Discover Local Traditions at Azerai
Azerai Ke Ga Bay is a resort in southern Vietnam that offers suites and villas right by the ocean. It has a 5-kilometre beach and is located near a fishing port known for fresh seafood. One special activity at the resort is called “Fish Like a Local.” Guests start with a briefing about the local fishing culture. Then, they will learn how to cast a traditional Vietnamese fishing net from the shore with help from expert guides. If they are lucky, they might catch some fish. For a more hands-on fishing experience, guests can also fish from a circular basket boat in the bay. These basket boats are an important part of the local coastal culture in southern Vietnam.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay General Manager Julian Moore says, “We have created these activities for our guests to echo Azerai’s hospitality philosophy, encapsulated in its tagline: ‘The destination is just the beginning.’”
“By blurring the boundaries between our properties and the abundant local culture that surrounds us, Azerai seeks to provide guests a moment to be at one with our host community. Azerai Ke Ga Bay’s ‘Fish Like a Local’ activity is a great example of this, as our guests have an opportunity to experience hands-on a way of Vietnamese life that’s been passed down for generations,” Moore says.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay offers a new oceanfront cooking class focusing on coastal herbs, spices, and fresh seafood. While guests cannot use their fishing catches in the class, fishing and cooking are connected culturally. Guests can also skip cooking and enjoy a Vietnamese BBQ set menu with locally sourced seafood and traditional southern marinades. Last year, the resort introduced private beachfront dining, providing a special way to enjoy the seaside setting.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay is situated along a new highway, just a 2.5-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. It is set within 5 hectares of lush gardens. To the east, the bay is framed by Hon Ba Island, which features a lighthouse, while to the west, it is bordered by towering sand dunes.
In April, The Times (UK) recognized Azerai Ke Ga Bay as one of the best boutique hotels in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, in March, it was ranked as the No. 2 “Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World” in a global competition sponsored by the U.S.-based magazine Luxury Travel Advisor.
In the region of central Vietnam, Azerai La Residence, Hue, offers unique guest experiences that celebrate local culture. This 122-room luxury heritage hotel has introduced updated Vietnamese cooking classes led by Executive Chef Nguyen Dong Hai, honoured in April with the prestigious title of “Master Culinary Artisan of Vietnam.” The cooking class highlights fresh local herbs from the hotel’s onsite garden and features popular specialities from Hue.
One standout option that guests can prepare is bánh khoái, a royal-style pancake once enjoyed by emperors. This local dish reflects the elegance of Vietnam’s former imperial capital. Bánh khoái is filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts and served with a peanut dipping sauce made from ground peanuts, pork liver, sesame, and fermented soy. It truly lives up to its name, “khoái,” which means delight.
For a more comprehensive dining experience in the former seat of the Nguyen dynasty, hotel guests can don the king and queen costumes and indulge in an “Imperial Feast” that features dishes once prepared for royal rulers. The meal is served at Le Parfum restaurant with Hue Royal Music playing in the background.
“Hue is the culinary capital of Vietnam, famous for its gastronomy. During the Nguyen dynasty, the Emperors summoned the finest chefs to the Citadel in Hue, creating a legacy of culinary excellence. As a result, Hue is home to roughly 2,000 of Vietnam’s approximately 3,000 national dishes,” Azerai La Residence, Hue General Manager Minh Phan Trong said.
The hotel has recently introduced an exclusive two-night stay package called the “Ancient Capital Pilgrimage Package.” This unique experience invites guests to explore the region’s most revered religious sites, highlighting central Vietnam’s rich spiritual heritage. The package includes a half-day tour where guests can engage in traditional rituals and receive divine blessings and guidance.
Azerai La Residence, Hue, is set in a colonial mansion built in 1930 as part of the residence for the French Resident Supérieur. The mansion features a distinctive façade characterized by long horizontal lines and nautical elements, hallmarks of the streamlined moderne style of deco architecture.
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