Sonny Side is a famous blogger with a YouTube channel with more than 10.7 million followers. He regularly posts videos featuring his travel experiences in Vietnam, relating what he eats and how he enjoys local culture and food.

Most recently, Sonny spent time to discover a resort in Ninh Van Bay in Ninh Hoa district in Khanh Hoa province, just 20 minutes by train from Nha Trang City.

The resort is located on an isolated island. Its special characteristic is that it is made of natural materials, including stone and wood, and is surrounded by forests. In 2022, Readers’ Choice Awards, the annual prize of Conde Nast Traveler, recognized it as one of the 50 favorite resorts in the world.

Sonny was surprised when he arrived, seeing the isolated resort that could only be reached by boat. Routes are hidden in the forests and open-air swimming pools are located on natural rocks.

The American guest booked a villa with the rate of $1.600 per night, located on a hill with views to the sea. To reach the villa, he had to walk a long distance as no means of transport could access the place.

“The path was relatively long, but there was no other choice for you to get there, and you just had to count on yourself,” he recalled.

“The staff put everything you needed into specialized baskets, and carried the baskets on their back and walked through the forests before giving the things back to you,” he added.

The American guest said it was worth walking such a distance, because the landscapes were wonderful, which made his fatigue disappear.

Sonny said every villa there had a garden, sundeck and separate reception area. There was also a small wine cellar and furniture, tea and coffee making equipment, personal safe, hair dryer and small beverage cabinet.

When entering the bedroom, Sonny was surprised by the open design space with a large dressing room, a bathroom with double sinks and a handmade wooden bathtub.

From his bedroom, he could see the sea in front of the villa. He could also swim outdoors and enjoyed personal time at the specially designed wine cellar. He also saw rare and precious monkeys that are being conserved on the island.

Phan Dau