Visit to Alma Resort, Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam

Visit to Alma Resort, Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam 

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Alma Resort Itinerary for Axel Ritenis, January 19-21, 2024 

*The author of this article Axel Ritenis  was a guest of the Alma Resort, Cam Ranh Bay Vietnam 

Located in Cam Ranh, a 14-minute walk from Bai Dai Beach, Alma Resort Cam Ranh provides accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness center, and a garden. With a terrace, the property also has a bar and a tennis court. The property has a 24-hour front desk, airport transfer service, a kids’ club, and free Wi-Fi. 

On Vietnam’s emerging Cam Ranh peninsula fronting Long Beach, Alma Resort Cam Ranh commands some 30 hectares of inspiring ground. Emblematic of Vietnam’s maturation as a destination, the bold and spacious integrated resort offers oversized suites and pavilions that all have sweeping views of the ocean. 

“The Alma Resort features a broad spectrum of restaurants helmed by top chefs, a food court with an array of local and international cuisine, as well as a classical bar, pool bar and beach bar. Other highlights include 12 swimming pools cascading down to the beach, a water park, 13-treatment room spa, 70-seat cinema, convention centre, amphitheater, science museum, gymnasium and yoga room, 18-hole putting green, a youth centre with virtual reality games, a kid’s club, water-sports centre, a sustainable farm and even a mini-supermarket.” 

The Resort also prioritizes sustainability and self-sufficiency with its own nursery garden, a chicken farm, and soon a solar power project. With its beautiful location an extensive facility on offer and divers dining options and with a focus on well-being and sustainability, the Alma Resort Cam Ran is the perfect destination for family travelers and couples alike, seeking relaxation and adventure. 

 

All guest rooms at the resort are equipped with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kitchenette, a dining area, a safe deposit box and a private bathroom with a bidet, free toiletries and a hairdryer. They are also equipped with a coffee machine, while some rooms come with a balcony and others also have sea views. All rooms and suites have a fridge with a selection of drinks. 

The Alma Resort Cam Ranh has a fabulous range of restaurants and dining on offer, including restaurants serving American, Italian, and Japanese cuisine. Vegan options can also be requested. 

It must be emphasized, this is an “Aqua lover’s delight”. This Resort is awash with 12 “Cascading down to the Sea” Swimming Pools and a private Ocean Beach.

 

Aqua lovers delight this Resort is replete with 12 Cascading down to the Sea Swimming Pools and and a private Ocean Beach

Itinerary of Axel

13:00 pick up/transfer from Xavia Hotel in Nha Trang 

My two-day visit to the Alma resort commenced with a Transfer from the Xavia Hotel in Nha Trang which is a 3-to-4-star Hotel on the coastal city of Nh Trang with views over the Sea and whilst a good budget hotel it is definitely not in the luxury league, so quite a contrast to my destination. 

13:30-Arrival at Alma Resort 

On my arrival at the slightly overwhelming Thirty-hectare resort I was welcomed by the friendly staff and the General Manager of the Resort, Herbert Laubichler-Pichler,..(who is a well-known veteran hotelier, having been involved in the management of some iconic European Hotels including Claridge’s in London,..and provided hospitality for both Royalty and Celebrities alike). 

Make no mistake, The Alma is bold, spacious and emblematic of Vietnam’s maturation as a destination.  

I was then driven in a hotel buggy which is used throughout the large grounds as a conveyance, to my accommodation ,..an Ocean Front Pavilion  

Description of my Ocean View Pool Pavilions one bedroom ground floor apartment. 

The Ocean Front Pool Pavilion affords views of Long Beach, and, as its name suggests, has its own private pool with a terrace and sunbed. 

The Pavilion has a master bedroom with a soaking bathtub and separate rainwater shower, a living room with a sofa and its own large bathroom, and a kitchen and dining area. 

“On arrival in my apartment I noticed there was a welcome message from the Hotel management and a basket of Tropical Fruit with a bottle of Chilean Mapu Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere wine by Baron Phillipe de Rothschild, on the dining/ living room table. As a former wine trader and wine journalist this was a valued gesture as this is a wine that I  appreciate and was familiar with and looked forward to consuming at some opportune moment.

“Suffice it to say this wine was pretty symbolic of the elevated level of sophistication and hospitality that this resort offers its guests!”

 

Private bathing Pool and Spectacular Ocean views form the privacy of my Ocean view Villa apartment. 

 

Fabulous comfortable Queen size Bed rated 9.5 and high-quality Linen provided for guests in this Luxury Ocean View Villa-with large Plasma TV screen viewable whilst in Bed  

The Ocean View Pavilion had all the amenities and gadgets for a luxurious holiday, such as sensor-controlled air-conditioning, Bluetooth televisions, spacious closets, tea and coffee making facilities, a fridge, and a beautiful patio with stunning ocean views. 

