When Venus (my translator/sidekick) and I ambled up the fern-lined, stone path entrance of Tia To Glamping, we felt as though we’d entered another realm, an oasis of sorts—a fabulous, new little outpost in the heart of Cua Lo (just a few blocks from the beach).

Tia To Glamping is certainly Cua Lo’s newest and most intriguing hotspot. It offers both a diverse menu (Korean, Japanese, Western, Vietnamese traditional and fusion), a café and overnight accommodations (in the form of exotic, well-appointed tents, that seem right out of Arabian Nights). The grounds juxtapose nature and glamour—the tents, lush gardens, a lagoon filled with colorful koi. Tia To exudes harmony and an ambiance of serenity and romance.

The romantic vibe seems to come directly from the owners: Van Anh and her husband Viet (their two young daughters have the quaint nicknames of “Rice” and “Sticky Rice”).

Van Anh and Viet were married in 2016. The couple set up home in Cua Lo (where Viet was born and not far from Van Anh’s family home in Vinh City). Together they created their dreamscape from the bottom up. Viet came from a restaurant family and so the food portion of the puzzle was a no-brainer, but it was Van Anh’s enthusiasm, encouragement and their mutual desire to be different that ultimately led to the creation of Tia To Glamping (it opened in April 2023).

“We sought to be unique,” Viet explained. “My wife and I traveled to Da Lat, Da Nang and Hoi An seeking inspiration.” Van Anh was quick to add: “Once we had our vision, we hired Ngoc Thien, a chef from a Five-Star hotel in Vinh City. We gave him the freedom to create his masterful dishes, utilizing quality meats, fresh seafood and organic, Vietgap approved vegetables from Da Lat.  We sought out a top-tier barista to operate the café and hired a well-known architect to create an ambiance that reflected our vision.”

Tia To can seat up to 250, there are 7 tents for day, overnight or extended-stay guests, shaded towers for drinking coffee and taking in the view and an indoor café area (loaded with books). Of course, there’s the lagoon and a plethora of plants, flowers, trees and shrubs.

“Viet chose all the landscaping flora,” Van Anh beamed. “He is the idea man, the visionary,” she added. “I support him, with the caveat, that we’re never ordinary!” She laughed.

While Viet is the quiet artist, Van Anh is the outgoing, extrovert, A-type personality—with keen business acumen.  “We opened with the commitment to be a successful, year-round operation, because we believe that Cua Lo itself will soon transcend its seasonal reputation to become a year-round, tourist destination!”

There is no doubt that while Cua Lo is undergoing a facelift—cleaning up the town, adding activities and aesthetic touches—Tia To Glamping is establishing itself as a world-class restaurant, a quaint gathering spot and a romantic oasis for overnight stays.

You can contact Tia To, or learn more by going to their Facebook page