While half of the world is starting to bundle up against the backdrop of falling leaves and even-faster falling temperatures, La Veranda Phú Quốc - MGallery is gearing up for another balmy, tropical festive season.

Set along a postcard-pretty white sand beach on Vietnam’s tropical Phú Quốc island, La Veranda’s 1920s French colonial-style mansion is not a typical beach destination. While many resorts in the region claim to feature a vintage Indochina style, La Veranda’s backstory is rooted in an authenticity that extends far beyond mere design inspiration.

Conceived as a residence for founder Madame Catherine whose family hails from China, Cambodia, Vietnam and France, La Veranda’s main house feels more like a close friend’s comfortably chic home. Lovingly decorated with hand-picked antiques and period collectibles, it showcases the glamour of Indochina from her childhood. Every corner of the sprawling resort exudes distinction, from classic four-poster beds and delicate ceramic tiles that adorn the guest rooms to grand wooden spiral staircases and rich lacquer artwork that lend an understated elegance to the resort’s public spaces. However, instead of feeling like an overly-curated museum, La Veranda’s warm spaces are for living and thus entice guests to make themselves at home with a holiday read or refreshing drink.

Wraparound verandas cooled by vintage ceiling fans are the ideal place to sip late-afternoon cocktails while watching Phú Quốc’s legendary sunsets that light up the dusk skies with bright oranges and deep purples. The gorgeously landscaped gardens feature indigenous plants and fragrant tropical flowers that invite long, leisurely strolls, enveloped by bright blooming colors against a lush green background.

The art of living well is a touchstone at La Veranda. Two restaurants serve European and Vietnamese fare featuring imported meats, cheeses and spices as well as the freshest, locally sourced seafood and produce. At the award-winning TĨNH Wellness Sanctuary, guests are guided back to their natural state of well-being through immersive treatments as well as transformative wellness journeys lasting anywhere from 1-7 days.

In 2023 alone, La Veranda’s unique blend of timeless sophistication and world-class services and amenities garnered the resort an enviable number of awards including No.1 Best Hotel Spa (Travel + Leisure Luxury Award Asia Pacific), Asia’s Leading Boutique Resort (World Travel Award) and Best Oceanview Spa (Haute Grandeur Award)

La Veranda invites visitors to savor the spirit of the holidays with an enticing range of packages including the Festive Stay offer. From December 1-30, guests can enjoy a Deluxe Garden Room for two inclusive of a scrumptious buffet breakfast, round-trip airport transfers and complimentary activities including morning yoga classes, Vietnamese massage workshop, afternoon tea and an evening wine reception for just US$270++ per night. Additional festive events include complimentary cocktails at the Xmas tree lighting, holiday cookie decorating workshops, gourmet 5-course dinners prepared by celebrity chefs, and much more.

In addition to the Festive Stay offer, La Veranda is celebrating this holiday season in grand style with impressive  Christmas and New Year's Eve events. The spectacular Christmas Eve Gala features a beachside buffet of classic French and European festive dishes from 5:30pm until 11:30pm. Welcome wine reception, live band, and gifts for the kids from Santa are all included from US$185++ per person. Meanwhile, the retro-chic New Year’s Eve Countdown Party that transports guests to Hollywood's Golden Age includes two hours of free-flow drinks and an antipasto platter along with live music. Ring in the new year in style for just US$65++ per person from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Open to both hotel guests and non-guests.

When considering how to celebrate the festive holiday season this year, La Veranda makes a great case for itself. The exquisite gourmet dining, soothing spa treatments and exceptional stays in comfortable rooms and suites will certainly make for unforgettable winter vacations.