Centara Van Don Vietnam: Second Hotel Opens Q4 2026 on Bai Tu Long Bay
Centara Van Don Vietnam opens Q4 2026 — the group's second Vietnam property overlooks Bai Tu Long Bay from the Ao Tien Port and Tourism Urban Area.
Centara Van Don Vietnam is officially happening — Thailand’s leading hotel operator, Centara Hotels & Resorts, has unveiled its second Vietnam property, set to open in Q4 2026. Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don sits within the Ao Tien High-Class Port and Tourism Urban Area, enjoying uninterrupted views across the serene waters and limestone formations of Bai Tu Long Bay.
The Centara Van Don Vietnam property is just 15 minutes from Van Don International Airport — making it one of the most accessible bayfront hotel openings in northern Vietnam’s rapidly developing coastal corridor.
Centara Van Don Vietnam: Rooms, Views and Location
Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don offers 481 rooms and suites across 12 categories — a substantial inventory that positions it as one of the largest internationally branded properties in the Van Don region at opening.
Every room is equipped with a kitchenette, modern décor, and flexible layout — designed to suit couples, families, groups, and extended-stay guests. The kitchenette provision is a meaningful differentiator for Indian family travelers who often prefer self-catering flexibility on longer trips.
Van Don is located in Quang Ninh province in northern Vietnam, approximately 50 kilometres east of Ha Long Bay. Bai Tu Long Bay — the backdrop for the hotel — is a UNESCO-recognised natural landscape of limestone karst formations and emerald waters, comparable in beauty to Ha Long Bay but significantly less commercialised.
| Centara Van Don Vietnam — Key Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don |
| Opening | Q4 2026 |
| Rooms | 481 across 12 categories |
| Location | Ao Tien Port and Tourism Urban Area, Van Don |
| Bay Views | Bai Tu Long Bay — limestone karst formations |
| Airport Distance | 15 minutes from Van Don International Airport |
| Room Feature | Kitchenette in every room |
| Centara Vietnam Properties | 2nd — after Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne |
What’s Inside: Dining, MICE and Leisure
Beyond accommodation, Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don introduces an all-in-one lifestyle offering that covers dining, business events, wellness, and family activities under one roof.
Dining: Vietnamese, Italian, Chinese, and international cuisine across multiple outlets. The kitchen spans both local specialties and globally familiar options — useful for Indian families who want variety across a multi-day stay.
MICE venues: Two ballrooms and multiple meeting rooms serve corporate groups, conferences, and incentive travel parties. This makes the property viable for Indian corporate groups planning Vietnam incentive trips.
Leisure: Both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a Kids’ Club, fitness centre, and the SPA Cenvaree spa. Curated Bai Tu Long Bay tours are also available — letting guests explore the surrounding limestone island clusters by boat directly from the hotel.
Shopping: Premium retail within the property adds a convenience layer for longer stays or resort-style visits.
Centara’s Vietnam Ambitions and Global Pipeline
Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don is the second Centara property in Vietnam, following Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne — the group’s first Vietnamese hotel, located on the south-central coast.
The Van Don opening is not Centara’s last Vietnam move. On an adjacent site, Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don — a separate Centara brand property with 496 rooms — is scheduled to open in 2027. Centara has a pipeline of further projects across Vietnam after that.
This Vietnam expansion sits within Centara’s broader 2026 growth agenda. The group targets revenue of THB 15.7–15.9 billion in 2026 — a 14–15% increase from 2025 — with an occupancy target of 75–80% and revenue per available room of THB 4,600–4,800.
Centara has committed THB 16 billion in capital expenditure for hotel businesses under a three-year plan through to 2028. Four hotel openings are planned for 2026 across Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Nepal.
Van Don: Northern Vietnam’s Emerging Coastal Destination
Van Don is an island district in Quang Ninh province that the Vietnamese government has been developing as a Special Economic Zone since 2018. Van Don International Airport opened in 2018, giving the island direct air access from Hanoi in approximately one hour — dramatically improving connectivity to what was previously a remote coastal region.
