Azerai La Residence, Hue

A former Governor's mansion on the banks of the Perfume River, facing the imperial citadel across the water, this Art Deco boutique hotel carries its colonial past lightly: ceiling fans, French doors, the occasional four-poster bed. The pace is deeply unhurried, the multilingual staff is polished, and the saltwater pool and spa make it feel more like a resort than a city hotel. Hue suits that mood perfectly.