Family enjoying private pool at Namia River Retreat villa in Hoi An

Namia River Retreat Hoi An Review (2026): Private Pool Villa, Sunset Cruise & Spa Experience

Ok, so we’re sold on great rooms and excellent breakfast when booking hotels. But when we want a resort experience in Hoi An that checks ALL the boxes, Namia River Retreat – Wellness Inclusive Resort Hoi An is one of those rare places that actually delivers.

And I mean ALL of them.

Not just an instagrammable room.

Not just yummy breakfast.

But an entire relaxing, slow-paced wellness experience that changes how you enjoy Vietnam’s most photographed city.

Namia River Retreat gave us the family-friendly retreat we didn’t know we needed. Our family stayed here during our short Vietnam getaway, and looking back this was honestly one of our favorite parts of our entire trip.

Sunset boat ride from Namia River Retreat to Hoi An Ancient Town
Golden hour hits different when you are floating down the river.

Check-in: Peaceful, Open and Deliberate

The second we walked into Namia’s lobby everything started to feel different. Slower and calm.

Namia River Retreat spa lounge waiting area with guests relaxing in Hoi An
A calm, slow start before the spa session begins. This place just sets the mood instantly.

Namia seems to have cultivated this incredible energy that makes you feel grounded the minute you arrive.

Natural woods, neutral colors and open ventilation are key here. Ceilings are high and rooms feel breezy, like stepping into a villa rather than a resort lobby.

You don’t hear heavy music blasting. Crowds of frantic guests. Pushy check-in desks.

Instead it’s calm. Welcoming. Politely intentional.

It literally feels like Namia says to you when you step through the doors.

YOU ARE HERE TO REST. PLEASE ENJOY.

Staff members move with the same energy. Quiet, relaxed and honest.

Not rushed. Not overly robotic. Check-in process is smooth and well organized.


Our Villa (#100): Villa & Rooms Tour

For our villa, we booked the two-bedroom option at around $1500 SGD per night including breakfast, free spa, and curated experiences.

Pricey? Yup.

Worth it? You’ll see.

Inside your villa, Namia absolutely exceeds expectations.

Namia River Retreat bedroom with high ceiling wooden design and king bed
The high ceilings and wooden finishes made the entire room feel so open.

We have stayed in rooms across Vietnam that were technically spacious…but awkwardly put together.

Namia River Treat isn’t like that at all. Their villas flow together seamlessly.

Namia River Retreat villa living room with modern wooden interior and sofa
A living room you will actually want to hang out in.
Namia River Retreat vanity mirror area with wooden decor and soft lighting
Thoughtful little details like this made the villa feel extra special.
  • Perfectly crafted living rooms you’ll actually want to spend time in
  • Private bedrooms you can escape to
  • Bright and roomy bathrooms with style
  • High ceilings that open up the entire space

The material they use is warm and inviting. Lots of wood throughout, soft furnishings, muted lighting.

Namia didn’t go flashy here. They went…extra intentional.


Namia Bathroom Vibes

Their bathrooms deserve a section of their own.

Namia River Retreat bathroom with double sinks and warm lighting design
Double sinks, warm lighting, and spa vibes all around.

DOUBLE SINKS. DID I MENTION THE DOUBLE SINKS? !

The whole bathroom exudes this calm spa vibe but with hotel standards. Warm lights. Clean corners. No tacky decor.

Oh and of course, there’s also a nice sized bathtub by the window. Perfect for embracing that slow living energy. Pop some bubbles in it. Spend the night relaxing without ever feeling “well..aren’t you just in a hotel bathroom?”

Namia River Retreat villa bedroom with bathtub and private pool view in Hoi An
Waking up to this view every morning honestly never got old.

Their Pool is Larger Than You Expect

First impression? Damn Namia dropped some coin on this pool.

Private villa pools can feel so…pretentious?

All white tiles and barely big enough to get comfortable.

Not this pool though.

It’s large enough where you can actually enjoy swimming laps if you wanted to.

Private pool at Namia River Retreat villa overlooking Thu Bon River
This pool is way bigger than it looks in photos.
Private villa pool at Namia River Retreat with river and greenery views
Quiet mornings by the pool with nothing but nature around us.

Oh and let’s not forget that view.

Namia faces the Thu Bon River. Houses fill up the opposite river bank and it’s all glorious greenery.

Floating in the pool during sunrise or sunset genuinely felt like you were staying at your own little villa in the Maldives…but in Southeast Asia.

Family enjoying private pool at Namia River Retreat villa in Hoi An
Core memory unlocked. Pool days with the little one.

No rowdy boats buzzing past every 30 seconds. No mass tourism vibes. Just fresh water and peaceful surroundings.

There were moments I forgot we were even in Vietnam.


Book the Basket Boat Experience Directly with Namia

The basket boat tour was something we booked through Namia with the help of our dedicated hotel butler and I’m so glad we did.

Family basket boat ride experience in Hoi An coconut forest
The basket boat ride turned out to be way more peaceful than expected.

Namia hosts multiple versions of traditional basket boat rides so keep your eyes peeled for promos they send during your stay.

We’ve been on those crazy loud basket boat tours with electronica singers belting it out from boats zooming by you left and right.

This experience was nothing like that.

Namia Provides Traditional Vietnamese Hats

Our boaters gave us traditional Vietnamese hats before boarding. Which were awesome and my daughter ended up wearing hers the whole boat ride.

She loved it so much we ended up buying her one from one of the shops later that day because she refused to take it off 😂

Boarding and The Ride Itself

Traditional Vietnamese basket boats experience with family in Hoi An
Traditional basket boats, but without the chaos.

Namia’s boat ride floats through coconut forest canals shaded by lots of trees.

Even on an afternoon with direct sunlight, Namia did a great job of ensuring you stayed cool under tree coverage.

No cheesy music. No overwhelming guides trying to sell you stuff. We barely even saw them bring our boat food and drinks!

They also gifted us these coconut leaf toys made by the boatman. Look at the detail he put into those tiny toys 😭 kids will love this.

Child holding handmade palm leaf toy during basket boat ride in Hoi An
One of those simple travel moments that hits different. Just a handmade toy and a happy kid.

The entire ride lasts 30 minutes and honestly…that’s perfect.


Sunset Boat Ride to Hoi An Ancient Town from Namia River Retreat Resort

If I had to choose one photo that summed up our entire Namia River Retreat stay…it would be this.

Namia does private sunset boat rides back to Hoi An Ancient Town that.

All you have to do is sit back and enjoy it!

Guests boarding Hoàng Yến boat at sunset along Thu Bon River in Hoi An
Golden hour hits differently when you’re heading out on the river. This was the start of something special.
Sunset boat ride from Namia River Retreat to Hoi An Ancient Town
Golden hour hits different when you are floating down the river.

Why you’ll love this

Okay this isn’t your traditional way of getting back into Hoi An town…but trust me when I say it’s worth it.

Instead of hopping on the mass tourism cruise ships, you board a private wooden boat with your family and friends.

It’s cozy. Romantic. Just you and the river.

Onboard They Serve Light Refreshments

Our boat had seats for us all to lounge on. And even though the sun was setting by then we were gifted light snacks and cocktails.

It’s leisurely. Relaxing. You don’t feel rushed.

Then Sunset Happens

Sunset in Southeast Asia is a thing of beauty.

Sunset river cruise toward Hoi An Ancient Town with warm golden light
Ending the day cruising into Hoi An at sunset was unreal.

Tropical countries always have the best sunsets. It’s that saturated yet soft orange lighting that warms your entire body.

Before you know it, the sun is gone and Hoi An Ancient Town is lit up with twinkling lights.

Best Part? You pull up to town right as the lanterns start to light up.

If that isn’t perfect timing, I don’t know what is.

Child relaxing during sunset boat ride in Hoi An Vietnam
This was the moment I knew the trip was something special.

Breakfast Buffet? Damn near impressed.

Honestly…I wasn’t expecting much for breakfast.

I know Namia considers themselves a wellness inclusive resort. Which automatically made me assume healthy but bland food options.

Breakfast buffet spread at Namia River Retreat restaurant in Hoi An
Not massive, but everything felt curated and high quality.

I WAS SO WRONG.

