House in the middle of Hoi An

“Something I can’t find anywhere else. Sometimes, I come back to Hanoi but immediately feel suffocated by the noise and the crowds, maybe because I’m too used to the quietness of Hoi An,” Lan Phuong, also known as Pao, the owner of Pao Homes, shared with Travellive.

Lan Phuong is a girl from the North, just over 30 years old, she admits that she is still "single, happy, hard-working and also very playful". She has been in love with Hoi An for more than 8 years, this land has brought freedom, connection and infinite gratitude to nature, heritage, people she has met and herself...

During her 8 years in this place, Lan Phuong has also co-founded and operated a few homestays. As a travel enthusiast, she is passionate about being a host - a place that can connect her with friends at home and abroad, helping her to open up about the world around her.

Lan Phuong said: “Pao Homes is a continuation of the work I have done at a new level. You know, Hoi An has many lovely houses that have not been used. The owners love the space they have painstakingly created so much that they want to share it, but they are also afraid that users will not understand the value of the house and preserve it properly. This inadvertently creates a waste of resources, while new buildings are constantly springing up to welcome tourists.”

Pao Homes was born to connect people who “understand” and “love” the value of tasteful design. Providing quality care and maintenance services for homes; and sharing them with guests who want to experience a private, sophisticated space. When renovating and renovating, Pao Homes also minimizes the impact on the surrounding environment. As well as making the most of natural light and ventilation in each room, using organic products when operating.

“Pao is my nickname to my friends and regular guests during my many years as a host at homestays. Pao Homes means this is Pao's house, the space that Pao takes great care of, please come and visit! I chose a close, familiar name so that guests can feel like they are coming home, a second home in Hoi An, with full amenities and invisible care,” Lan Phuong said about the meaning of the house name.

For her, a complete resort space is where you are both protected in a warm home and caressed by pure nature.

Pao Homes currently has 2 villas located at An Bang beach and Cam Thanh river area, where architecture and nature are blended together under sophisticated designs. Each villa is over 1,000 m2 wide.²with 3-4 bedrooms, swimming pool, dry lake, garden, kitchen and lots of indoor and outdoor relaxation space. Pao Homes only has whole villas for groups of friends, families or colleagues, from 4-9 guests/unit. In the near future, Pao Homes will expand with 1-2 bedroom units to meet the diverse needs of tourists, especially Vietnamese guests.

With An Bang Beach Stone Villa - a house with a countryside style of the South of France (the previous owner was a chef from this land) with stone walls, sloping roofs covered with terracotta tiles and long, leisurely corridors. The water, surrounding garden and the fishermen's sea are just a few dozen steps away. "Here we encourage laziness. Come on, let's soak in the salty taste of the sea, linger reading books under the porch and party!".

An Hai Villa is surrounded by the rich and charming rivers of Cam Thanh land (3 km from the old town). The house is a harmonious combination of nostalgic space and contemporary breath, under the care of French architect of Vietnamese origin - Helena Tran Quang Man. A "miniature Hoi An", quiet, sophisticated and comfortable; for you to relax in the swimming pool, enjoy a cozy party or fall into a deep sleep in the cool nature.

“From personal experience, I sometimes take my parents out, wanting them to experience hotels and resorts with many stars. But then I notice that my 'friends' in their 60s and 70s are always fidgeting and not knowing how to walk, talk and laugh properly in a flashy, professional space. The eating, sleeping, walking habits... of previous generations (who are used to being frugal) are really hard to change. I feel both sad and sorry for them!

Pao Homes partly reflects our desire, bringing private, airy and sophisticated spaces. Where multi-generational families can enjoy the truly comfortable atmosphere of a family vacation. Where the elderly wake up early and have a place to walk around, children can freely run and swim, and the young generation still have their own relaxing corners. The private - public connection is thus arranged delicately and gently," Lan Phuong shared.

In addition to the unique experiences in Hoi An, Pao Homes also offers many interesting activities for visitors when staying here. From airport pick-up, breakfast, afternoon tea, chef, grocery shopping to party organization, cooking classes, yoga, wine tasting at the resort... In addition, Pao Homes also provides car rental services, tour guides, diving courses, and tailoring at home with the best quality.

At the same time, the host also knows by heart the calm sea seasons, the beautiful sunny seasons, the dead-end alleys and the “favorite” shops of the locals. And the must-see destinations for tourists, the host is also very happy to wander with his lovely guests.

According to Lan Phuong, Pao Homes always prioritizes local experiences in traditional craft villages, activities to explore cuisine, culture, nature and local services, to contribute to the development of this place. If you try an afternoon tea session at Pao Homes, you will immediately see the difference. This is not British or Chinese afternoon tea, but very Vietnamese, very Hoi An.

When asked by Travellive if there were any memorable stories about Pao Homes' first steps, she confided: "If you want to go far, you can't go alone! I'm lucky to have friends who join hands to contribute their efforts, ideas and support me a lot in the operation. Pao Homes could not have been born and become what it is today without a sister, a friend whom I really love, who inspired me, built the concept, oriented me, and accompanied me in business and marketing activities."

“I love and take great care of this place, hoping that you will feel the invisible care when experiencing it. At the same time, I also hope to welcome more Vietnamese families in addition to the stable Western guests. I want more and more Vietnamese people to experience quality spaces and services right in their homeland,” Lan Phuong said.

Phuong Thao is the Editor of Travellive Magazine. She is passionate about traveling and loves to capture moments with her camera in every land she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are her favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao