Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don opened on 1 October 2026 on Bai Tu Long Bay, in north-eastern Vietnam: 481 rooms and suites facing limestone karsts, about fifteen minutes from Van Don airport. This is the second hotel for the Thai group Centara in Vietnam, and a gateway to the less frequented neighbour of Ha Long Bay.
- 📍 Where · Ao Tien urban area, Van Don special economic zone, Quang Ninh province, on Bai Tu Long Bay.
- 🗓️ Opening · 1 October 2026; second Centara in Vietnam.
- 🛏️ How many · 481 rooms and suites in 12 categories, from 29 to 439 sqm, all with kitchenettes.
- 🍽️ Dining · Timo (Italian), Pearl (Chinese), Crystal Bar and a pool bar.
- 🧖 Wellness · Cenvaree spa, infinity pool, indoor pool, gym and kids club.
481 rooms facing Bai Tu Long Bay
The hotel occupies the towers of the Crystal Holidays Harbour complex, developed by the Vietnamese group Everland, which entrusted management to Centara in March 2023. Its 481 rooms and suites are spread across 12 categories, ranging from the 29 sqm Deluxe Bay View to the 439 sqm Chairman and President Suites, all equipped with a kitchenette, a format designed for families and long stays.
Dining, spa and function rooms
On the dining front, the hotel lines up Timo, an Italian restaurant, Pearl, a Chinese restaurant, Crystal Bar and a pool bar, alongside a Vietnamese and international menu. Cenvaree spa, Centara’s wellness brand, complements an infinity pool, an indoor pool, a gym and a kids club. The hotel also targets seminars, with two ballrooms and six meeting rooms.
Bai Tu Long, the other Ha Long Bay
An extension of Ha Long Bay to the north-east, Bai Tu Long Bay offers the same limestone karsts with fewer boats. From Ao Tien port, shuttles run to the islands of Quan Lan, Minh Chau or Ngoc Vung, and the Ha Long-Van Don-Mong Cai motorway brings the area closer to the major cities of the North. The province is reporting sharply rising visitor numbers: 1.5 million visitors in the first half of 2026 in Van Don, up by 40%, according to local figures.
Vietnam is attracting international groups, from Avani+ Hanoi by Minor Hotels to the addresses distinguished by the 2026 Michelin Keys in Vietnam.
- 📍 Address · plot M1, Ao Tien urban area, Van Don, Quang Ninh province, Vietnam.
- ✈️ Access · Van Don international airport about fifteen minutes away.
- 🛏️ Capacity · 481 rooms and suites.
- 💶 Rates · not published at opening; launch offers combining stay and bay cruise.
