A Land Of Dreams

It took about an hour to get to the resort from Hanoi and once I was there, the smell of grass and flowers  as well as the quietness made me feel a lifetime away from the urban hustle and bustle.

At the foot of an acacia forested hill is the reception which stands in the midst of 123ha of space. I took an electric car for a trip around the resort, but had I had time I would have opted for a peaceful cycle ride around its four peninsulas and small island.

The undulating terrain of hills, lakes and forests creates a stunning background. We drove  between colourful flower fields and trees. The driver told me that the flowers are seasonal, hence each time people come here they can see the place in a different light.

On the right side was a yellow and green band of pinto peanut plants set aside two long rows of trees creating a poetic scene.

So far, the developers have built 26 lake-view and hilltop villas which are ready for lease. However, Flamingo Dai Lai is actually a vacation home resort with many Hanoians coming to buy a piece of land to build their second home. And here they are dream homes: a white villa in classic European architectural style sits in a yellow daisy garden, while nearby a Vietnamese palace with the symbol of a lotus on the front door is surrounded by many sculptures.

From each villa, views of a wide open scene of colourful flower gardens, green forests, the immense lake and the looming mountains of Tam Dao are visible.

Many facilities have been integrated, such as a golf course, gym and spa, a conference hall and restaurants.

I saw many people walking alone or in groups and every face showed pure relaxation and joy. The natural landscape has been kept pristine and thanks to the lakes, mountains and nearly 10,000 hectares of forest, the air is so pure that every breath is a precious gift.

As the car turned onto a red soil road within a pine forest, I gazed over a large lawn nearby Dai Lai lake. The lawn would be a perfect outdoor place to organise a vibrant event for up to 1,500 people, or a memorable private place for lovebirds to enjoy sweet time together.

Not far from there is a boat station where you can go kayaking or cruising on the beautiful lake and a beach with sand and clear waters. Nearby, the pine forest is home to a wonder park with 40 smart wooden playthings for children.

29 year old Oanh Dang spent one day in the resort taking pre-wedding photos: “I have travelled a lot and seen most landscapes in Vietnam, and I have lived in the UK and Singapore, but the beauty of this resort still left a great impression on me. We did not need to set up much because the place has almost all we need for terrific photo shoots.”

It would be a very big mistake not to mention the two buildings which helped create the resort’s fame: the conference hall and Bamboo Wings Café and Restaurant. They are masterpieces of architecture, designed by the young talented architect, Vo Trong Nghia, who has received prestigious international architectural awards.

The Dai Lai Conference Hall looks like a fortified blockhouse with a long rustic stone wall along the outside and a luxurious and sophisticated interior with bamboo bounded and interlaced. Meanwhile, Bamboo Wings is elegant and charming, with curved bundles of bamboo shaped like bird wings. Bamboo Wings is surrounded by water and smooth green lawns.

It is a rare feat to achieve this balance of modernity and nature, but the splendid five star Flamingo Dai Lai Resort has made this dream come true. I feel like this is not really a dream land for quick visits however, it is a land in which you will wish to spend a lifetime.