The Ao Tien Port and Tourism Urban Area — where Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don is located — is designed as a premium mixed-use zone combining luxury hospitality, commercial port facilities, and waterfront leisure. Centara’s investment signals a growing international brand presence in Van Don alongside domestic Vietnamese developers who have been building resort infrastructure in the district.
For Indian travelers interested in exploring northern Vietnam beyond the Ha Long Bay day-trip circuit, Van Don offers an authentic alternative. Bai Tu Long Bay is wider, quieter, and less boat-trafficked than Ha Long — with the same dramatic karst scenery but a more immersive experience.
What This Means for Indian Travelers
Indian travelers visiting Vietnam have historically concentrated on Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Ha Long Bay. The Centara Van Don Vietnam opening adds a new internationally branded anchor property to a northern Vietnam coastal destination that was previously accessible mainly through domestic Vietnamese resorts.
With Centara’s Thai-inspired hospitality standard and all-in-one leisure infrastructure, Indian families who are already familiar with the brand through Thailand stays will find a recognisable service standard in a new setting.
For Indian passport holders, Vietnam requires a 45-day e-Visa available at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn before departure. Van Don is accessible from Hanoi by car in approximately 2.5 hours, or by direct flight to Van Don International Airport in under an hour. Remember UPI does not work in Vietnam — carry USD for exchange on arrival or use a zero-forex international card. For travel insurance covering Vietnam trips, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance provides reliable coverage at affordable daily rates.
FAQs — Centara Van Don Vietnam 2026
Q: When does Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don open in Vietnam?
Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don is scheduled to open in Q4 2026 — the fourth quarter of the year. It is Centara Hotels & Resorts’ second property in Vietnam, following Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne. The property has 481 rooms and suites across 12 categories, all equipped with kitchenettes, and is located within the Ao Tien High-Class Port and Tourism Urban Area, 15 minutes from Van Don International Airport.
Q: What makes Centara Van Don Vietnam different from other Vietnam hotels?
The Centara Van Don Vietnam property combines a bayfront location on Bai Tu Long Bay with an unusually comprehensive all-in-one offering for a single property — 481 rooms with kitchenettes, Vietnamese, Italian, Chinese and international dining, two ballrooms, multiple meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a Kids’ Club, spa, premium shopping, and curated bay tours. It brings Centara’s Thai-inspired hospitality standard to northern Vietnam’s emerging Van Don Special Economic Zone — an area that has not previously had an internationally branded hotel at this scale.
Q: Will another Centara hotel open near Van Don?
Yes — Centara has confirmed that Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don, a 496-room property on an adjacent site, is planned to open in 2027. Combined with Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don’s 481 rooms, the two properties will create a significant hospitality cluster at the Ao Tien Port and Tourism Urban Area in Van Don. Centara has further Vietnam projects in its pipeline beyond the Van Don development.
Final Word
Centara Van Don Vietnam is the most significant international hotel opening in northern Vietnam’s Van Don district — and a clear signal that Thailand’s leading hotel group sees Vietnam as a long-term strategic growth market. For travelers, Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don offers a credible, well-resourced base for exploring Bai Tu Long Bay and northern Vietnam’s emerging coastal attractions at a Centara service standard that Indian travelers who have stayed with the group in Thailand will already recognise. Watch for the Q4 2026 opening date and book early once rates are released — Van Don’s limestone bay setting is extraordinary, and availability at a new 481-room property tends to move quickly from the first reservation window.
📌 Also Read:
- Vietnam E-Visa 2026 — Complete Guide for Indians
- Vietnam Health Declaration 2026 — Not Mandatory for Most Travelers
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance — Full Review for Indians
🔗 Official Sources:
- Bangkok Post — Centara to Launch 2nd Hotel in Vietnam by Year-End
- Centara Hotels & Resorts — Official Van Don Page
Aaseem Bhardwaj is a journalist, seasoned traveler and IT professional based in India. With firsthand travel experience across Southeast Asia, East Asia, Middle East and Europe, Aaseem founded Travel Man Today to provide reliable visa updates and travel news for Indian passport holders. He has personally traveled to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, UAE and Europe. Follow his travel vlogs on YouTube at @travelmantoday
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