Things I Loved

  • Buffet was plentiful but didn’t feel overly crowded
  • Fresh food that actually tasted…clean?
  • Decent amount of western options WITH Vietnamese food
  • Food felt curated. Freshly prepared.

Get Their Vietnamese Salt Coffee

Vietnamese salt coffee. Sounds weird. Works.

Creamy. Salty. Just freaking delicious.

Vietnamese pho and local breakfast dishes at Namia River Retreat
Simple, fresh, and honestly better than expected.

Namia Spa Experience is INCLUDED WITH YOUR STAY! !

Okay guys. This is the part where Namia absolutely stole the show.

Namia River Retreat spa room with massage beds and calming interior design
This is where the magic happens. And yes, it is included.

EVERY guest gets a 90 minute spa experience EVERY DAY.

Like. For real.

It’s not on discount. Not worth using a certain day of your stay.

You stay at Namia. You get access to the spa daily.

The Process

  • Bring a buggy from your villa to the spa reception.
  • It’s that simple fam.
  • Again. So streamlined.

Your Treatment

Let me tell you something about Namia’s spa.

  • It doesn’t feel included. Basic.
  • It actually feels like a legit treatment.

Alright so we booked our complimentary Vietnamese massage treatment before arrival thanks to the hotel butler reaching out to use beforehand.


Namia with Kids: A Stress Free Experience

Ok so normally staying away from the main town at a resort with littles freaks me out.

Kids club sounds rushed. Staff unable to care for them. Activities that don’t suit younger children…

Not here.

I left our kiddo with Namia’s kids club during our spa session and I couldn’t have been more relaxed knowing she was there.

Child holding artwork at Namia River Retreat kids activity area in Hoi An
Kids club at Namia felt more like one-on-one attention than a group activity.

Reason being is because there were not many kids there.

I wish I could quantify how little there was but we basically received individualized attention from their staff. (Thank you so much for taking care of our daughter)

She was spoiled and honestly…it was so nice to see Namia care so thoroughly about children’s experiences too.


It Was the Little Things Which Make a Difference

Like I said. Namia wasn’t about shoving activities down your throat.

It was the simple things that stuck with us:

  • Free bicycles for use, and taking the resort trails
  • Kiddo feeding fish outside the restaurant area
  • Lounge by the pool and do nothing
  • Strolling through their quiet outdoor pathways

Little moments like these ended up making some of my favorite memories at Namia.

Cycling around Namia River Retreat resort pathways surrounded by greenery
Slow mornings biking around the resort were my favorite.
Father and daughter feeding koi fish at Namia River Retreat courtyard in Hoi An
One of those simple moments that ended up being our favorite.

Namia River Retreat Pricing: Spill The Tea

Look guys, let’s be real here.

$1,500 SGD a night isn’t cheap.

But what I love about Namia is how their packages work.

Sure you are paying for a PRIVATE villa room with a private pool…

But you also are getting:

  • Daily breakfast
  • Daily 90-minute spa (normally doubles your nightly price)
  • Access to curated experiences (basket boat, sunset cruise)
  • Complimentary mini bar & snacks
  • Utmost privacy & Space to roam
  • Dedicated hotel butler throughout your stay

Calculate the worth of each aspect if you stayed somewhere else in Vietnam and tell me how cheap that would be.

Especially for families by the way.


Who will Love Namia River Retreat

  • Families with kids
  • Couples
  • Adventure seekers who don’t feel comfortable in the heart of HOIANAncient Town
  • Solo travelers or digital nomads
  • Retirees

Who Should Avoid Namia River Retreat

  • Budget travelers
  • Party enthusiasts
  • Travelers who love staying INSIDE the Ancient Town

Conclusion

I am so glad we decided to stay away from the main hustle and bustle of Hoi An.

Namia exceeded every expectation we set before visiting.

Rooms were beautiful. Staff was impeccable. Food was delicious. Activities were unique.

But most importantly.

We felt relaxed thoughout the whole stay.

Namia put so much thought and detail into every aspect of this property. You could honestly spend weeks in Hoi An and not get bored.

They understand their guests want to relax in Hoi An.

But slow down too.

Disconnect from the chaos just a bit.

And Namia lets you do exactly that.

Next time we visit Vietnam, you best believe we will be staying at Namia River Retreat longer!

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