VIETNAM LUXE
Vietnam Luxe - Luxury Travel Magazine
 | |||||
Vietnam Luxe | |||||
| By: Lucy Jones – Summer, 2011 | |||||
| (Vietnam) | |||||
| WITH NEW LUXURY HOTELS AND WORLD CLASS GOLF COURSES JUST OPENED OR SET TO OPEN SOON, A LUXURY RAIL JOURNEY, EXCLUSIVE LUXURY CRUISES ALONG THE MEKONG RIVER AND PRIVATE TOURS BY HIGH-END TOUR COMPANIES SPANNING THE LENGTH OF THE COUNTRY, VIETNAM IS FAST EMERGING AS THE WORLD’S LATEST LUXURY DESTINATION. LUCY JONES PUTS IT DOWN, IN PART, TO THE FRENCH COLONIAL INFLUENCE STILL OBVIOUS THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE COUNTRY IN ITS STUNNING COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE, TREE LINED BOULEVARDS AND BAGUETTES AND CROISSANTS TO RIVAL ANY PARISIAN CAFÉ. OTHER ATTRACTIONS LISTED BY LUXURY TRAVEL EXPERTS INCLUDE BEAUTIFUL RESORTS, MAJESTIC SCENERY, A RICH TRADITIONAL CULTURE, EASY GOING AND WELCOMING LOCALS, GREAT CUISINE AND SOLID TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE. VIETNAM IS ALSO GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY RIGHT NOW WITH THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR RISING 20 PER CENT AGAINST THE VIETNAMESE DONG IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS | |||||
| Since it opened its doors to tourists in the early 1990s, Vietnam’s combination of beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, cheap accommodation and even cheaper food made it an essential stop on the backpacker trail. As word got out about this Southeast Asian gem tourist numbers began steadily climbing and Vietnam now hosts more than four million foreign visitors each year, over 200,000 of them from Australia. By 2015 the country plans to attract 12 million visitors annually. And they aren’t all toting a backpack. The development of five-star hotels, private tours, world-class golf courses and exclusive charter cruises means a new generation of luxury travellers are discovering Vietnam. The travel industry is well aware of Vietnam’s widening appeal. The influential Virtuoso Luxe Report for 2010 named Vietnam as one of the top three emerging destinations for high-end travellers, along with India and Cuba. Increasingly, travellers want more from their holidays, seeking authentic experiences in new destinations as well as rest and relaxation. Serena Mitchell from tour provider Abercrombie & Kent identifies Vietnam as one of that company’s most popular emerging luxury destinations. She puts the increasing numbers of visitors down to the excellent choice of upmarket accommodation, the broad range of attractions, a solid tourist infrastructure, an easy going and welcoming culture and value for money. Antony Giblin from high-end travel company Cox & Kings also believes that Vietnam is fast becoming Southeast Asia’s luxury travel hotspot with its beautiful resorts, majestic scenery, rich traditional culture and the best developed tourist industry in Indochina. The French colonial influence is still obvious throughout much of Vietnam with stunning colonial architecture, tree lined boulevards and baguettes and croissants to rival any Parisian café. But Vietnam is comprised of 54 separate ethnic groups, bringing a rich and varied culture to the country. From the colourfully dressed Hmong hill tribes of the north, to the ancient Tay people and the Indian influenced Cham living along the coast, Vietnam is one of Asia’s most culturally diverse nations. Visitors are able to experience different languages, cuisines, temples, villages and cultural pastimes in a short space of time. In addition to its natural charms, Vietnam has developed a range of attractions and activities to entice tourists. Culinary tours traverse the country, sampling the cuisine of each region and the emerging Vietnamese wine industry. Traditional techniques and natural products are used in the world-class spa retreats or day spas that feature in the premium hotels. For the more adventurous, hill trekking, motorcycle tours, kayaking and rock climbing are increasingly popular activities. The diving industry is well established in most coastal towns, with internationally qualified staff, high safety standards and limited crowds. With one of the world’s major rivers bisecting its southern corner and a UNESCO listed bay in the north, it’s no surprise that Vietnam is a popular cruising destination. Boutique luxury cruises operate on the Mekong River from Ho Chi Minh City through to Cambodia, allowing tourists to take in lush scenery and local villages from the comfort of deck chairs. The magnificent Halong Bay, a short distance from Hanoi, is best seen from a traditional Vietnamese junk where you can explore hidden caves, swim in secluded bays, eat fresh seafood and then retire to your luxurious cabin. Vietnam is also becoming one of Asia’s premier golf destinations with two new championship golf courses recently opening near Danang on the central coast. Montgomerie Links, designed by Colin Montgomerie, opened in August 2009 and is rated Southeast Asia’s seventh best golf course. The Greg Norman designed Danang Golf Club opened in May 2010 and the fairways of the Dunes Course back onto the South China Sea. A second course, the Heritage Course, is set to open at the club in 2012. These courses join the 1930s Dalat Palace Golf Club, the Nick Faldo designed Ocean Dunes and the exquisitely landscaped Long Thanh Course, among