44 Edition 2020

44th | Vol 29 | 2020 | www.hotelier-indonesia.com 89
pool. The Restaurant is set to reopen as The Tempayan,
named for the large traditional earthenware jars that
decorate the heart of the dining destination amid the rice
paddies. A new tapas lounge, Panen Padi, will open in a
prime location with a view of tranquil swan ponds on one
side and lush fields unfolding on the other. The ceiling of
the restored building will be adorned with a traditional
Balinese painting that shares Hendra Hadiprana’s life story.
Hadiprana’s original presence is felt at the property, with
a myriad of sculptures, antiques, and artwork that the collector
picked up over the years adorning all corners of the
site. Plans are also in motion for expanding on the array of
authentic experiences on offer to guests.
Ancient Hue
When people refer to a room being “fit for a king”, they are
usually talking figuratively. Not so in the case of Ancient
Hue, a luxury boutique complex of authentic nha ruong
(garden homes) about to be unveiled in Hue, Vietnam’s
former royal capital. The five ancient royal houses at the
resort were originally used as dwellings for members of
the extended imperial families: relatives of the emperors
who used to preside over the nation. Beautifully restored
by skilled Vietnamese artisans, the garden homes feature
Azerai Ke Ga Bay
The luxurious and secluded oceanfront retreat Azerai Ke
Ga Bay is set to open on Apr. 1, 2020 as the third property
in Vietnam in Azerai Resorts’ growing portfolio. The
55-room resort, which will succeed Princess D’Annam
Resort & Spa on the same site following a six-month
renovation, is located 180km east of Saigon on a sweeping,
five-kilometer white sand beach on the South China
Sea. Framed to the north by Hon Ba Island, with its historic
1899-built colonial French lighthouse, and to the
south by soaring sand dunes, the property cultivates
one of the most naturally splendid oceanfront settings
in the country. The guest rooms, suites and villas evoke
a contemporary aesthetic defined by elegant and simple
design, with many units boasting either plunge pools or
more spacious private pools.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay marks the brand’s first beach resort,
and follows Azerai La Residence, Hue, a historic city hotel
overlooking the Perfume River in Vietnam’s former imperial
capital, and Azerai Can Tho, a tropical retreat set on a
peaceful islet in the Mekong Delta. Azerai was formed by
hotelier Adrian Zecha.
an exquisite fusion of traditional charm and contemporary
luxury. Ancient Hue is owned and was conceived by Trails
of Indochina, one of Southeast Asia’s leading boutique tour
operators. Indeed, the property is a passion project for Trails
of Indochina founder John Tue Nguyen, who is originally
from Hue. “Ancient Hue is a way for me to leave some kind
of legacy,” he says. “Hue is like nowhere else in Vietnam. The
original charm is intact. With Ancient Hue we are trying to
ensure that the city’s heritage and character is preserved.”