It was also very private. 

“My  pavilion was  equipped with all sorts of amenities and gadgets for boosted holiday luxury,..including sensor-controlled air-conditioning, Bluetooth televisions, ample closet space, tea and coffee making facilities, fridge and lovely patio that affords sweeping vistas of the ocean.It was A beautiful Villa with an excellent view captured from my room.”

*As a guest of the Alma Resort I stayed in the below described  2-bedroom apartment  and it was very private.

Ocean View Pool Pavilion 2 Bedrooms Ground Floor Villa

My  private kitchenette:

• Refrigerator
• Coffee machine
• Tea/Coffee maker
• Mini Bar
• Electric kettle
  
• Outdoor furniture
• Outdoor dining area
• Dining area
• Dining table
  

Bathrooms:  2

In my private bathroom:

• Free toiletries
• Bathrobe
• Additional bathroom
• Bidet
• Bathtub or shower
• Slippers
• Hairdryer
  
• Extra bathroom

Day 1. from 15:00 –16:00- Tour of Alma Resort and facilities 

Around 3 pm, Mildred Amon, the charming public relations manager at the Alma Resort, took me on a tour of the Resort Hotel and the Facilities. 

The resort is so big there is so much to do, and it is hard getting your head around all the different facilities on day one. 

My first observation was that the staff are super friendly and genuinely pleasant and focused on delivering cheerful and warm hospitality. Nothing is too much for them and they seem more genuine than the staff in many comparable Thai Hotels and Resorts who really are false and superficial and not really genuine. The resort has a very international range of visitors, including Australians, Koreans, Chinese and some Europeans.  

This is a Family Resort, and the many family groups and children are having a “wow of a time” experiencing all the myriad facilities. 

 

Conveniently posted Resort Maps for guests to navigate around this vast resort- which is served with electric Golf Buggies for guest transportation 

 

Guests can enjoy some amazing facilities with highlights including: 

  -12 swimming pools cascading down to the beach, 

-a water park, 

-13-treatment room spa, 

-70-seat cinema, 

-convention centre, 

-amphitheater, 

-science museum, 

-a gymnasium and yoga room, 

-an 18-hole putting green, 

-a youth Centre with virtual reality games, 

-a kid’s club, 

a watersports Centre, 

-a sustainable farm 

and even an Alma Resort Mini-Supermarket. 

 

Water Park with Slides for children and adults alike -You can play here for hours !

Overview 

“I soon discovered the major highlights include 12 swimming pools cascading down to the beach, a water park, 13-treatment room spa, 70-seat cinema, Convention Centre, amphitheater, science museum, gymnasium and yoga room, 18-hole putting green, a youth Centre with virtual reality games, a kid’s club, water sports centre, organic sustainable farm and even an Alma Mart & mini supermarket.”

 

Restaurant hopping with Alma Resort’s GM

From 17:00hrs- Guided Restaurant Hopping/Dining Tour starting at “The Atlantis” 

-Restaurant hopping with Alma’s GM Herbert Laubichler-Pichler starting out at the Beach Bar, Atlantis, Asiana, La Casa, and American Lounge and

We Started out at Beach Bar on Long Beach, where Herbert and I got know each other over a Beer and we shared some Vietnamese type Tapas like local snacks before we move to the beachfront restaurant Atlantis. 

With a vast deck for alfresco dining that sits above Alma’s strand and interior “bedecked with striking turquoise tiling complementing the surrounding azure waters and skies”, Atlantis specializes in fresh local seafood.  

“The restaurant has several live seafood tanks which showcase local favorites such as Long Beach Sea Crab, Nha Trang Flower Crab, Cam Ranh White Pomfret, Nha Trang Grouper, Thuy Trieu Sea Clam and Cam Hai Sweet Snails. “

Regrettably, I wasn’t called upon to select a Rock Lobster for grilling, but I did enjoy delectable Oysters prepared according to Special Resort Recipes (which have been shared elsewhere on this site) and Seafood, and I had the opportunity to watch the preparation and serving of this decadent crustacean. 

The charm about the Atlantis is that it offers “Barefoot Dining” and delicious Vietnamese influence Seafood Dishes right on the patio deck adjacent to the Resorts private beach. 

Talk about diverse and comprehensive relaxation activities. You can kick back with a freezing cold local beer or a chilled glass of Australian chardonnay. And experience the east sea breeze which never stops blowing.,(and it really is refreshing),so there is definitely “no sweaty dining” at the Alma.  

