HUE, Vietnam, 3 November 2023: Legendary hotelier Adrian Zecha joined 140 VIP guests in central Vietnam to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Azerai La Residence, Hue, the historic Art Deco property that forms part of his latest boutique hotel portfolio.
Guests, including business partners, long-serving staff, local media, and frequent guests, gathered recently for celebrations at the 122-room hotel, which overlooks the Perfume River across from the Hue Citadel.
Held under the theme “20 Years, Countless Stories,” the celebration honoured the hotel’s journey, its distinctive heritage and the many people who have contributed to its story over two decades. The evening concluded with celebratory fireworks.
Minh Phan Trong, General Manager of Azerai La Residence, Hue, introduced Zecha to the audience before screening a video on a large LED screen that highlighted Zecha’s illustrious career and hospitality philosophy. Zecha is also the founder of the luxury Aman Resorts.
Azerai La Residence, Hue is centred on a colonial mansion built in 1930 as part of the residence of the French Resident Superieur. Its distinctive façade, with long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes, exemplifies the Streamline Moderne school of Art Deco architecture.
Recently, the property was honoured as a MICHELIN-selected hotel in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide. The editors wrote: “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.”
Earlier this year, Azerai La Residence, Hue was also named one of the world’s “500 Best Hotels” by the industry-leading U.S. publication Travel + Leisure.
Minh praised his team as the backbone of the hotel: “Behind every achievement, every award, every memorable stay and every story about this hotel, there are people. People who arrive early. People who stay late. People who care about the smallest details. People who welcome our guests, look after this house, and make La Residence feel like home. You are the people behind our success.”
Azerai La Residence, Hue and its sister property, Azerai Ke Ga Bay — a bayside all-suites-and-villas resort in southern Vietnam — became members of Small Luxury Hotels of the World earlier this year. Azerai Ke Ga Bay was awarded a prestigious MICHELIN Key.
About Azerai
Azerai is a distinctive resort brand offering guests elegance, refined design, and discreet, attentive service in places of unique beauty and cultural interest. Founded by hotelier Adrian Zecha, the name comes from Zecha’s initials and the latter part of the Persian word “caravanserai,” which refers to the storied inns of the Middle East.
(Source: Azerai)
