American travel publication Travel+Leisure recently made a list of Southeast Asia’s Best New Hotels.
The luxury hotel scene in the region is quickly becoming as varied and dynamic as the countries themselves.
New accommodations add overall experience to the richly diverse region that “would take a lifetime of return trips to take it all in”, the magazine says.
Check out these exciting new and upcoming properties – from upscale urban haunts to honeymoon-worthy private island resorts.
With so many ways to experience Southeast Asia, why travel anywhere else?
VIETNAM
Nam Hai, Hoi An
Thanks to this newly revamped Nam Hai, now Four Seasons resort, travellers will spend more time along Hoi An beaches. The property is located on a half-mile stretch of private oceanfront just outside town.
The Anam, Nha Trang
Located a half-hour south of the resort town of Nha Trang, The Anam promises to elevate a quite part of the Cam Ranh peninsula into a fully fledged destination. It is .
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa, Phu Quoc
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa located on an island 25 miles offshore. Here, jewel-tone upholstery, graphic tile floors, and lacquered moldings add a boutique feel to stately, French-colonial-inspired architecture.
THAILAND
Hotel Bocage, Hua Hin
Hotel Bocage has minimalist aesthetic (think polished concrete floors, glass walls, and a hyper-neutral palette) which gives it a contemporary, urban feel. This six-room property comes as a refreshing and surprising addition to one of Thailand's oldest resort towns, Hua Hin.
The Beach Samui, Koh Samui
Opening in 2018, Beach Samui will have have 21 ocean-facing suites with whitewashed oak walls, chesterfield ottomans, and crystal chandeliers.
Baba Beach Club, Phuket
Baba Beach Club will bring a party-ready vibe to Natai Beach, with 16 oceanfront suites and villas of up to five bedrooms catering to groups of friends.
Rosewood Phuket, Phuket
Rosewood Phuket will have four restaurants and 71 villas along 2,000 feet of shoreline, some with private pools for guests seeking total seclusion.
LAOS
Azerai, Luang Prabang
January saw the opening of Azerai in the temple town of Luang Prabang, where a former French officers’ quarters has been reimagined as a 53-room retreat. This hotel is located in the prime location, just a short walk from the attractions of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Rosewood Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang
In a forested setting a few miles outside the town center, Rosewood Luang Prabang will unveil a riverfront retreat with 23 villas and tents modeled on traditional Laotian teak houses. It’s purpose-built for a romantic getaway.
CAMBODIA
Rosewood Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh
Rosewood Phnom Penh launches on the top 14 floors of the Vattanac Capital Tower, Cambodia’s tallest building. Travelers to Cambodia will have more reasons to venture beyond the temples of Siem Reap.
Alia Villas, Koh Russey
There’s also a boom in island retreats since the addition of new air routes. On Koh Russey, Alila Villas occupies 61 acres of forest and beachfront, and each of the spacious villas has a private pool overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
Six Senses, Krabey Island
Perhaps the most eagerly awaited debut is the 40-villa Six Senses, which is slated to open on remote Krabey Island early next year. The hotel will also have an observatory for stargazing.
