdoor spaces and Life Fitness equipment, the signature adults-only L_o_n_g Pool which is long enough for laps as well as the heated Resort Garden Pool) together with the 700m long beach, beachside grill concept Barefoot and L_O_N_G Bar, literally the longest bar in Vietnam. The distinct levels are linked by a funicular train, the Nam Tram, with carriages shaped like traditional basket boats.
The resort offers a variety of complimentary guest programmes (yoga flow, wildlife expedition, aerial yoga, shore fishing, chess competition) as well as chargeable activities (e.g. traditional Vietnamese coffee tasting, coffee art class, Vietnamese cooking class, sake tasting class). During my stay, I went for a Gua Sha & Face Roller Facial Workshop at Mi Sol Spa, during which a spa therapist demonstrated and guided us on how to use the ice-cool contouring materials on our faces. It was a sobering experience to realise how much rolls of meat there was for me to cleanse, circle and navigate.
CLUB TERRACE SUITE WITH PANORAMIC OCEANVIEW
Situated on the Sky level, the 80sqm corner Club Terrace Suite Panoramic Oceanview offers 180-degree ocean and jungle views from an oversized outdoor terrace. The suite features dark wood textures, Vietnamese design flourishes, whimsical ace of spade motifs and vibrant animal print plush carpets. The pantry is stocked with Nespresso coffee and TWG tea-making facilities, while the minibar comprises the usual canned and bottled beverages, including Taittinger champagne and baby bottles of spirits. The spacious, open-concept bathroom (there are no walls separating the rainfall shower from the vanity) offers luxurious double sinks and a deep soaking tub, with a window you can open to peer into (from) the bedroom area for that extra romantic/voyeuristic touch (whichever applies).
HEAVENLY PENTHOUSE
Soaring high on the Sky level at one of the highest points of the resort, the 170sqm rooftop One-Bedroom Heavenly Penthouse boasts a wrap-around garden terrace and heated private plunge pool commanding panoramic views of the ocean, jungle and surrounding mountains. Tall windows flood the interiors with an abundance of natural sunlight from multiple sides of the penthouse, with the combination of lush greenery outside and the colourful flora and fauna imagery that adorn the living room lending to the tropical wildness feels of the proceedings.
The kitchen offers Nespresso coffee and TWG tea-making facilities along with a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks, juices and bottles of wine and Taittinger champagne, while the powder room is tucked away in the far end of the penthouse, away from the gloriously cavernous open-concept bathroom with walk-in wardrobe as well as separate sinks and dressing tables. The shower area is a sexy, naughty situation: no doors separate it from the dressing area, the entire length of the space is fully mirrored on one end and the gargantuan bathtub – the largest I have ever had in my life – has the width for four bear-sized men or six Zhou Dongyu-sized women.
My time in the Heavenly Penthouse happened to coincide with an unusually cold and blowy spell, which unfortunately meant I did not get to spend time on the sunbeds or enjoy drinks and snacks at the swim-up counter. However, I was astounded by how comfortable soaking in the heated infinity pool was in spite of the weather conditions, even after nightfall. It was pretty surreal being in warm 28-30°C in the midst of blustering winds high in the peninsula sky.
All Heavenly Penthouse guests enjoy Club InterContinental privileges and have a Villa Host who assists you with your resort needs, including making reservations for resort programmes and placing orders for in-room dining.
DINING
Breakfast was a buffet affair served at Citron, the Asian dining restaurant located on the Heaven level near the main reception. The hot food station offered a la minute dishes such as Banh Mi (Chicken/Beef/Pork), Beef Pho, Steamed Rice Rolls and Hue Beef Noodles, while the buffet line comprised options such as Vegan Spring Rolls, Tuna Sushi, Stir Fried Squid and Kimchi Soup with Pork. The pastry selection was fairly commendable, looking artisanal and tasting delicious – think Raspberry Danish, Apple Danish, Hazelnut Rolls and Chocolate Pain Suisse.
During my stay, I managed to try the Champagne Sunday Brunch, which was a glorious Champagne Billecart-Salmon-fuelled affair of exquisite fresh seafood on ice (Oyster, Octopus, Hotate, Hokkigai, Salmon); carved meats such as Roasted Beef Rib-eye, Roasted Duck and the wonderfully-skinned Crispy Pork Belly; grilled seafood such as Fish and Squid; a variety of pizzas (Seafood Pesto, Chicken Teriyaki); a noodle station comprising Hot Pot Noodles and Pad Thai; and the gorgeous looking pastry selection, with highlights including the Yuzu Coconut Tart, Mascarpone and Coffee Cake as well as the dimpled, Cedric Grolet-esque The Citron.
Set within a colonial indochine-style mansion on the Earth level, La Maison 1888 bears the distinction of being Danang’s first Michelin Star restaurant. The restaurant is helmed by Christian Le Squer, a Michelin three-star chef famed for his restaurant Le Cinq at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris. I had the dinner set menu with a brilliant “Lost In Paris” wine pairing, and highlights included the multi-modal and savoury Épigramme D’agneau (lamb, vegetal spring roll and “ot sung xanh” sauce), the bubble-burst molecular joy of Gnocchi Soufflés De Pomme Ratte Safranés (potato gnocchi with saffron, black olives, basil broth) and the beautiful Asperges Vertes Truffées Mousseline De Chateau-Chalon (truffled green asparagus, Château-Chalon wine mousseline), whose sorcery (saucery?) dramatically enhancing the deliciousness of the accompanying M.Chapoutier Chante-Alouette Blanc Hermitage 2020.
After dinner, I retreated to the elegant Buffalo Bar within the same mansion for the refreshing Thao Moc Concoction (Tanqueray gin sous vide with tarragon, basil, fennel, thyme, white pepper and dried butterfly flower), the experimental Pho Cocktail (Woodford whiskey, pho syrup, honey, lime juice) and a bespoke Mezcal Negroni which ended the evening on a very stiff and sexy note. What an evening.
Beachfront diner Barefoot serves grilled meats and seafood in a casual and relaxed setting, with an outdoor deck extension B Lounge which offers frozen cocktails and ice cream drinks during good weather. I yearned for more drops of the thickly oceanic Bouillabaisse (baked sea bass tiger prawn, scallop, mussel saffron, fennel garlic crouton), while the Grilled Octopus (grilled Da Lat vegetables, green chilli) provided meaty, chewy pleasure. The meal ended with two different types of smoke – the USDA Rib-eye (fried eggplants, green pepper) was of the smouldering variety, while the Baked Alaska Flambé (lemon sponge cake, marble coconut, mango ice cream and Grand Marnier) was of a more literal persuasion.
Rounding up the dining concepts at the resort are Tingara, a new modern Japanese omakase restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Junichi Yoshida housed within a beautiful, intimate space perched 100m above sea level with overhead giant blue fish mobiles; and L_O_N_G Bar, the beachfront concept which serves light bites and cocktails. The latter is decked in stylish black and white, making it another popular spot for social media photoshoots. Its name is said to be a reference to how, at 50m, it is the longest bar in Vietnam, although based on the overhead punkah fans and cheeky underscoring in its name, there is likely a homage somewhere to the legendary Long Bar at Raffles Hotel Singapore.
Aside from giant daybeds facing the beach, guests can also sit on dramatic swinging chairs which are inspired by fisherman’s baskets. The bar also offers pool, table tennis and soft archery facilities, making it the resort’s most lively social space.
While ensconced in the Heavenly Penthouse, I ordered in-room dining on a few occasions, trying dishes such as the pineapple-sweet Mountain River “Thác Lác” Sour Fish Soup (“Thác Lác” fish ball, pineapple, tomato, lemongrass, lime and dill), the crispy Citron “Bánh Xèo” (crispy rice flour pancake with prawns, mushroom, beansprout and spring onion, rice papers and local fresh organic vegetables, sweet and sour fish sauce) and the scrumptious, fragrant and slick Citron Chicken Rice (steamed and roasted “Đèo Le” chicken, turmeric rice and signature chili sauce). The herbal Royal Vietnamese Chicken “Sá Sùng” Pho was a soul-saving panacea during times of blustery cold.
CLUB INTERCONTINENTAL
Situated on the Heaven level one floor below the reception level (and residing in a new space after its move from the space now occupied by Tingara), the elegant Club InterContinental Lounge offers breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktail food presentations. The spacious Art Deco-style lounge offers a variety of seating arrangements based on your requirements, from window-side plush midnight blue seats to circular private booths and private rooms.
Breakfast at the Club InterContinental Lounge is a semi-buffet affair with the obligatory cold cuts and pastries spread, but their a la carte menu is where the action is at. The menu rotates daily, with selections such as Vietnamese Pho, Hue Beef Noodle Soup, Bo Kho Stewed Beef With Vietnamese Baguette, Banh Mi With Egg, Eggs Benedict With Tiger Prawn, Smoked Salmon With Crème Fraiche And Passion Caviar, Wagyu Beef Tartare With Pan Brioche And Black Truffle Cheese as well as Fresh Melon And Iberico Ham. My personal favourites include the Sous Vide Abalone In Light Soy Sauce (yes, it was an abalone, served just as it was), the luxurious Lobster Omelette With Rice and the umami Crab Miso And Scrambled Eggs.
Evening cocktails was also a semi-buffet situation, with selections from the spread such as Cherry Tomato, Prawn on Toast, Sago Coconut Cake and the gorgeous Lemon Cake alongside hot canapes such as Lemongrass Chicken, Eggplant, Seabass and Abalone served to your table. The cocktail menu comprised signature cocktails such as Elegant Rose (gin, cointreau, lime juice, rose syrup) and Emerald Pearl (vodka, blue curacao, midori, lime juice, lychee syrup) along classic cocktails such as Aperol Spritz and Old Fashioned, while the wine list includes prosecco and a range of red and white options.
CONCLUSION
Back in February 2018, during my first visit to the resort, I had remarked that:
It is the type of place where people celebrate significant anniversaries, make grand marriage proposals or get inspired to make fundamentally life-changing decisions. As long as you are within the resort premises, life as you know it temporarily suspends, and you do not wish to leave. The resort makes for an unforgettable experience, and I have been seriously spoiled rotten for life.
“A place where Myth meets Luxury,” the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort website boasts. How right they were.
Seven years later, I see no reason to disturb my previous finding.
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
Son Tra Peninsula, Danang
550000 Vietnam
Comments are closed.