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FEATURE
How do you find the top accommoda-
tion options, amenities and cuisine
for very high-end clientele?
Luxury travel means different
things to different people. First, money
is not the be all and end all. By this I
mean that while two clients may be
in the same income bracket, they may
have completely opposite tastes in all
aspects of their travels, so you have to
get to know each client individually.
Of course, you could book only fan-
cy spas and so on, but then you would be
in trouble when you get a client who is
more adventurous and may even dislike
certain high-end accommodation styles.
After we determine that, we can get into
the logistics of finding the right service
and proper providers, but not before.
However, I do have to anticipate a
little, so that I know which options are
available so that when a client makes
his wishes known, I have the ability
to offer what they want, or as close as
possible. We rarely find that we cannot
accommodate a request.
What luxury hotels to you particularly
rate?
That is difficult to say, but in Viet-
nam, my personal favourite is Six Senses
Ninh Van Bay, Nha Trang. I find that the
top five that seem to leave clients in
awe are Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Hotel, La Residence Hue Hotel and Spa,
the Nam Hai in Hoi An, the Park Hyatt
Saigon Hotel and Six Senses Con Dao.
Again, there is always room for
different styles of travel, but these are
well known brands and most clients
feel comfortable with them right at the
start. However, each has its own unique
style and charm.
Six Senses Con Dao has everything
you might want, but it is limited to a
smaller clientele, with fewer rooms and
suites, guaranteeing exclusivity. Viet-
nam’s newest island destination, Con
Dao is an untouched and breathtakingly
beautiful archipelago only a 45 minute
flight from Ho Chi Minh City.
The 50 private pool villas offer space
and privacy along with an uncompromis-
ing standard of luxury. Villas are either
Ocean View or Ocean Front, offering a
choice of one, three and four bedrooms.
There is a great staff-to-guest ratio,
which means that there is always some-
one around to take care of your needs.
The staff are locals and make an ef-
fort to make you feel like one too, while
of course being mindful of providing
elite and personalised service.
How often do you visit places you are
planning to recommend to clients?
We have visited all our destinations
and we have personally checked out
the finest hotels, resorts and restau-
rants designed for discerning travellers.
Luxury tourism is not just about hotels,
it is about the whole experience.
I recently came back from Laguna
Lang Co, and I am very excited to send
guests there. It is located near Lang Co
Town, in the central province of Thua
Thien Hue, which is about 1.5 hours
from Phu Bai Airport in Hue, or a 30
minute drive from Danang Airport.
It’s truly special, framed by three
kilometres of beach and lush coun-
tryside. And it is extensive, covering
280-hectares, plus it has a great view,
overlooking the East Sea. I recommend
it for its pristine beauty, tropical jungles
and rugged mountain peaks.
Plus, it is an ideal base for tourists
to explore UNESCO world heritage sites
such as the ancient imperial capital of
Hue, Hoi An ancient town and the relics
of My Son.
This unique holiday destination is a
world unto itself, comprising the Ban-
yan Tree and Angsana branded hotels
and resorts, award-winning spas, con-
vention facilities and an array of recrea-
tional offerings including a champion-
ship golf course.
We expect the 18-hole, par-71
course to provide a wonderful golfing
experience for both expert players and
beginners alike.
Why is Vietnam emerging as a luxury
destination now?
There has been growing interest
Timeout speaks to founder
and CEO of Luxury Travel,
Pham Ha,
to get his take on
Vietnam’s tourism boom and
how to provide the ideal be-
spoke travel experience for up-market clientele.
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