| The luxury travel market is bigger to day than | | | | business travelers went by land. The advent of air |
| over before. Increasing affluence in the late 1990s | | | | travel made the world smaller, allowing people to |
| and 2000s has greatly expended the market and | | | | travel further and faster. This style of transport, |
| there appears to be no end in sight. | | | | however, was still expensive, exotic and |
| The recent economic climate has increased the | | | | dangerous. |
| wealth and purchasing power of many reflected in | | | | These days, the whole idea of luxury has moved |
| the arrival of luxury brands such as Gucci, | | | | up a notch. What was considered |
| Vertu, Louis Vuitton and Lacoste. As Viet | | | | “Luxury” just a few years before is now |
| Nam’s economy strengthens, the tourism | | | | available to a much larger slice of the population. |
| industry is inevitably expanding its own horizons. | | | | Branded hotels, cruises lines, international resorts |
| Once considered a backpacker destination, Viet | | | | and luxury tours companies continue to create |
| Nam is now attracting a different kind of tourist | | | | new products to meet the demand of the |
| with growing high – end options. | | | | disceming travels. Viet Nam’s tourism |
| Golfing holidays have developed fast over the last | | | | authority should focus on the market segment; |
| couple of years, with fourteen golf courses | | | | the amount each tourist spends, rather than just |
| already in place from the north to the south and | | | | the number of tourists traveling in Viet Nam. |
| more under development. Spa, wine and food, | | | | According to Mr. Pham. CEO of Luxury Travel |
| beach vacations, family travel, cruise, honeymoon | | | | Viet Nam, “the Viet Nam’s tourism |
| and romance travel are all becoming favorites for | | | | authority must think outside the box and get out |
| upscale travelers. Historically, travel has been | | | | of the image crisis about Viet Nam as a |
| synonymous with luxury. Travel for the sake of | | | | destination; they should aim to promote a luxury |
| curiosity and fun was the domain of the wealthy. | | | | image of this country”. |
| The average family rarely ventured beyond their | | | | Viet Nam’s first luxury tour company |
| own village. How things have changed ! | | | | commenced operation in 2004 to satisfy the |
| Thomas Cook started what is arguably the first | | | | increasing number of luxury travelers coming to |
| modern travel agency in the 19th century, selling | | | | the country for leisure and business. “ We |
| cruise ship tickets to leisure travels. Viet Nam | | | | recently returned from our wonderful 15 day |
| experienced it’s first taste of luxury travel in | | | | journey to Viet Nam and Cambodia arranged by |
| the early 19th Century, with the arrival of the | | | | Luxury Travel Viet Nam,” said Pamela |
| Emeraude paddle steamer. Cruising the grottos of | | | | Solvang, Shark TV, Texas, USA. “ We have |
| Ha Long Bay, for the most part, the Emeraude | | | | used the best luxury travel companies in the US |
| serviced wealthy French travelers visiting | | | | and else where and can attest that Luxury Travel |
| Indochina and beyond. | | | | Vietnam provides excellent services!” |
| This type of travel was only available to a small | | | | Luxury Travel Viet Nam |
| percentage of the population. Indeed, real luxury | | | | 05 Nguyen Truong To Str., Ba Dinh Dist, