Starting in November, luxury tours on deserted islands in Ha Long Bay will welcome guests with an “unprecedented” itinerary and experience, according to the organizing unit.
In early October, Quang Ninh announced that it began searching for 7 pristine island areas and beaches to develop new tourism products for ultra-wealthy clients, who make up 1% of the world’s population. Mr. Nguyen Duc Hanh, CEO of All Asia Vacation (AAV)—the company that organized a tour for billionaire Bill Gates last March—stated that the company is authorized to implement high-end tourism products for the ultra-rich in Ha Long Bay. From now until the first quarter of next year, AAV plans to organize a group of ultra-wealthy clients to experience the new product each month.
The first guest to experience the luxury tour in Ha Long Bay is a billionaire from the U.S., expected to spend two days and one night in November in the Tra San – Cong Do area, which has many natural sandy beaches, coral reefs, and diverse underwater life, with areas ranging from 100 to 800 square meters.
In March 2023, the Ha Long Bay management board proposed a plan to exploit this cluster of beaches, but it has not yet been approved due to regulatory and planning issues. In addition to Tra San – Cong Do, AAV has requested permission to exploit several other areas in Bai Tu Long Bay to serve the ultra-wealthy clientele in the future.
Mr. Hanh stated that preparations for the November guests are basically complete thanks to the support from the Quang Ninh government. The itinerary for the tour is designed specifically. Some guests have requested “not to travel by road for more than 30 minutes.” Therefore, after landing at Van Don International Airport by private jet, guests will travel to Ao Tien port, which is about 20 minutes away by car. Guests will then board a yacht to the bay, experiencing a private journey.
The CEO of AAV also mentioned that environmental sanitation is “absolutely guaranteed” when exploiting these private and pristine areas in Ha Long Bay. Before the trip, AAV will clean up trash on the island and around the area, and restore the original condition of the island and beach after the guests leave.
Guests will only engage in leisure activities or hold parties on the island and sleep overnight on the yacht. Clients have also proposed to the company about camping in Bai Tu Long Bay, but this “needs further consideration” due to the principle of not impacting the natural landscape.
Other activities for the group include using 3D Mapping projection technology—techniques that use light and images to create 3D effects on cliffs. Additionally, the option of using hot air balloons to view the entire Ha Long Bay is being researched.
AAV also plans to take guests to visit famous caves in Ha Long Bay, such as Sung Sot Cave and Thien Cung Cave. However, they will develop plans to ensure guests have an absolutely private experience at these sites.
Mr. Nguyen Lam Nguyen, Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, stated that the policy to develop high-quality marine and island tourism has been outlined in the provincial tourism development plan until 2020, with a vision to 2030, advised by the American consulting group BCG, and continues to be planned in the 2050 plan, which has been approved by the Prime Minister.
Quang Ninh aims to attract ultra-wealthy clients to generate revenue and create momentum to lead the market and tourism trends in the future. To meet the needs of this clientele, the province needs to offer truly high-class, unique, and distinctive products.
With the transportation infrastructure ready, representatives of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism believe they will create attractive products for this special group of tourists. In 2019, Ha Long Bay welcomed many world-famous guests, such as billionaire Joe Lewis, the owner of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
“The programs aim for a unique experience, meeting the demand for special destinations and the need for relaxation within the heritage of the tourists,” Mr. Hanh said.
Tu Nguyen – Source: VN Express