The Most Enchanting Hotel Gardens in Asia

A Tranquil Ginger Forest

Azerai Ke Ga Bay, the all-suites-and-villas beachfront resort in southern Vietnam, is home to a lush garden known as the “Ginger Forest,” spread over 1,800 square meters at the heart of the property. This oasis of verdant green herbaceous plants, along with multifarious gingers that hail from across Asia and beyond (and which lend the space its name), is an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll or quiet contemplation. The resort also occasionally hosts private yoga sessions and guided meditations in the enchanted natural setting, which is adjacent to one of the resort’s pools en route to the spa, restaurants and beach. The Ginger Forest has become a destination of its own at the resort. Azerai Ke Ga Bay, nestled amongst 5 hectares of verdant gardens, is located a comfortable 2.5-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City on a new highway.

Imperial Palace Gardens

Just across the moat from Palace Hotel Tokyo, Japan’s Imperial Palace is the seat of the world’s longest continuous monarchy. Originally completed in 1640, it was the largest fort of its time before it subsequently became the imperial residence of the emperor during the Meiji Revolution of 1868. It remains so to this day. Once across the moat and past the ancient Otemon Gate, a stroll around the tranquil East Gardens – where remnants of the original Edo Castle can be seen – will make you wonder if you’re even still in bustling Tokyo. Many rooms and suites in the Forbes Five-Star property feature balconies with picture-perfect views overlooking the gardens.

Good Energy for Good Growth

If the verdant plant growth in TIA Wellness Resort’s Wellness Garden is a marker for the good energy cultivated in its expansive Wellness Centre, then Vietnam’s pioneering health retreat’s high vibe is above and beyond. Fragrant rosewood, dense mangroves, towering ferns, taro, and vibrant parakeet flowers grow in abundance within the 1,700m2 tropical garden. Lady palms and coconut trees along with dragon trees frame the waterfall pool and the sweet scent of jasmine from pinwheel flowers offers a fragrance on the breeze. Guests can relax with afternoon tea while taking it all in from one of the cabanas or poolside. A private waterfall dinner experience is also available upon request. The tranquil space is open for adults and children over 12.

Thousands of Palm Trees

A lush 12-hectare property overlooking Long Beach’s white sands and turquoise waters, The Anam Cam Ranh is dotted by some 3000 native palm trees. Along with pink and white Frangipani, Banyan trees, banana fans, hedges of hibiscus and bougainvillea, and beds of spider lily and canna, the impressive number of palm trees anchor the resort’s landscaping and cool the beachfront plot amid a tropical climate averaging 26.7 degrees Celsius year round. The resort’s verdant landscaping involved precise planning at the very earliest stages to ensure plant placement did not require adjustment once construction began.

A Lawn and SomeHeritage

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, the 93-year-old luxury hotel on the doorstep of Cambodia’s famed archeological park, is home to a verdant outdoor garden and the immaculate Raffles Lawn, which offers an intimate space for private dinners all the way to group gala dinners. A two-person meal, gently illuminated, includes a curated four-course menu featuring poached foie gras, seared scallop, creme poivron soup and Atlantic salmon, followed by a delectable chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. The meal is priced at $250++, exclusive of any pairing; drinks can be ordered separately.

A Riot of Colour

The 84-acre resort Alma Cam Ranh is festooned in flowers year-round, making its gardens a perennial riot of colour. The abundance of Costus Woodsonii, better known as Red Button Ginger, is a highlight, dotting the landscaping with scarlett cones that attract plenty of butterflies and bees. With edible orange-yellow flowers emerging from the plant’s vivid red bracts, the plant is believed to treat all sorts of ailments from high blood pressure and bladder disorders, to ear infections and sore throats. Alma’s green thumbs tend to a variety of flowering plants including Purple Showers,Yellow Bell, Plumeria, Bougainvillea, Cherry Blossom, and Freshwater Mangrove, as well coconut, banana and mango trees.

Meticulously Landscaped Gardens

At Maia Resort Quy Nhon in south-central Vietnam, the star of the garden is the meticulously nurtured helioptropium foertherianum, locally known as the Storm tree, which provides a verdant frame around each of the resort’s private luxury villas. Nestled in an idyllic beachside location, Maia Resort Quy Nhon is renowned for its magnificent landscaped gardens and golden sands alike. A dedicated 37-person landscaping team tends the resort’s lush grounds, ensuring that they are always at their most presentable. Pathways at the resort are also lined with towering palm trees that sway gently in the seaside breeze.

A Green Wall Amidstt Skyscrapers

In a destination famous for having the most skyscrapers in the world it makes sense that a hotel garden might sprawl upwards rather than outwards. The Hari Hong Kong features a green wall on the facade, starting from its second floor terrace and stretching three stories high. Not only is the greenery pleasant on the eye of both guests and passersby, the striking exterior feature helps benefit the planet, bringing down the temperature of surrounding areas. As a way to further support the planet, minimal irrigation is used when watering at night. All plants were carefullyselected for their resilience to Hong Kong’s climate.

A Green Reprieve in Downtown Osaka

Zentis Osaka’s location in a dense part of the city doesn’t conjure up images of abundant foliage yet the hotel comes replete with an arrival experience that includes entry via a verdant garden setting comprising of indigenous flora such as a Japanese maple as well as a cherry blossom tree. On the main floor, a stone and garden terrace and garden is interlinked with the Guest Lounge by a double-sided fireplace that can be enjoyed inside and out. The urban oasis is set back from the street, lessening the din of the city, and is lush with a mix of trees and plants including Japanese laurel, miniature umbrella trees, Spruce, Shell Ginger, Pepper Vine, and Kusamaki.