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TRAVEL HOTLIST 2014
Competition in the luxury market
has made high-end travel affordable
whether you explore the Mekong Delta
from a trendy eco-lodge, discover local
culture and cuisine, indulge yourself
at a spa, opt for a leisurely cruise from
Saigon to Siem Reap, or discover South-
east Asia’s last frontier, Myanmar.
From the Mekong Lodge, an eco-re-
sort in the heart of the Mekong Delta, you
can explore one of the most beautiful are-
as in the region, still mainly untouched by
modernization. It’s easy to enjoy a 2-day
tour to the area from Ho Chi Minh City.
The next upcoming destination in
Vietnam is the Con Dao archipelago,
with its intimate villa resorts and un-
spoiled beaches. Here you can enjoy a
moonlit dinner at the water’s edge, a
private cookery class in your villa, hike
in search of local wildlife, watch turtles
nesting, or simply relax amidst the natu-
ral beauty of this Vietnamese paradise.
In the central coast, Aman’s first
resort in Vietnam, Amanoi, feels more
like a gracious, private residence than a
hotel. In Hue, you should not miss the
Banyan Tree Lang Co which has made
many best of lists this year.
A leisurely river cruise is also a good
choice this year. Several luxury river
boats offer 8-day cruises between Ho Chi
Minh City and Siem Reap. The on-board
experience is second to none, the food
excellent and the journey along the leg-
endary Mekong River memorable.
For a tour abroad, mystical Myan-
mar has been hailed as one of the best
places to visit in 2014 and as a tourist
hotspot, our advice is to book early.
For seven years I have offered my
travel experience to locals and expatri-
ate residents in Southeast Asia. Most
of the time what my clients want is a
change of scenery, to be immersed into
a different culture or to discover local
traditions and lifestyles.
Nowadays, due to work and family
commitments, people have less time to
travel and as a result, they travel closer
to home. Buffalo Tours Agency always
aims to meet its client’s requirements,
so we offer a selection of 12 magic des-
tinations in Asia.
Each of our destinations is eas-
ily accessible from Vietnam. From a
nomadic experience in Mongolia, to a
beach break on a pristine beach in Indo-
nesia, we have something for everyone.
One of our favorite destinations is
Bhutan. This country offers spectacu-
lar Himalayan scenery, colourful fes-
tivals and historic monasteries. This
is a country where buying cigarettes
is illegal, where the rice is red and
where chillis aren’t just a seasoning
but the main ingredient. It’s also a
deeply Buddhist land, where school
kids wear the gho and kira (traditional
male and female clothing, respective-
ly) and where giant protective penises
are painted beside the entrance to
many houses.
A journey through Bhutan will take
you through deep valleys, high moun-
tain passes and will certainly be a mem-
orable experience. March - May is the
best period to travel to this destination.
PHAM HA
CEO and founder of Luxury Travel Ltd
BOINIER LUDWIG (LUCCA)
Business development manager at Buffalo Tours Agency
27
timeout
Con Dao
Bhutan