Avana Retreat

Mai Châu Valley, Vietnam

Overview

Set within the lush mountainous region of Mai Châu, this beautifully designed property is one of the most tranquil and enchanting eco retreats in Northern Vietnam. Steeped in indigenous heritage and fascinating culture, Avana Retreat offers a serene and luxurious refuge in nature.

Key Features

  • Choose from a collection of 36 tastefully designed bungalows, suites and private pool villas, each with stunning vistas of distant mountains, lush jungle or verdant rice fields.
  • Offering a range of activities, from guided jungle treks to kayaking excursions and walking safaris, a team of guides from the local communities will guide you through the wilderness, sharing their deep knowledge of wildlife and native flora.
  • Designed sustainably with stylish interiors, the retreat features airy lounge areas, spacious suites, and private verandas to enjoy the sights and sounds of the rainforest.
  • Take part in a series of hands-on initiatives designed to actively protect and restore the Mai Châu region, participating in reforestation and habitat restoration projects.

Location

Located in the mountainous region of Mai Châu, Avana Retreat is set within 36 acres of tropical rainforest and terraced rice fields. Just three hours from Hanoi, this magnificent region is home to three indigenous communities (Thai, Hmong and Muong), whose centuries-old traditions are woven into the landscape. These communities have cultivated the land for generations and continue to preserve its beauty through various reforestation and rewilding projects in partnership with Avana Retreat. Remote and unspoiled, this area evokes a sense of awe, truly showcasing Vietnam’s natural beauty.

Design

 

Woven into the lush, forested landscape with palm leaf roofs and intricate rattan walls, the retreat was built with age-old techniques used by craftsmen from the indigenous communities in Mai Châu. The interiors, designed by renowned architect Lorenz Lennaerts, feature hand-crafted furniture, neutral-toned textiles and private verandas with panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. Threaded with a lantern-lit network of walkways through the forest, the Avana Retreat is home to an open-air yoga platform, a stunning three-level infinity pool, a hidden spring lagoon and the Orchid Spa. The spa comes complete with eight treatment rooms, offering guests a range of rejuvenating therapies infused with essential oils and medicinal mountain herbs.

Activities

Indulge in a range of tailor-made activities, designed to immerse you in the natural beauty of the Mai Châu region. Hike through scenic rice terraces with local guides, kayak across the tranquil waters of Hoa Binh Lake and swim beneath waterfalls in the jungle. Delight in a private culinary experience led by an expert chef, where the morning is spent foraging in the lush gardens for ingredients, followed by a private lunchtime cooking class. After a long day of adventure, unwind in the spa or sip sundowners around the pool-side bar, before indulging in a candlelit dinner beside a lagoon or an open-air cinema night beneath a starlit sky.

Dining

Savour the fragrant flavours of Vietnamese cuisine in the retreat’s two award-winning restaurants, where expert chefs craft delicious broths, hand-pulled noodles and aromatic dishes infused with local flavours, aromatic spices and mountain herbs. The Green Chilli restaurant is designed with rattan ceilings and open walls to cultivate a sense of tranquillity while dining with the sounds of nature. Seasonal fruits, fresh breads and pastries are served at breakfast, which can be enjoyed in your private villa or at the Cloud Pool Bar, which is also an idyllic spot for sundowners with stunning vistas of the valley.  

Why we love it

 

Founded on a commitment to protect the Mai Châu region, Avana Retreat offers guests a deeply authentic experience of Northern Vietnam’s untamed wilderness. This tranquil nature retreat will ensure you will return home renewed and revitalised, having discovered the simple luxuries of life.

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