Topas Ecolodge

Perched on a summit deep with Hoang Lien National Park in northern Vietnam, Topas Ecolodge is a mountaintop sanctuary in the midst of the Tonkinese Alps. Hemed by rice paddies and villages of the Sapa Valley below and with cloud-scraping peaks at eye level, it’s a view that can’t be beat. 

Most of the lodge’s 49 bungalows are designed to evoke the region’s traditional thatch-roofed huts and are made with locally sourced white granite. Step inside, though, to find yourself in a Scandi-influenced design world of sleek, minimalist interiors with rustic stone walls and neutral shades. Configured in a circle across the summit, each bungalow enjoys an unobstructed view over the valley from its private, covered balconies. The modernist Pool Villas are an extra treat. They boast a stone patio and private pool where staff serve you floating breakfast trays in the morning. 

Your mountaintop idyll also comes with a rippling skyline infinity pool in the middle of emerald-green rice paddies and a spa where you can enjoy mountain-view massages or a rejuvenating green tea body polish. Bask in top-of-the-world vistas from Restaurant 360°’s panoramic dining room with its open-flame grilled menu or tuck into sustainability-driven Vietnamese fare at Stilt Restaurant. 

Situated in the heart of Hoang Lien National Park, hikes and scenic strolls through terraced rice paddies or butterfly-filled forests are par for the course for daytime pursuits. Visit remote villages for glimpses into the lives of the Red Dzao people, bike high above the valley along winding paths, and learn local handicrafts at artisan workshops.