The Anam Cam Ranh is the perfect villa holiday - review

Asia Family Traveller
8 hours ago
3 min read

With 300 days of sunshine, miles of golden beaches and the warm waters of the South China Sea, Vietnam's Cam Ranh has a lot to recommend it. Carolynne Dear flew in for a stay

The Anam Cam Ranh - stylish and family-friendly villa accommodation right on the beach

Cam Ranh, on Vietnam’s south-central coast, is fast becoming one of the most popular regional holiday destinations for Asia-based families.

While Da Nang to the north continues to pull in the punters, Cam Ranh is quickly emerging as an attractive alternative beach destination. As with Da Nang, it’s an easy flight - around two-and-a-half hours from Singapore or two from Hong Kong - and with a plethora of international resorts just minutes from the airport, all abutting the silky sands and warmly embracing waters of the Cam Ranh Peninsula.

The independently-operated Anam Cam Ranh opened in 2017 and is a delightful addition to the area. This low-rise property is indolently spread over 12 lazy hectares, with 77 villas dotted about the immaculately kept grassy lawns. There are a further 136 guest rooms and suites located in the main hotel building.

Villa stay

The stunning resort embraces a colonial Indochine theme (‘Anam’ is a reference to ‘An Nam’, the name of Central Vietnam during the French Indochina era), with sustainable local hardwood furnishings, decorative Vietnamese floor tiles and canvases and photography commissioned from local artists.

While the area averages around 300 days of sunshine a year, my stay unfortunately coincided with heavy rainfall. Nonetheless, I soon relaxed into an enjoyable few days, hosted in one of the resort’s gorgeous garden view villas. As well as the single room options, there are family-friendly two- and three-bedroom hilltop pool villas and families with a single small child might want to take a look at the premium villas with a sitting room and pull-out sofa that can be converted into a bed. Meanwhile, connecting suites and rooms are also available. Baby cots can be provided free of charge.

Family fun

Essentially this is fly ‘n’ flop territory, but the resort is well-equipped for active youngsters of all ages, with floodlit tennis courts, 18-hole mini golf, outdoor and indoor 3D cinemas and three swimming pools (including an adults-only option). Under 12s can head to the kids’ club, although under fours will require parental supervision.

Babysitting is also available on request and highly recommended for the opportunity to dine à deux at the resort’s swanky Colonial restaurant (pop into the Saigon Bar for cocktails first). Further dining options run to the Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar which serves a fine buffet breakfast and some very tasty Vietnamese lunch options. The beach pool is served by the nearby Beach Club, perfect for feeding rumbling tums after a morning spent splashing around.

The Anam lives up to expectations and is entirely deserving of its 2025 listing in the global top 100 of Fodor’s Finest Hotels.

What I loved

It was difficult to find fault at what is one of Southeast Asia's most luxurious resorts. The low-rise design in an area becoming renowned for high-rise hotels was absolutely delightful. The huge lawns and gardens are perfect for active littlies, as are the attractively landscaped family-friendly pools. Quality villa accommodation in Southeast Asia is much sought after when you have the family in tow; the Anam Cam Ranh is definitely one to bookmark.