Journey through Vietnam's culinary history, then unwind in the subterranean wellness complex at the heart of Hanoi.
Beneath Hanoi's motorbike-snarled streets, I inhale the heady scent of cypress. I'm reclining on a wooden lounger in the low-heat forest therapy vault at CIRUA Wellness Club inside the Fairmont Hanoi. As the knots in my shoulders slowly unspool, I take a mental tally of the next possible moves: Head to the Himalayan salt room, the snow-white "ice cabin," or the relaxation room, where guests can sit in silence beneath a ceiling of starry lights. Or, I could shut out the world in one of the egg-shaped OpenSeed meditation pods, warm my belly with herbal tea in the adjacent cafe, or slip off my robe and head to the bathhouse circuit or Vichy shower. And that's not even counting the many treatments available at the spa across the hall.
The Fairmont Hanoi is the luxury brand's first hotel in Vietnam. The glamorous, French-Colonial-style hotel contains six restaurants and bars and sits atop a 3,500-square-meter wellness center. This combination of culinary indulgences and expansive fitness and relaxation makes for a delightful getaway. And while Hanoi residents — or frequent travelers to the capital — can buy 6- or 12-month memberships to the sprawling subterranean wellness sanctuary, Fairmont Hanoi guests can use the facilities, including its impressive CIRUA Bathhouse circuit, for free.
And, of course, that's exactly what I found myself doing one sweltering spring day after a morning and early afternoon exploring Hanoi's food scene. From slurping canh chua, a sweet-and-sour fish soup, on a plastic stool in a food-stall-lined alley to sipping icy cà phê dừa (coconut coffee) overlooking a bustling intersection in the city's elegant French Quarter, I enjoyed a whirlwind food tour within walking distance of the Fairmont.
After my afternoon swim and sauna session, I headed back up to my room to get ready for dinner at the jewel in the hotel's crown: Tran Dynasty, an elegant fine-dining restaurant by Chef Luke Nguyen. Based in Sydney, the Australian-Vietnamese restaurateur, also a guest judge on MasterChef Australia, guided the concept and menu to reimagine Vietnamese cooking and flavors through a contemporary lens.
From seared scallops topped with pomelo and peanut to wagyu served with charred pineapple and fermented shrimp, the offerings are flavorful and beautiful all at once. The restaurant's design and lighting, too, invoke iconic Vietnamese design, including paper lanterns, local artwork, and oxblood-and-gold accents to mimic the nearby Red River.
In the end, holistic wellness acts as a physical and ideological anchor to a stay at the Fairmont Hanoi. It's a straightforward, successful concept: Immerse yourself in the local culture and food, head down to the wellness club to rinse off and unwind, and then perhaps book a facial or massage before a sumptuous, beautifully plated supper. What a perfect way for foodies and wellness aficionados alike to savor time in Southeast Asia.
