How a Dreamy Beach Resort in Vietnam Helped me Embrace the Beauty of Stillness

“Motion numbed the intensity of stillness.” 

Earlier this year, I read those words in Melissa Arnot’s powerful memoir Enough, and they stopped me in my tracks. In my everyday life—particularly when things are hard—I find myself in constant motion; a semi-conscious attempt to ignore and push past whatever stress I’m under.

What’s worse is it follows me everywhere, like a default setting that’s hard-wired into the fabric of who I am. I have a truly hard time slowing down, doing nothing. Even on vacation, I have a tendency to fill every moment with something: a workout, a local tour, a book, a half-written journal entry—anything that can help me justify the time I’ve set aside to relax. 

But a recent stay at The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh helped me lean into the slow, languid beauty of Vietnam’s central coast and try, for once, to embrace the beauty of stillness.

A secluded slice of paradise

Nestled in nine sprawling hectares of lush, landscaped gardens, The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh couldn’t be a dreamier destination when it comes to beachside escapes. Located just ten minutes from Cam Ranh International Airport (which has flights to and from cities like Bangkok, Seoul, Shanghai and Singapore) yet steps from a long, sandy beach and the glistening South China Sea, this five-star resort manages to strike a balance of blissful seclusion and easy accessibility. 

As Westin’s first foray into Vietnam, you can feel its wellness-charged intention the instant you arrive. The brand’s overarching design philosophy is inspired by a concept called “biophilia,” which believes people have an innate need to connect with nature, and that our link to the natural world affects our well-being. At Cam Ranh, the architecture is mindfully integrated into its coastal environment, and built with a focus on organic and locally sourced root, stone, and wood. 

Constructed to follow the natural site levels, the design preserves the existing sand dunes, allowing them to stretch seamlessly to the beach. The landscape patterns throughout the property are inspired by the lobster and prawn farms of Cam Ranh Bay—reflecting the region’s rich marine heritage and its role as a vital part of the local economy.  

This charming resort, which opened in June 2024 (so it’s in a pristine condition!), offers 207 guest rooms, suites, and one, two or three-bedroom standalone pool villas. I stayed in one of the 19 luxurious villas, which range from 105–610 sqm. Built amid the rolling sand dunes, the super-luxe interior and decadent outdoor patio deliver a surprisingly private space to soak up silence and stillness. 

My trip highlights 

Enjoying easy, mindful mornings 

After arriving at the resort very late in the evening, I was quickly whisked away from the lobby in a golf cart (or “buggy” as they call it) to my villa. A thoughtful hand-written note beside an array of artisan treats like homemade coconut and lime balls and dried mango greeted me. There was also a beautiful plate of fresh local fruit from their own garden: lychee, longan, and the most massive red grapes that would feel artificially manufactured if they were in the states. While I wanted to dive in, my body said sleep was the priority after 25 hours of travel.

The next morning, just as I was pulling the blackout shades open to enjoy the stunning view, room service delivered a beautiful breakfast in bed spread. It had what felt like everything off Westin’s Eat Well morning menu: a rich-but-amazingly-light banana and avocado smoothie; avocado toast topped with a pasteurized poached egg and seeds; a yogurt parfait with cantaloupe balls, blueberries, and strawberries; and fresh-squeezed orange juice that tasted better than any I’ve ever tried back home.

While most of my mornings are spent quickly eating breakfast while sitting at my computer answering emails and working, being on the other side of the world had an advantage: no one was pinging me, because no one else was working. I was able to put my phone away, leave my laptop in its case, and enjoy an truly leisurely breakfast. 

Sitting there peeling the lychee and longan forced me to slow down, and focus on what was in front of me. The texture, the taste, the blissful silence—for the first time in a long time, I was actually able to truly be in the moment. And I loved it. 

Celebrating the slow down

My usual workout routine involves the weight room and running. Maybe it’s my past as an athlete (and even though I know better), workouts that don’t leave me feeling a little bit tired sometimes feel, well, not as “effective.” 

While there was a beautiful, 24/7 gym—filled with the latest Technogym equipment and floor-to-ceiling windows letting you enjoy the stunning scenery and natural light—this resort offered a number of complimentary beachside activities, morning yoga being one of them. 

I’m someone who wants to love yoga, but falling into the flow does not come naturally to me. But let me tell you: Savasana to the sound of waves crashing behind you? Highly recommend it. Especially after traveling, the slow and intentional beginner’s class helped me feel the burn without feeling beat up. And thanks to Vietnam’s all-day heat and humidity, I got plenty sweaty—but in a refreshed, not depleted, kind of way.

(Runners, don’t worry, you’re set here as well: Thanks to Westin’s exclusive partnership, there are a number of pre-loaded Strava routes you can follow, including: an easy 800-meter beachside jog, more challenging 3.7km and 6.3km coastal runs, and even a 34.6km cycling route through the stunning Cu Hin Pass.)

A truly heavenly massage 

I’m a big (okay, huge) fan of massages. It’s the wellness practice I indulge in the most, and there’s nothing I love more than experiencing a new spa on vacation. 

Located on the second level of the property, the spa is steps away from a quiet, 25-meter lap pool that overlooks the landscaped lawns and the ocean in the distance. I decided to show up extra early so I could relax and take a dip, and ended up having the pool all to myself. (Talk about the perfect way to press pause and intentionally shift into a slower, more peaceful mode.)

