New Luxury Hotels, Cruises and Trains in Vietnam for 2027

Vietnam’s luxury scene changed more in 2026 than in any year since the pandemic. International brands opened in Hanoi, near Ha Long Bay and on the river outside Hoi An, a luxury train now runs the length of the country, and new river ships are coming to the Mekong. For couples and families who like to travel slowly, this means more comfortable bases, shorter transfers and quieter experiences.

This list sticks to two kinds of places: products we already use in Metta Voyage tours, and new openings that the hotel or operator has officially announced. For each one we give the status as of October 2026 and a link to the source, so you can check for yourself. We have not included anything that is only rumoured.

Vietnam’s new luxury openings at a glance

Hanoi: Fairmont Hanoi

Fairmont Hanoi is the brand’s first hotel in Vietnam. It opened in February 2026 a short walk from Hoan Kiem Lake, with 241 rooms and suites, eight restaurants and bars, and a 3,500 m² wellness floor with a bathhouse and a 20-metre lap pool (Accor announcement, February 2026).

Why it matters for a long trip: Hanoi is usually the first and last stop, and after a 12- to 15-hour flight a calm, central hotel makes the first two days easier. From here you can walk to the Old Quarter in the morning, before the heat and the traffic build. We pair the first night with a slow start: a private guide, a coffee on a quiet street, and a water puppet show in the evening rather than a full day of sightseeing.

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Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay: one cruise, two bays

Until 2026, you had to choose: Ha Long Bay, with its famous caves and viewpoints, or Lan Ha Bay, which is quieter, with small beaches and fishing coves. Since 20 April 2026, approved overnight routes can cross from Ha Long Bay into Lan Ha Bay on the same voyage. The first ships on the new routes included Bhaya’s Au Co and the Ambassador Signature (Quang Ninh provincial government; Ha Long tourism portal).

Our advice is to take two nights on board rather than one. With one night you spend almost half the cruise boarding and disembarking. With two, you have a full day on the water, time to kayak in Lan Ha’s lagoons, and a slower breakfast on deck. We also still use the 5★ ships we know well, such as Paradise Elegance on a 3-day Ha Long cruise (from US$835 per person) and Indochine Cruise in Lan Ha Bay (3 days from US$782 per person).

Near Ha Long: Hilton Quang Hanh Onsen Resort

Hilton Quang Hanh Onsen Resort opened on 23 February 2026 in Cam Pha, about 30 minutes from Ha Long. It is Hilton’s first onsen resort in Southeast Asia: every villa and room has a private hot-spring bath. The resort is opening in phases, with 50 villas and all rooms available first and the remaining villas due towards the end of 2026 (Hilton press release).

For travellers over 50, and for anyone with tired legs after Hanoi, one or two nights here before or after a cruise is a real rest. It also breaks up the drive from Hanoi to the coast. A simple plan is: drive from Hanoi to the resort, one night in a villa with a private onsen, then board your cruise the next morning.

By rail: the SJourney train

SJourney is an Indochine-style luxury sleeper train that has run between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City since December 2024. It is sold as an all-inclusive journey rather than a rail ticket, with guided excursions at stops such as Ninh Binh, Quang Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet (sjourney.asia). Departures are on scheduled Wednesdays and dates are limited, so the train should be booked before your flights.

The train suits travellers who want to see the whole country without five or six domestic flights and without packing every two days. Our 13-day Vietnam luxury tour with the SJourney train (from US$8,600 per person, sharing a twin or double room and cabin) adds Hanoi, a Ha Long Bay cruise and the Mekong Delta around seven nights on board. Golfers can choose the 8-day SJourney golf tour (from US$7,750 per person). Cabin types, inclusions and operator prices are explained in our SJourney prices and cabins guide.

Hoi An: NHAAN Resort & Spa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

NHAAN opened in Cam Thanh village, by the Co Co River outside Hoi An, as the first Tapestry Collection hotel in Vietnam (Hilton press release, 6 August 2026). It has 174 rooms designed by the architect Vo Trong Nghia, a rooftop spa and an infinity pool, and on-site workshops in pottery, lantern-making and woodcarving. Nineteen pairs of connecting rooms make it practical for families.

Hoi An rewards slow travel more than any other town in Vietnam. We like three or four nights here: an early walk through the old town before the day visitors arrive, a bicycle ride through the rice fields and water-coconut palms, and an afternoon at a craft workshop. Teenagers who are tired of temples usually enjoy the lantern-making most.

The Mekong: AmaMaya and Aqua Mekong

AmaWaterways’ new ship AmaMaya, with 60 staterooms, two restaurants and a pool on the sun deck, is expected to start sailing between Vietnam and Cambodia in January 2027 (Cruise Critic). Aqua Expeditions has also announced new Aqua Mekong itineraries, including “Phat Sandai” sailings towards the Tonle Sap in the December–February season (Seatrade Cruise News).

If you would rather keep the trip private, we combine a shorter river journey with land touring. Our cruise tour from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City starts from US$2,016 per person.

Phu Quoc: Park Hyatt Phu Quoc

Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is expected to open in December 2026 on the southern tip of the island, with about 110 rooms, six restaurants and a spa by a lotus lake (Hospitality Net, Hyatt announcement). Earlier opening dates were missed, so we will only confirm rooms once the hotel is taking guests. Note that Phu Quoc hosts APEC in November 2027, when hotels will be in high demand.

Smaller luxury stays we use and trust

New brands are not the only way to travel well. Some of the stays our guests remember most are small lodges in the mountains:

• Topas Ecolodge, near Sapa: 50 granite bungalows on a hilltop inside Hoang Lien National Park, with infinity pools and a Red Dao herbal bath (official site).
• Avana Retreat, Mai Chau: 36 villas in 15 hectares of forest and a three-tier heated pool (official site).
• Mai Chau Ecolodge: 54 rooms with balconies and wooden bathtubs among the rice fields (official site).
• Panhou Retreat, Hoang Su Phi: bungalows by a stream in a Red Dao village, with an infinity pool and herbal baths (official site).
• Hotel Royal Hoi An – MGallery, on the Thu Bon River, a short walk from the old town.

How to fit new luxury into a 2027 itinerary

A comfortable pace is two or three nights in each place and no more than one long transfer every few days. A 15- to 18-day route might look like this: Hanoi (3 nights) – Quang Hanh onsen (1 night) – two-bay cruise (2 nights) – Hanoi or Ninh Binh (1 night) – Hoi An (4 nights) – Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong (3 nights) – Phu Quoc (3 nights). If you prefer the train, the SJourney replaces the middle of the trip.

Book the popular cruises and boutique resorts about six months ahead for the December to April season. Visa rules depend on your passport; see our Vietnam e-visa guide and our eight favourite Vietnam luxury holidays for 2027.

Plan your 2027 journey. Send us your dates and how you like to travel, and our Hanoi team will reply within 24 hours with a free, day-by-day proposal. Get a free tailor-made itinerary · US +1 929 491 2828 · UK +44 7520 660929 · Vietnam 24/7 +84 812 247 572.

Written by the Metta Voyage travel team in Hanoi. Last updated October 2026. Opening dates come from the hotel or operator sources linked above (checked 25 October 2026) and can change. Prices are the “from” prices published on our tour pages, based on 2 travellers sharing; your quote confirms the price for your dates. Photos: Metta Voyage.

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