As a bonus the Vietnamese climate is ideal with 300 sunny days a year and here at the Cam Ran Bay ,..the breeze is perpetual and has a pleasant cooling effect. 

The local climate facilitates an enjoyable micro-climate offering a superb ocean vista,..and I speak as a spoilt Australian. This is a unique and world class experience. 

The Atlantis offers imported and local seafood delights, plus some healthy organic salads and herbs, many of which are grown in the vegetable gardens at the Resort, which is amazing.  

Of course, with the water at your feet ,..You can take a cooling dip after lunch or dinner in one of the many pools or better still take a dip as I did beforehand. to work up a good appetite for the delicious seafood dinners on offer. 

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*See also “The Life and Times of a Hotel professional” here:

https://epicurevietnam.com/gourmet-traveller-1/vietnam-2/hotelier-memoir

*In an exclusive interview with Epicure Vietnam, life-long hotelier Herbert Laubichler-Pichler reminisces with highlights of his hospitality career spanning over 50 years, working with the mega famous such as Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Arnie Schwarzenegger, Prince,and Michael Jackson. * 

 

Photo-Mr. Herbert Laubichler-Pichler GM at the Alma Resort Cam Ranh

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The newly reopened Asiana that specializes in Korean, Thai, Japanese and Vegan fare

Then we moved on to the newly reopened Asiana that specializes in Korean, Thai, Japanese and Vegan fare.

Guests can further stretch their stomachs, in Tuscan style, at Alma’s Italian Trattoria La Casa, that features an open kitchen and patio.  

Authentic Italian ingredients are combined with organic products to create a wide selection of classic Italian dishes, including delicious antipasti, fresh handmade pasta and bread made in the open kitchen, and pizza.  

Alma’s resident pianist Ben tickles the ivories, performing a medley of tunes. We then had some after-dinner drinks at the American Lounge and Bar. 

 

 

Enjoyed a delicious A-La Cart breakfast at La casa ding in Al Fresco style ,..with a view over the Organic Vegetable and Herb Gardens tended by the Vietnamese gardeners

 

Day 2 Breakfast with the GM at La Casa -08.00 hrs. -Saturday, January 20 

After a 6.30 am Swim in the large 75 metre pool I enjoyed a delicious A-La Cart breakfast at La Casa dining Al Fresco,..with a view over the Organic Vegetable and Herb Gardens tended by the Vietnamese gardeners with their unique shaped straw hats to protect them from the tropical sun. 

Guests can Enjoy Breakfast at their choice of La Casa, Alma Garden or Alma Food Court.  

Of course, Alma Garden beats at the heart of the resort, and they feature live cooking stations that evoke a marketplace atmosphere, and a sprawling terrace that looks out to the Pool Bar merged into the first of the pools cascading down to the beach. 

Alma Garden serves an extensive a la carte breakfast spread of Western and Asian favourite, whilst Alma Food Court promises to offer something to suit everyone’s palette. A fun and happening culinary hub that seats 312 guests, Alma Food Court offers six different food outlets including An Nam selling Vietnamese classics, a Tokyo Express food truck, The Noodle House serving beef and chicken noodle soups, Little New York offering chicken cooked in a Henny Penny fryer, the French Bakery and Espresso Bar serving excellent coffee, tea and freshly squeezed juice. 

Together with the GM I enjoyed a delicious A-La Cart breakfast at La Casa breakfasting in Al Fresco style outside in the garden ,with a view over the vegetable and herb gardens and a bird’s-eye view over the entire resort. 

“So, for breakfast on Day 2,..I was treated to a healthy freshly squeezed orange juice, and then I had some delicious, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon interspersed in the mixture. -and some freshly baked bread -scrumptious. The freshly baked bread was accompanied with various charcuterie and cold cuts including sausage, ham and some excellent French fromage and other cheese. To settle my apres swim ravenous apetite I was given a delicious Vietnamese classic soup Pho …which the Vietnamese people really do eat for breakfast. “

Did I forget to mention the delicious Banh Mi with Pork and Cold cuts plus Salad and Coriander Rolls? And the French Patisseries with another Double Espressoand then a plate of freshly sliced Tropical fruits-check out the delicious food in my Instagrmm images above!

I really was getting spoilt,and about to gain some weight. Lucky me! 

Anyway, the point of all this is to demonstrate the fact you really can enjoy a delicious, superb breakfast and this Luxury Family resort offers a vast selection of gastronomic delights-it has it all! 

