A new international hospitality brand and lifestyle resort called Wafaifo has been launched in central Vietnam.
The company will open the 134-key lifestyle resort, the Wafaifo Resort Hoi An, in Q1 2024 as part of a plan that includes a new mall adjacent to the hotel.
The new urban resort is a five-minute walk from Hoi An heritage town, an atmospheric and beguiling UNESCO World Heritage site.
The ancient port dwelling, which has delightful architecture and a riverside setting, was frequented by sea traders from across Asia, France and beyond between the 15th and 19th centuries. The name of the new resort, Wafaifo, derives from “wa” from water, and “faifo”, one of the historical names of Hoi An.
Mr Pieter van der Hoeven, Managing Director of Wafaifo, said: “We see a gap in the market for Wafaifo Resort Hoi An to establish itself as a proud and uniquely Vietnamese hospitality experience. The Wafaifo Resort Hoi An will be our showcase property. It will offer a modern Vietnamese aesthetic and mind-blowing gastronomic and spa experiences for international and domestic travellers.”
While Vietnam’s tourism performance, like other Asian destinations, is still behind 2019 levels, there is a trend to higher quality tourists. The Vietnam National Administration for Tourism, reports that while visitor numbers to Vietnam are only 20% of 2019 levels, 2022 revenues of VND456.7 trillion (US$19 billion) are already 70% of the 2019 amount.
Year to date, South Koreans are Vietnam’s main source of tourists with around 763,900 arrivals followed by the US at 266,000. Wafaifo will make further announcements about the new urban resort in early 2023.
