Azerai La Residence, Hue

Character and identity

Set on the Perfume River just upstream from Hue's citadel, this 122-room property orbits a restored French colonial governor's mansion, with two modern wings extending the original nautical moderne lines into a single Indochine whole. The villa holds reception, a club-chair bar lined with photos of old Hue, nine atmospheric rooms and a presidential suite, all ceiling fans, mosquito netting and dark-stained wood. The newer wings frame a large riverside pool. Expect a spa, fine dining and the quiet, design-led service register that defines an Adrian Zecha property, here in his second Vietnamese hotel.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The draw here is architectural: a sensitively restored governor's mansion that genuinely sets the tone, rather than a themed overlay. Spend the money if Hue is a cultural anchor in your trip and you want to sleep inside the history. Book one of the nine villa rooms for the full Indochine effect; the wing rooms trade character for river-facing pool views and more space.