Here's What to Expect for Lunar New Year at JW Marriott Phu Quoc

PHU QUOC

As the Lunar New Year approaches, a subtle energy stirs. It is the feeling of a collective in-breath, a moment poised between the past and the future. At JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, this potent transition is honoured not as a fleeting festival, but as a nine-day journey titled Tết – The Blooming Season. Here, against the serene canvas of Vietnam’s famous island coastline, ancient tradition is reimagined through the lenses of profound wellness, intentional cuisine, and unhurried moments, crafting a celebration with depth, character, and soul.

Recently honoured as the fifth Best Resort in Asia by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, the resort is a master of transforming seasonal milestones into immersive narratives. Set within Bill Bensley’s fantastical ‘Lamarck University’ concept - a campus dedicated to the whimsical pursuit of life’s joys - Tết is framed not merely as a holiday, but as a vital moment of renewal. It is when nature begins its gentle reawakening, the body seeks equilibrium, and the year ahead is welcomed with clarity and purpose.

Anchored by Lichun, the traditional solar term marking ‘the first breath of spring’ on February 4th, and elegantly intertwined with Valentine’s Day, the season masterfully blends enduring ritual with contemporary ease. It is an invitation to celebrate the essence of Tết through a curated journey of the senses, designed to restore and inspire.

Lichun: The First Breath of Spring

Lichun sets the emotional and philosophical tone for the entire celebration. More than a ceremony, it is a perceptible shift in atmosphere - the turning of the season from introspection towards balance and clarity.

Centred in the JW Garden, the day weaves together open-air wellness rituals and a relaxed garden gathering. Gentle qigong movements, breath-led sessions, and meditative pauses are paired with an exquisite seasonal dining experience curated by Michelin-collector Chef Olivier Elzer. His menu, a masterpiece of early spring ingredients, embodies the idea of sharing food as a fundamental gesture of renewal and connection. This holistic experience grounds the Blooming Season in nature, intention, and the quiet, profound pleasure of beginning anew.

Throughout the festive period, the resort transforms into a vibrant yet serene stage for Lunar New Year traditions.

For those seeking the ultimate in seclusion and personalised luxury, the crown jewel is Lamarck House. This breathtaking seven-bedroom private residence, inspired by classic French architecture, offers the feeling of owning an entire seaside mansion overlooking the bay. Its All-Inclusive Experience elevates the stay with private spa treatments, villa-hosted BBQs, and seamless transfers, crafting a Tết retreat that moves entirely to your own rhythm.

Culinary journeys abound. At Tempus Fugit, Vietnamese Tết flavours are reinterpreted with refined technique in a special seasonal set menu. The heart of the resort, Place de Lamarck, comes alive with a lively Oriental Night Market and a ‘Flavours of the East’ buffet, all set against the vivid backdrop of the bay. Traditional dragon and lion dances animate the squares, invoking prosperity, while daily workshops in calligraphy and clay toy-making invite all generations to connect with meaningful heritage.

Fire, Flavour and the Rhythm of the Sea

As the sun sets, the energy finds a vibrant pulse at Red Rum. Beachfront fire-grill nights and signature ‘Tides & Fire’ BBQs define relaxed evenings, complemented by playful concepts like Chimaek by the Sea (Korean fried chicken with craft beer) and a vibrant Brazil Festival BBQ.

For a gentler pause, French & Co. presents a Spring Festival Afternoon Tea with delicate pastries, alongside a curated Tết Hamper created with Dilmah Tea and Annam Gourmet. Meanwhile, the Department of Chemistry Bar crafts limited-edition Tết cocktails inspired by the colours and symbolism of spring.

Valentine’s Day: A Softer Side of Tết

When Valentine’s Day unfolds within the Tết season, romance is woven into the fabric of renewal. At Red Rum, it is elemental and relaxed: a Romantic Beach Set Menu served to the sound of waves and the glow of a crackling grill.

For a more polished expression, Pink Pearl by Olivier E. offers ‘Pink Valentine with Taittinger.’ Within its couture-inspired, pink-hued mansion, refined French cuisine is paired with Champagne and live piano, evoking the grandeur of a European salon. Adding a layer of visionary artistry, the resort partners with Aapis Flower to unveil eight breathtaking orchid installations across the property. Each piece tells a unique story of vitality and rebirth, offering an immersive glimpse into the harmony between the natural world and the blooming of the human spirit.

Wellness as a New Year Ritual

True to JW Marriott’s philosophy, wellness is presented as the essential New Year ritual. At Chanterelle – Spa by JW, seasonal journeys embody renewal. Choose the ‘Soft Beginning Ritual – Awakening of the Spirit,’ featuring a warm floral bath and authentic vibration therapy, or the immersive ‘Blooming Renewal Ritual’ with floral body care and herbal massage. The Symphony Glow Facial by Anne Semonin completes the offering, designed to restore radiance and vitality for the year ahead.

Lunar New Year at JW Marriott Phu Quoc is an invitation to participate in a living tradition. It is a carefully composed space where one can shed the old, celebrate love in its many forms, and step into the nascent year not just with hope, but with a profound sense of balance, beauty, and renewed spirit.