FEATURE VIETNAM
Site by UNESCO in 1994, and then again in 2000 for its geological value, the 2,000 limestone karst islands have beaten the likes of the Grand Canyon, the Maldives and Mt. Kilimanjaro. The Hyatt Regency Danang opened in November, situated on a stretch of white sandy beach with views of the Marble Mountains. The hotel has a VIE Spa, four restaurants and 200 guestrooms with oversized balconies and floor-to- ceiling window. There are also 182 luxurious residences and 27 private Ocean Villas, each with a private pool. Life Resorts has launched 22 heritage junks as private floating hotel rooms, each carrying a maximum of four guests on a bespoke itinerary around Halong Bay. Each 13-metre junk boasts a 32 square-metre cabin with panoramic windows and traditional Vietnamese decor, an en-suite bathroom, swim deck, lounge area, and upper sun deck. Life Heritage Resort Ha Long Bay is now booking guests for overnight cruises, day cruises and wedding photography cruises. Travel Indochina has launched its
new Small Group Journeys brochure for 2012/2013, featuring 70 itineraries across Asia, including Vietnam, for groups of up to 16. Every 'journey page' now features top ‘Insider Experiences’ detailing encounters that are exclusively available to its guests, such as a visit to Streets café in Hoi An, where disadvantaged youths teach visitors about local produce with a tour of a very local market, followed by a tasting menu at
the café. Most journey pages also highlight Travel Indochina's online travel video bank which features short destination information films by the company’s operators, tour guides and past clients. The films can be used a sales tool. A new co-operative
marketing group will concentrate on
promoting the country’s central coast as Asia’s best new
golf destination. Golf Coast Vietnam, based in Danang, is spearheaded by two existing golf courses, The Montgomerie Links and the Danang Golf Club, located between Danang and Hoi An, plus a third, Laguna Lang Co, near Hue which is due to open in 2012. The three courses were designed, respectively, by Colin Montgomerie, Greg Norman and Sir Nick Faldo. Vietnam currently has 25 golf courses with several more being built. The government has given approval for up to 89 courses by 2020. Laguna Lang Co is a Banyan Tree-
developed destination resort which will be the first fully-integrated destination resort in Vietnam. It will also be the largest, with more than 2,000 rooms under the management of eight international branded hotel and resort operators. Funway Holidays' new brochure ‘EAST by Funway’ showcasies Middle East and Far East product. Commenting on the launch, Funway’s Melissa Tilling said: “The main reason for the combination of the brochure is that we wanted to streamline our programmes
VIETNAM Top Selling Tips...
• New Year Savings... “We have a great offer this month: save £100pp on fully- inclusive group tours on bookings by January 31 2012”
MANUEL MASCARENHAS managing director UK, Wendy Wu
• Guaranteed Departures ... “We have six Vietnam tours with every departure guaranteed and many operating weekly”
LeSLeY WriGht international sales and marketing manager, Travel Indochina
• Coasting Along... “Vietnam has 3620 km of coast. Don’t miss the stunning sands of My Khe, Cua Dai, Nha Trang, Ninh Van Bay, Quy Nhon, Mui Ne, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc and Con Dao's Islands”
PHAM HA founder and ceo of Luxury Travel Ltd
• 'Suits you, sir'... “Send shopping addicts to Hoi An, where you can pick up a tailored suit for less than $50!"
LAURA GELDER writer, Selling Long Haul
• time to spa... “Near hoi An is Asia’s first spa- inclusive hotel, the Fusion Maia, where clients have a minimum of two spa treatments per day included in their room price”
LeSLeY WriGht, international sales and manager, Travel Indochina
and focus on preferred hotels and destinations, but still offer the ability to tailor-make packages within both regions for clients looking for something a little different to what the brochure offers.” Funway's newly-positioned brochure
features the new Vietnam Airlines service and includes a double-page spread with suggested two- and multi- centre itineraries and tips on how to combine the best of the Middle East with the Far East highlights. Au-Co,is a new three-day cruise
through Halong Bay, available through HG Travel/Bhaya Cruises from March 2012. The cruise takes in Halong Bay, stops on the largest island, Cat Ba, for a cycle or walk through the rainforest then continues to Lan Ha Bay’s untouched beaches and lagoons and on to almost the Chinese border and Bai Tu Long Bay and the Vung Vieng fishing village. All 32 cabins have French balconies, flat-screen televisions with DVD players, air-conditioning and a mini-bar. Facilities on-board include a spa room, Jacuzzi, fine-dining restaurant, boutique, library, speciality coffee and tea bar and WiFi throughout the public areas. Tours range from cooking classes to Tai Chi. Anantara Mui Ne, the first Anantara in Vietnam, debuts next month (February). Close to the better- known Nha Trang, the area is characterised by its sand dunes, which stretch down to the sea. The property sports 89 rooms, suites
and pool villas, the Anantara Spa, a swimming pool and pool bar, wedding facilities, water sports and activities, a fitness centre, L’Anmien restaurant, a Wine Room – with its private cellar – and a seafront dining venue. Doubles are from £250 per room per night.
www.sellinglonghaul.com • January 2012 15
CLARE HUNTER
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