AsiaLIFE

Behind The Design: Christian Berg visits Con Dao’s first five-star resort.

Just off the coast of Vietnam—less than an hour plane ride from Saigon—lies the former prison archipelago of Con Dao. Protected for decades as a national and marine park, the 16 islands are virtually untainted, providing sanctuary for endangered species and the ideal setting for the five-star Six Senses Con Dao Resort.

Overlooking the bay on Con Dao’s main island Con Son, the resort’s 50 villas stretch across a mile-long beach fringed by dark green mountains and have been designed in perfect harmony with nature. The almost exclusive use of natural materials like bamboo and wood give the villas a luxurious yet laidback feel—far less pretentious than other extravagant resorts in Vietnam can be.

Designed by a renowned French architect, privacy is key and each villa has its own infinity-edged pool that faces towards the ocean.

However, the shared spaces inspired by traditional Vietnamese villages are gorgeous, too. (All the beautifully carved doors on the huts are sourced from Hoi An in Central Vietnam.) The restaurant is stunning, as well.

Huge windows face the beach and the mostly beige façade accented with pops of green and orange is fresh and vibrant.

The design has already earned Six Senses accolades. Last year, the resort won Best International Small Construction and Design at the International Commercial Property Awards. Of the honour, Sonu Shivdasani, chairman and CEO of Six Senses said, “I’m absolutely delighted that Six Senses’ newest resort has won this award for design”.

Rick Mayo-Smith, CEO of property developer Indochina Land added. “We are very proud to have won this award. Indochina Land shares Six Senses’ philosophy of ecological design and development, using only sustainable and natural materials. To have been recognised as a world leader in the area of design is a great triumph.”

Six Senses Con Dao. sixsenses.com/sixsensescondao, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .