Romance can be as simple as daily acts of care and affection or as extravagant as a star-lit dinner on a private islet at a luxurious resort in Asia.
If you’re looking to dial things up a notch for your significant other with the latter, here are six destinations to consider—from Vietnam’s scenic Can Tho waterfront to Thailand’s lush island of Koh Samui.
Azerai Can Tho, Vietnam: Private dining under the stars
Located on a private islet in the Mekong Delta that’s only accessible by boat, Azerai Can Tho makes a great destination for a quiet and romantic getaway. A new al fresco dining option awaits couples, where a table is set up underneath the canopy of a majestic banyan tree or overlooking a picturesque lotus pond. Lanterns placed around the table and hung from the trees help to create a subtle and intimate mood—the perfect backdrop for a five-course “Destination Dining” meal, prepared by executive chef Ricardo Luján. Priced at 2,200,000 VND per person (around 95 USD), the meal includes a welcome cocktail and glass of wine.
More information here.
Banyan Tree Samui, Thailand: Candlelit dinner by the sea
Looking to pop the question? Surprise your better half with a secretly planned candle-lit dinner in a beautiful tent by the lapping waves at Banyan Tree Samui, Surrounded by lanterns and flowers, the intimate four-course dinner features a choice of Asian or Western menu with specialties such as pan-seared scallops, char-grilled beef tenderloin, and locally-caught lobster. Non-seafood and vegetarian menus are also an option. And if you’d rather be off the beach, diners can choose to have their meal by the main swimming pool or at Infinity Point, a deck perched at the top of the resort with a spectacular view of the sea. Prices start at 5,900 baht (US$190) per person.
More information here.
Tanah Gajah, a resort by Hadiprana, Indonesia: Five-course dinner at the rice paddies
An illuminated path guides couples through the landscape of Tanah Ubud, a Resort by Hadiprana, to a private deck set above the kind of verdant rice paddies that Bali’s spiritual heart is famous for. Here, they’ll tuck into a five-course dinner crafted by chef Dean, a talented Singaporean chef who joined the team close to a decade ago and has since been upping the game on what it means to eat local—most food served is grown around 100 yards from the private dining destination. A five-course meal for two starts at IDR 2,500,000++ (USD170), exclusive of beverages.
More information here.
Alma Resort, Vietnam: A candle-lit seafood feast
The new resort’s romantic dinner offering takes full advantage of its beachfront setting on the Cam Ranh peninsula, with the set-up of a candle-lit table on the white sands of Long Beach. Anchored by fresh seafood, such as oysters, prawns and lobster, the intimate five-course meal comprises salad, soup, fresh oysters, rose sorbet to clean the palate, a main of either “surf and turf” grilled beef steak and prawns or baked half lobster thermidor, and dessert. Complete the experience with bottle of red or white at 1,500,000 VND (USD 64) per person.
More information here.
Meliá Koh Samui, Thailand: Fine-dining by an award-winning chef
Couples would be hard-pressed to find a dining experience as romantic as Meliá Koh Samui’s private candle-lit dinner on the sands of secluded Choeng Mon Beach, perched on the north-eastern tip of Thailand’s Koh Samui island. The resort’s executive chef Azizskandar Awang, who has won a string of coveted awards during his 20-year career including the prestigious Chef Hotelier of the Year award at the Hotelier Awards Asia, has crafted a six-course feast featuring prawns, scallops, salmon and wagyu beef. Each course is paired with wine selected by the resort’s in-house sommelier. Prices start from THB 7990 (USD 256) per couple.
More information here.
The Anam, Vietnam: Dinner with a complimentary night’s stay
Make your date night extra memorable with The Anam’s four-course beachfront dinner, complete with blazing torches and the service of a private waiter. Guests can choose from either an Asian or Western themed meal, along with sparkling wine and a bottle of red or white. To sweeten the deal, the meal also comes with a complimentary night’s stay in a Garden view premium room, a 15 percent discount on food and beverage, 30 percent off spa treatments at The Anam Spa, and 50 percent off laundry. Couples also have the option of indulging their romantic dinner in the privacy of their luxurious accommodation. Prices start at VND 4,800,000 ++ (USD 206),
More information here.
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