Azerai La Residence, Hue

On the banks of the Perfume River, in the old imperial city of Hue, is a restored classic, an Art Deco–style boutique hotel: La Résidence. This was once the Governor’s mansion, a piece of colonial history, looking straight across the river at the imperial citadel. And today its colonial-chic luxury is open to the paying public — you don’t have to be the Governor to soak in its historical atmosphere.

In style it’s equal parts Twenties and Fifties, two decades whose distinctive looks have aged well: with ceiling fans silently spinning, French doors opening onto balconies, and the odd four-poster bed, it’s a colonial fantasy brought up to date. The atmosphere is deeply unhurried, and the service comes courtesy of a first-class multi-lingual staff, recalling, again, the French colonial days.

All in all it’s a bit of a resort feeling, despite the city location. Hue is about history and culture, not big-city nightlife: spa treatments, dips in the salt-water pool, and drinks in the Le Gouverneur bar or on the terrace of the Le Parfum restaurant — these sorts of things are more La Résidence’s speed, and guests who are in for a bit of posh relaxation will find themselves amply rewarded.