others. Golfers can even tackle the Ho Chi Minh Golf Trail, playing the country’s courses from the Vietnam Golf and Country Club in Ho Chi Minh City to the Kings’ Island Golf Club in Hanoi. In recent years Vietnam has undergone a construction boom as leading hotel groups such InterContinental, Marriott, Sheraton and Six Senses open exclusive hotels and resorts across the country. From glamorous beach resorts to contemporary inner-city hotels and colonial retreats, Vietnam now has a wide range of five-star accommodation. The grand dame of them all is the Sofitel Legend Metropole, Hanoi. Opened in 1901, the Metropole is a piece of Vietnamese history. Invading, liberating and civil armies have raised their flags over its roof and government and embassy officials have resided within. It hosted the first film shown in Indochina, Charlie Chaplin honeymooned at the hotel in 1936 and Graham Greene wrote part of The Quiet American there in the 1950s. Guests can live out colonial fantasies in style after the hotel was fully refurbished and a new wing added in the 1990s. Hanoi’s newest luxury resort, the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, opened in 2007 and is set over the waters of Ho Tay Lake next to the 800-year-old Golden Pagoda. Hanoi is also home to the Movenpick Hanoi, the Sheraton Hanoi and the Hilton Hanoi Opera House. Further south in bustling Ho Chi Minh City luxury travellers can choose between the contemporary Park Hyatt, Sofitel, Movenpick or Marriott properties as well as the historic Continental, also made famous by Graham Greene. A number of luxury beach resorts have been developed to take advantage of Vietnam’s more than 3000km of coastline. The all-villa Nam Hai in the historic town of Hoi An opened in 2006 and is consistently rated among the best resorts in Asia, winning the title of Best Destination Spa at the 2009 Asia Spa & Wellness Festival. The Evason Ana Mandara in Nha Trang, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, L’Anmien in Mui Ne and the Swiss-Belhotel Son Tra Resort in Danang are some of the world class resorts set on beautiful beaches or secluded islands that dot Vietnam’s coast, offering a mix of Western comforts and Asian charm. Rail has long been the preferred mode of transport for local Vietnamese and travellers alike, though the trains were not known for their comfort or timely arrivals. However, in 2006 Vietnam’s first luxury train began to run between Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, catering primarily to the tourist market. The train consists of 10 carriages, two of which are five-star club cars. There is also a dining carriage and a private carriage. In the north, the Victoria Express Train runs between Hanoi and the picturesque region of Sapa. The train features two sleeping carriages and a dining carriage, and is for the sole use of guests of the exclusive Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa. The Victoria is the only luxury hotel in north western Vietnam. Built as a traditional mountain chalet it is situated above the village of Sapa among the pristine Hoang Lien Mountains. Most major cities in Vietnam have airports, including the tourist centres of Hoi An, Dalat, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc Island. The national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, services fifteen destinations and is consistently increasing its domestic flight schedule. A number of private carriers are also entering the market, including Air Mekong, which began flying to eight destinations in October 2010 and offers up to 30 flights daily. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam revealed earlier this year that a number of other organisations and individuals are planning to launch airlines in the near future. | |||||
| Opening Soon Six Senses Con Dao opened in late 2010. this resort will host 50 villas with up to four bedrooms, private plunge pools,indoor-outdoor bathrooms and unobstructed views of the south China sea. | |||||
| InterContinental Hanoi Landmark will open early 2011. located in the upper fl oors of the Keangnam Hanoi landmark tower, it will be Vietnam’s tallest hotel and offer 383 rooms and suites and 300 serviced residences. | |||||
| Pullman Danang Beach opening in mid 2011. the 207 room, beachfront hotel will be the first of the Pullman brand to open in Vietnam. Sheraton Hoi An Resort and Spa will open in March 2011. this resort will offer exclusive beach access to guests in a new location along the popular China Beach. | |||||
| Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa will open late 2011. Also situated on the central coast, the resort will have 200 guestrooms, 174 condominiums and 27 luxury three bedroom villas. the next three years will see further rapid expansion in Vietnam as at least 10 new luxury properties open. | |||||
| Westin Cam Ranh Resort & Spa and le Meridien Saigon are scheduled to open in mid 2012. Ritz-Carlton, Marriott and Outrigger will all open resorts at Vinh Hoi Bay, on Vietnam’s central coast, in 2013 and 2014. Raffles Danang is due in 2011 and Pullman Hotels plans to launch five new properties in 2011 and 2013. | |||||
| Golf Courses | |||||
| Montgomerie Links Dien Ngoc Commune, Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Provence Rates: from VD1,387,500 (about A$71) on weekdays for 18 holes. Danang Golf Club Son Tra – Dien Ngoc Coastal Street, Danang | |||||
| dananggolfclub.com Rates: From US$78 (about A$78) weekdays inclusive of caddy fees Dalat Palace Golf Club Phu Dong thien Vuong St, Dalat City | |||||
| dalatpalacegolf.vn Rates: From US$60 (about A$60) weekdays Ocean Dunes Golf Club 1 Ton Duc thang St, Phan Thiet +84 6 2823 366 Long Thanh Golf Club National Highway 51, Tan Mai Ii Hamlet, Phuoc tan Village, Long Thanh District, Dong Nai Province | |||||
| longthanhgolfresort.com.vn Rates: From US$55 (about A$55) weekday for 18 holes Vietnam Golf And Country Club Long Thanh My Ward District 9, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 6280 0101 Rates: From US$90 (about A$90) weekdays including caddy fees Kings’ Island Golf Course Dong Mo, Son Tay, Hanoi +84 4 3368 6555 Rates: From VD1,560,000 (about A$79) weekdays | |||||
| When to go | |||||
| Now. Vietnam is still relatively undiscovered compared to some of its Asian counterparts, but this won’t last forever. Enjoy the stunning scenery, vibrant culture and relaxed lifestyle of Vietnam in style before the rest of the world arrives. Weather wise, Vietnam’s climate is varied with cooler, mountainous country in the north and a tropical, equatorial climate in the south. The north experiences monsoons between November and March, bringing damp, chilly weather and even snow in higher areas. The summer monsoons in May to October bring hot, humid weather to the southern regions. It can be tricky to time a visit with such diverse and somewhat unpredictable weather, but the months of April, May or October offer the best balance. | |||||
| Getting There | |||||
| Vietnam Airlines flies non-stop from Sydney and Melbourne direct to Ho Chi Minh City three times a week. Economy class fares from Sydney start from A$1,792 return and Melbourne from A$1,772 return. Business class fares from Sydney start from A$3,407 return and Melbourne from A$3,387 return. These flights also continue on to Hanoi. Economy class fares from Sydney to Hanoi start from A$1,787 return and Melbourne from $1,768 return. Business class fares from Sydney start from A$3,407 return and Melbourne from A$3,387 return. vietnamairlines.com | |||||
| Thai Airways flies to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth via Bangkok. thaiair.com | |||||
| Tour Companies | |||||
| Abercrombie & Kent operates a 12-day tour running from Ho Chi Minh City north through Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Hanoi and Halong Bay. Guests stay in first class accommodation, travel by plane or private air-conditioned car and have the assistance of a private guide. Prices start from A$5,105 per person. Cox & Kings offers an 18-day Grand Tour of Indochina, of which nine days are spent in Vietnam. Travelling from north to south, guests stay in luxury character hotels, visit historic sites and local markets, and experience the cultures of neighbouring Laos and Cambodia. Prices start from A$5,090 per person. | |||||
| abercrombiekent.com.au coxandkings.com.au | |||||
| Where to stay Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi | |||||
| 15 Ngo Quyen St, Hoan Kiem District, 10000 Hanoi +84 4 3826 6919 | |||||
| sofitel.com | |||||
| Premium room Opera Wing from A$303.63 per night | |||||
| InterContinental Hanoi Westlake | |||||
| 1A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho, 00000 Hanoi +84 4 6270 8888 | |||||
| ichotelsgroup.com | |||||
| Deluxe Hanoi view room from US $128 (about A$128) per night | |||||
| Movenpick Hanoi | |||||
| 83A Ly Thuong Kiet St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi +84 4 3822 2800 | |||||
| moevenpick-hotels.com | |||||
| Superior room from US $150 (about A$150) per night | |||||
| Sheraton Hanoi Hotel | |||||
| K5, Nghi Tam, 11 Xuan Dieu Rd, Tay Ho District, Hanoi +84 4 3719 9000 | |||||
| thesheratonhanoi.com | |||||
| Lake View room from US $175(about A$175) per night | |||||
| Hilton Hanoi Opera | |||||
| 1 Le Thanh Tong St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi +84 4 3933 0500 | |||||
| hilton.com/hanoi-opera | |||||
| Deluxe room from US $195(about A$195) per night | |||||
| Park Hyatt Saigon | |||||
| 2 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3824 1234 | |||||
| saigon.park.hyatt.com | |||||
| Park King room from US $246.50 (about A$246) per night | |||||
| Sofitel Saigon Plaza | |||||
| 17 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3824 1555 | |||||
| sofitel.com | |||||
| Superior room from A$333 per night | |||||
| Movenpick Ho Chi Minh City | |||||
| 253 Nguyen Can Troi St, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3844 9222 | |||||
| moevenpick-hotels.com | |||||
| Deluxe room from US $324 (about A$324) per night | |||||
| Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon | |||||
| 8-15 Ton Duc Thang St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3822 0033 | |||||
| marriott.com.au | |||||
| Club City View room from US $225 (about A$225) per night | |||||
| Hotel Continental Saigon | |||||
| 132-134 Dong Khoi St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3829 9201 | |||||
| continentalhotel.com.vn | |||||
| Deluxe room from US $122 (about A$122) | |||||
| Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa | |||||
| Sapa District, Lao Cai Province +84 20 387 1522 | |||||
| victoriahotels-asia.com | |||||
| Victoria Suite from US $260 (about A$260) per night | |||||
|
