InterContinental Halong Bay Resort makes a dazzling debut along Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed coastline, transforming the mythic seascape of Ha Long Bay into a new benchmark for contemporary luxury travel in Southeast Asia.
Ha Long Bay has long been the stuff of travel postcards with its limestone karsts rising like sentinels from the sea, wrapped in mist and mythology. Or the famous emerald green waters of the bay itself, perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Now, the UNESCO-listed wonder has its first truly global five-star address with the opening of InterContinental Halong Bay Resort, a landmark debut that firmly places northeast Vietnam on the region’s luxury travel map.
Located in the upscale Ha Long Marina precinct of Quang Ninh Province, the resort is just two hours from Hanoi, positioning it as an easy yet transformative escape for travellers already exploring northern Vietnam. It’s also a perfect base for those weaving Ha Long into a greater Indochina itinerary — whether pairing it with Hanoi’s heritage quarters, Ninh Binh’s inland karst landscapes, or the new beach circuits emerging along Vietnam’s northeast coast.
As for the 275-room property itself? Designed by WATG with interiors by P49Deesign, InterContinental Halong Bay Resort, its rooms — including private villas and residences — draws deeply from its surroundings. The design channels both Vietnam’s maritime folklore and the bay’s natural drama — think lobby spaces inspired by bamboo basket boats, iridescent pearl details throughout, and suites dressed in sea-glass blues and sun-bleached neutrals. Yet the aesthetic is also unmistakably InterContinental: sleek, elegant, and contemporary while being rooted in place.
Food is a major talking point — and a serious pull for regional travellers. The resort’s upcoming Roku & Star Bar will be one of North Vietnam’s most exciting Japanese dining openings, combining six classical cooking techniques with a curated Sake Library and a sculptural bamboo installation inspired by Ha Long’s legendary “descending dragon”. There’s also Yulong Mansion, slated for 2026, which promises refined Cantonese dining with theatrical touches — Peking duck carvings, open kitchens, and traditional tea ceremonies — the kind of modern Asian fine dining that’s likely to draw travelling foodies in.
For now, guests can dine at Marina Kitchen, which celebrates Ha Long’s coastal bounty with contemporary flair; La Baguette, a French-Vietnamese bistrot that nods to the country’s colonial legacy; and Del Mar, a breezy poolside bar channeling the spirit of Ha Long’s floating fishing villages. Meanwhile, Vue, the bay-facing lobby lounge, turns afternoons into a ritual with its high tea service and sunset cocktails.
Wellness seekers are in good hands at the Hidden Lagoon Spa, which partners with luxury British and Australian beauty houses Margaret Dabbs London and Sodashi for treatments here lean into the serenity of Ha Long Bay, focusing on slow, sensory rejuvenation — ideal for travellers who’ve been hopping cities across Southeast Asia. Families, meanwhile, are catered for with the Planet Trekkers Kids’ Club, offering culturally immersive workshops (think conical-hat painting and Vietnamese candle-making), plus a game room with cinema and arcade favourites.
Beyond the resort, guests can explore Cửa Vạn and Vung Viêng floating villages, visit Ha Long Pearl Farm, or hike Bai Tho Mountain for panoramic views of the bay. Ancient temples and pagodas dot the region, many dating back over 700 years — a reminder that Ha Long’s legends go far deeper than its surface beauty.
With its sweeping views, thoughtful design, and a culinary lineup worth travelling for, InterContinental Halong Bay Resort isn’t just the newest addition to IHG’s luxury portfolio — it’s the long-awaited catalyst for turning Ha Long from day-trip territory into a destination in its own right.
For more information, visit: www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/ha-long-bay/hphhl/hoteldetail.
[Photo credits: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts]
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