Avana Retreat
Mai Chau

Deep in the emerald hills of Mai Chau, in north-western Vietnam, Avana Retreat feels like a secret - a quiet, sustainably minded mountain retreat where Vietnam’s landscapes and cultures remain beautifully untouched. Spread across 15 hectares of terraced rice paddies and tropical forest, the retreat was designed to preserve and celebrate its setting. Built using traditional techniques and local materials, its 36 bungalows, suites and pool villas sit quietly within the landscape, each with far-reaching views and a deep sense of calm.

Life here moves at a slower pace; days might begin with sunrise yoga as the valley wakes in mist, followed by a guided trek through bamboo forest or a dip in the heated infinity pool, which curves around the hillside and overlooks the mountains. The Orchid Spa, reached by a small bridge over a stream, is a highlight with open-air treatment pavilions that sit next to waterfalls, and therapies rooted in local healing traditions and botanicals. 

Avana’s connection to the local community runs through everything - 95% of the team are from surrounding villages, and guests are invited to explore the area through a wide range of guided experiences. The in-house guides arrange bespoke treks through rice terraces and forest trails, and visits to nearby villages. For something more meditative, there are forest walks, riverside meditation and quiet swims beneath the property’s own waterfall.

Avana’s cuisine celebrates the flavours and produce of the region. Green Chili, the main restaurant, serves refined Vietnamese and Southeast Asian dishes, with ingredients sourced from nearby farms. For something more intimate, there are candlelit dinners in beautiful settings that showcase Avana’s effortless attention to detail. The Cloud Pool Bar offers light bites and cocktails with panoramic views, best enjoyed at sunset as the sky turns gold over the valley.

At the heart of the resort is the Stilt House Museum, a thoughtful space preserving artefacts from the region’s Thai, H’mong and Muong communities. Here, guests can join traditional craft workshops in H’mong batik painting, Thai weaving and rattan basketry, a rare opportunity to engage with these time-honoured skills directly from the artisans themselves.

Named Asia’s Leading Retreat at the 2022 World Travel Awards, Avana is truly something special, offering an authentic yet luxurious window into rural Vietnam, a place to slow down, reconnect with nature and experience the quiet rhythms of mountain life.

The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.
Rudyard Kipling