When I arrived for my appointment, I was welcomed into a small sitting room, and brought a refreshing cold towel and a cup of mildly-warm (in a good way) ginger tea. While their spa menu is extensive, I was offered two options. The first was Westin’s signature Heavenly massage. While you’ll find it at every Westin property, each will be slightly unique and specific to the region. At Cam Ranh, it’s a combination of Swedish and Vietnamese massage techniques, and begins with a three-stone ritual. They show me three white stones, each with a different inscription: love, hope, and gratitude; they’re meant to signify someone you love, something you hope for, or something you’re grateful for. “We believe whatever we put out into the universe comes back to us,” they told me. Whichever stone you choose they’ll put on the floor under your headrest as a gentle reminder of the intention during your treatment. 

While I loved the thoughtfulness, I opted for the bamboo massage (#wheninvietnam, right?). Vietnam is steeped in bamboo, and it’s been used in Southeast Asia as a massage tool for many years. They believe it has a healing power and brings good luck, both of which I wouldn’t mind absorbing. The 90-minute, full-body massage combines Swedish movements with warmed bamboo sticks to the pressure of your choosing (I went with medium to deep). They use a light oil to help the bamboo glide over your muscles, and you can choose from one of four: lavender, lemongrass, refresh, and white tea (Westin’s signature scent, which is what I opted for). 

My massage therapist was fantastic. The treatment felt very personalized, very intentional—not rushed in the slightest. It was simply and absolutely wonderful. I left feeling like my shoulders had moved down my back and a huge weight had been lifted. The only change I would have made? Scheduling more than one during my stay.

Finding beauty in simple pleasures

On the first full day of my stay, I was welcomed by a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony with local tea expert, Ms. Le Duong. Sharing the country’s rich culture and history, she introduced us to three signature Vietnamese teas, each representing a distinct region known for its exceptional tea production: Xuân An (a chilled white tea), Địa Tấn (black tea with chrysanthemum), and Tà Xùa Shan Snow (a green tea infused with lotus rice from Ha Nam–my personal favorite). 

As she makes the green tea, there’s a wonderful pause. We sit quietly, listening to the palm trees rustle behind us. It’s a process. There's silence. Something that doesn’t feel quite natural for me, but also feels wonderful. It’s the starkest contrast to my everyday “tea ceremony” that amounts to placing a mobile Starbucks order so I can quickly swoop in and grab it before continuing on my hectic way. 

While other tea cultures have particular traditions—like maybe you have to serve in your right hand, or serve certain people first—she tells us what matters most in Vietnam: “Tea is about making the connection to yourself and the connection with who you share it with.” 

Leaning all-in on sleep 

In my normal day-to-day, bed is the thing I crash into exhausted. But over the course of my trip, I was able to relish in the ritual of getting ready to end each day. There were the little touches that made me look forward to winding down—like fresh lemon and ginger delivered beside a chic glass teacup for a calming evening cup of chamomile tea. But the star of the evening show was the bed.

Originally launched in 1999, the Westin Heavenly Bed helped put the brand on the map as a leader in well-being. This latest iteration, which launched last year, has been in development since 2016. From mattress to linens, their goal was to deliver upgraded cooling and cloud-like sleep experience informed by innovative technology, guest feedback, and the latest in sleep science. And let me tell you: their extensive and painstaking energy paid off—big time. If I could have packed the pillows and duvet in my luggage and gotten away with it, I would have. (In fact, I still haven’t stopped dreaming about them, and have a feeling the pillows will wind up on my Christmas list.) 

Armed with a preview of an exclusive sleep playlist (that will hopefully be rolling out across Westin properties this year), my typically wandering and very-busy brain relaxed in the most unfamiliar way—and I slept better than I have in forever.

Learning to not over-optimizing every minute 

I struggle with stillness. Even when I “relax” beside a pool, I still feel this deep-rooted need to be doing something: reading a book, journaling, even catching up with a friend—anything that makes that time feel productive rather than wasteful.

Here, I forced myself to spend time doing absolutely nothing. Lying on the end of my villa’s infinity pool, letting my mind wander, listening to nothing but the sound of bubbling water falling off the edge. It was uncomfortable at first, but over the course of a few days it became blissful. 

I took morning walks alone along the beach—no playlist or audiobook, phone comfortably in airplane mode, just trying to be actively mindful of everything around me. I soaked in the bright turquoise water with its comfortable mid-June temperature. I felt the mild waves crash on my toes at the shoreline. I sank into the smooth, white sand, and watched tiny ghost crabs dance into their burrows. The kind of stuff you don’t notice when you’re in a rush. 

A few notes 

No trip is perfect, of course. The main drawback for most U.S.-based travelers is the location: Unless you’re already traveling in Southeast Asia, flying halfway across the world for a five-night stay isn’t exactly practical. If I were to do this trip again, I’d tack it onto a larger itinerary—whether that’s touring nearby Thailand and Cambodia, or spending some time in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi—and end with a five-night stay here. That also will likely give you more flexibility on flight options. (There weren’t a ton of flight options into Cam Ranh International Airport, and most required multiple stops, which meant any delay could create a pretty significant domino effect in your itinerary. Again, not a problem if you’re taking a longer trip, but still something to keep in mind.) Plan accordingly, and save this spot for when you really want to exhale.

Final thoughts

A tour guide told me there’s a local saying in Nha Trang, Vietnam: ​​”The best doctor is the beach.” After spending five nights at The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh, I can confidently say that this peaceful, beachside resort fully embodies it; delivering a restful haven that will hopefully inspire you—as it did for me—to embrace the best version of yourself.