Understanding that the journey to any traveler’s heart often requires a detour through the stomach, Fusion opened Maia Resort Quy Nhon as a gastronomically-driven, 94-villa resort in a relatively untrodden destination along Vietnam’s southern coast.
Fusion’s newest property had a soft launch in late 2020. Due to the pandemic, the resort only recently celebrated its grand opening in December 2021, as it cut the ribbon on the final villas.
The latest ‘Maia’ brand expands on Fusion’s original wellness focus by bringing in another important factor in a trip away – food. Maia guests have the choice of dinner or lunch, in addition to the complimentary breakfast; or an indulgent spa therapy, as part of the nightly rate.
The property also offers a range of signature culinary experiences including Once Upon a Table, a four-course chef’s table style experience at their intimate dining destination ad hoc; Barefoot Destination Dining overlooking the ocean; a private BBQ with a personal chef served up in the guest’s villa; an in-villa high tea service; and Breakfast by Design, which among many choices includes the option of an Insta-worthy floating breakfast tray.
“Gastronomy is often one of the most integral parts of a holiday as it has the capability to transform the unknown into a comforting and familial experience”, said Marc Bittner, General Manager of Maia Resort Quy Nhon. “At Maia, we aim to take guests beyond the familiar and introduce them to a selection of regional specialties while featuring the hallmarks of Vietnamese gastronomy”.
If guests are more wellness-inclined they can opt for a daily spa treatment, instead of half board. Vēla spa, is a ten-treatment-room oasis that draws inspiration from the surrounding landscape with natural design elements including granite, teak wood, and flora indigenous to the location. The ecologically-minded spa follows a jungle to jar concept with treatments built around local ingredients.
The property features an expansive pool and fitness center stocked with the latest international standard equipment.
Maia has two restaurants, Vị and ad hoc, along with an open-air pool bar. The casual all-day dining option Vị, which translates as taste, can host up to 146 guests, with indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant has a local focus celebrating the abundant seafood and produce of the region. Live cooking stations are just as eye-catching as the view out over Phuong Mai Bay. The interiors also take inspiration from the environs and the decor was produced mostly by local artisans.
ad hoc is a more intimate affair that can host a maximum of 96 diners, inside and outside, at a time. The head chef scours the local markets daily to find ingredients for a menu that changes often. The restaurant offers a communal dining experience, akin to gathering for a feast with family.
The 94 villas range in size from one and three bedroom villas, most with private plunge pools and gardens. Accommodation options range from 61-square-meters for a semi-detached villa to a palatial 264-square-meters for the Three Bedroom Beachfront Pool Villa. The interiors all follow an earthy color palette, with pops of various ocean hues throughout. The link to the earth continues throughout the property with the use of reclaimed elements such as preserved driftwood, copper, and rattan making up the core materials used for the overall design.
The property is located on the shores of Phuong Mai Bay in Quy Nhon, an area that has managed to retain its local charm and has been under the radar of most travelers to Vietnam, despite being just an hour’s flight from the country’s commercial hub, Ho Chi Minh City.
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