08:00 Second Day- ‘A Journey Through Local Culture and Cuisine’ Tour and Cooking Class  

An exclusive cooking class and cultural experience, A Journey Through Culture and Cuisine makes for an immersive experience in daily life. We left Alma at 8am and visited the vibrant local Cam Duc  Market to buy produce and sample local morning snacks. We then then visit a unique cobblestone temple in Cam Lam, the only one of its kind in Vietnam and possibly the world, built by a monk with an incredibly inspiring story. 

We then visited a mango farm run in the traditional way and learned about the different types of mangoes and the seasons and understood the importance of mango farming for the region, before enjoying a cup of mango tea. 

 

We  returned to Alma  resort for a hands-on Vietnames cooking class led by the Tour Guide Christinna and  professional chef to learn how to create traditional Vietnamese dishes.

After the Cooking class Lunch was served and  featured the tasty delicous  dishes We had  created.

 

The writer contemplating the cascading Pools and enjoying the ocean breeze

Day 2 -Late afternoon -At leisure 

Happily, after a couple of an action-packed days the hotel management left me free to enjoy the Alma on my own,..to explore the beach, partake in complementary beach sport activities such as kayaking and body boarding, or swim in the swimming pools’, Which is exactly what I did,..and chatted to some of the delightful resort guests, including a friendly Australian family from Melbourne.  

As I travelled alone, I ignored the Splash Water Park designed for children, but I did hit the gym for a quick early morning workout. Unfortunately, I did not really spend any times checking out the science museum, nor did I play Putt-Putt at the Resorts 18-hole putting green. I also ignored the morning session of the Cinema, as it was clear the programme was intended for children on holiday – not for me. 

 

Delicious authentic Pizza Quattro Formaggi with Truffle

Day 2 -19:00 -Dinner with My Choice of Dining Venue 

After sampling various restaurants in the company of the GM, the previous evening, I was given the freedom to choose where I preferred to dine for the evening and funny enough,. After 10 days eating exotic Vietnamese food, I drifted towards La Casa and was tempted by the “All you can Eat Pizza and Past evening”.  

Whilst there I ran into the new Sous-Chef an Australian guy, and we discussed the problems of Hotel and Resort catering for such a diverse range of guests, and We had a chat about the expat lifestyle of a professional Chef in the Vietnamese hospitality sector. 

Day 3-Sunday Breakfast, 08.00 January 21 

After my usual swim in the “humungous 75-meter Resort Swimming Pool”, I had an appointment with Alma’s Director of Marketing Communication Mildred Amon at 7:30am in the Alma Lobby.  

Photo/Breakfast Journey through Alma’s breakfast venues La Casa, Alma Garden and Alma Food Court 

This was the opportunity to take a Journey through Alma’s breakfast venues La Casa, Alma Garden and Alma Food Court. I enjoyed a delicious western style breakfast with fresh baked bread at Alam Garden food Court comprising the usual things with a nicely cooked Omelettes from the Egg Station. I indulged in some excellent salads, largely organic and sourced from the Resorts Vegetable Garden. 

I particularly enjoyed the Smoked Catfish with some European style Rye bread. I noted the charcuterie cuts of cold meat were not as good as in Australia or Europe ,..but quite acceptable. However, the cooked meats and sausages were delicious. Also, the imported cheeses like the Brie and Tilsit were excellent and went well with the freshly baked baguettes. Certainly, all the freshly Baked Breads and Patisseries were excellent, As were The Juices and the Tropical Fruit, Of course Yogurts and breakfast cereals were on parr with anything in the west. Many of the Korean and local guests were relishing the Vietnamese Hot Buffet Foods. Starting with fabulous Noodles and Rice with Pork belly which the Vietnamese tend to enjoy for breakfast–

Why wait till lunch?

 

 

Delicious western style breakfast with fresh baked bread at Alma  Garden food Court

11.30 am -Lunch at Alma Food Court

Enjoyed a quick Hamburger Korean style with Fries at the Food court and after 2 days of indulging on some amazing cullnary delights it ws nice to get back to the good old Burger and Cola.

 

E

Finally got to try a Burger with Fries  at the Alma Food Court.

-12:45-Check out at Alma Resort Cam Ranh

Checked out and thanked the incredible hospitality Team at the Alma resort Cam Ran and said my goodbyes!

-13:00 Departed Alma Resort Cam Ranh bound for The Anam Cam Ranh

Useful Information:

-Beaches in the Neighborhood

• Cam Ranh International Airport

  7 km

Address
Resort Area in the North of Cam Ranh Peninsula
Cam Hai Dong Commune
Cam Lam District
Khanh Hoa Province
Vietnam
Telephone
+84 258 399 1666
Website
https://www.alma-resort.com/