I’ve always been quite judgemental of people who choose to stay in a luxury resort when travelling overseas.

I’m talking the kind of resort where you have everything you need, where you don’t even have to leave the premises if you don’t want to.

I’ve never understood it. If you’re spending the time and money to travel internationally, don’t you want to explore and experience the culture?

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Personally, I’ve never thought that you could have the best of both worlds. That luxury and culture could live alongside each other simultaneously.

But, I’ve recently been very happily proven wrong, after making the journey to Vietnam to visit Cam Ranh, a port city in the South Central Coast. 

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Where to stay in Vietnam

I had researched where I was staying beforehand, Radisson Blu Cam Ranh Resort, and needless to say thanks to my prior beliefs, I was sceptical.

Despite my scepticism, I was blown away upon arrival – personally, I’ve never stayed at a nicer resort.

The location of the hotel was previously a fishing village, and the designers made sure to pay homage to their heritage with ceilings designed to look like fishing nets, beautiful beachside artwork on the walls, and of course the opportunity to walk just a short stroll down the beach to see the fishing village for yourself.

The multiple pools, bars and restaurants – not to mention the stunning day-spa – were all perfectly designed for someone wanting a relaxing and beautiful beachside holiday.

The kids club and waterpark were both tucked away from the other parts of the resort, meaning that people travelling with kids and those travelling without are able to live in perfect harmony.

Even though I was wildly impressed with the hotel itself upon arrival, I still questioned if there would be the opportunity to experience life outside the resort.

Things to do in Vietnam

But over the next few days, I came to realise that the judgement I’d passed on friends and family I’d seen enjoying their luxury hotels such as this one before had been completely unfair.

Just a 10-minute drive from the hotel is the second largest mango farm in the country.

I was lucky enough to be given a tour of the grounds with 50 trees, each around 70 to 100 years old and producing around four tonnes of mangoes each.

I was shown how the mangoes are harvested and the fruity, sweet treats they can be turned into if not sold as a whole – of course I also got to try them fresh of the tree and let me just tell you, if you’re a mango fan this is a must. 

Then, just a 30-minute drive North, also sits the city of Nha Trang.

A visit to the trade markets will let you learn all the ways the Vietnamese people craft everything from straw hats to bamboo rugs.

I experienced performances of local music with instruments I’d never seen, nor heard of in my life, and ate some of the most delicious meals I’ve tasted in my 25 years of life.

After a stop at a Christian church, a Buddhist temple, and the local market – my number one goal being to find a coconut coffee which ended very successfully – it was time to head back to Cam Ranh.

Nha Trang is a popular stop for tourists, often packed with people of all cultures there to experience Vietnamese life, whereas Cam Ranh is much quieter and up and coming.

So, when I arrived back at my luxurious hotel and was able to kick back in my own private villa by my pool after a long day exploring, it all clicked for me.

You don’t always need to stay in the hustle and bustle of it all, and travelling can be relaxing as well as adventurous.

The verdict

My prior beliefs had been somewhat reverse travel elitism, I’ve always stayed in the cheapest hostel justifying it by the fact that I won’t be spending time there anyway, and by day four of my trip ended up absolutely exhausted.

Let’s not even talk about how tired I am when I get home.

But when I returned back from this Vietnam trip, having had the opportunity to see and do everything I wanted while being able to return to a comfy bed, private pool and everything I could possibly want right at my door step, I felt fantastic.

So, if you’re like me and you’re pushing yourself to your absolute limits while travelling, this is your sign that you don’t need to do that anymore.

And if you’re one of the people I’ve previously judged for enjoying your overseas holiday in a stunning resort setting, I sincerely apologise.

In terms of my future travel plans, I think my stay at Radisson Blu Cam Ranh may have converted me.

Sorry to the hostels and cheap homestays, I think I might be a resort person now. 

The writer travelled as a guest of the Radisson Blu Cam Ranh.