InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a series of renovations. Bill Bensley, the architect and designer who developed the resort on Vietnam’s Son Tra Peninsula in 2012, is returning to his breakout project this year.
Located among 39 hectares of forest, spanning four levels—Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea—all connected by a funicular railway and cascading down to a private bay with a beach, InterContinental Danang was the project that put the spotlight on Bensley. During the initial development in 2012, Bensley deliberately consolidated the buildings’ footprints to minimize the ecological impact and let nature flourish, especially native species such as the red-shanked douc langurs. This sensitive approach will continue in the resort’s next chapter.
New facilities set to launch this year include a collection of four-bedroom villas, a vastly enlarged family swimming pool and kids’ pool, an updated spa, an indoor-outdoor fitness center, two new restaurants, a new reception area, fresh retail opportunities and a new, expanded Club InterContinental Lounge. A dedicated Discovery Center will also invite guests to learn more about the environment of the Son Tra Peninsula, including the critically endangered red-shanked douc langurs.
A series of guest experiences will also be introduced, including the Nam Tram Dining Journey (a culinary adventure onboard the resort’s funicular railway) and wellness experiences at the spa. All of these are scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2022.
Last year, the resort opened the Bensley Outsider Gallery, featuring a collection of his artworks. This marked the first time he had opened a gallery at any of his 200 plus hotels and resorts worldwide. Bensley is returning to visit for the first time since its launch. Guests can purchase his artworks and the proceeds are donated to charitable causes, including wildlife conservation in Southeast Asia.
“When I first conceived InterContinental Danang I delved into the local architectural vernacular, taking my favorite elements from the country’s temples and palaces and creating an ode to Vietnam with a modern twist. Now that we are refreshing the resort, we are looking at the natural vernacular: what Mother Nature gave us. My goal is to be a steward to the creatures who live here, and particularly to champion the endangered species of Vietnam,” Bensley said.
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