There is a reason so many chefs and foodies fall in love with Hoi An. From the forested hills where aromatic cinnamon grows, to the fertile islets where delicate herbs spring from the soil, to the coastline, where fishermen draw treasures from the salty sea -- everything needed to eat well can be found here. The Merchant River Cruise promises to bring guests up close to not only the heritage and natural beauty of Hoi An, but also its unforgettable flavors. Over five carefull

To stand on the riverbank in Hoi An is to stand in a land defined by water. Three main river systems carve their way through the part of Central Vietnam historically known as Quang Nam. Of them, the Thu Bon River is perhaps the most majestic. Its riverheads are found in the western mountains. Its streams wind through forested hills, open into vast plains of rice fields, and converge in a wide, meandering river that branches into sandy deltas and estuaries as it meets the Eas

In Chef Viet Pham’s early memories, there is always the aroma of herbs—steaming, roasting, smoking, filling the house where he grew up in Southern Vietnam. A child of two local doctors who practiced traditional medicine and offered natural remedies, the scent of herbs was a constant at home. The new Executive Sous Chef at Namia River Retreat credits his mother as the reason he got into cooking, saying simply, “She was a master.” Growing up in Saigon, Viet’s culinary foundati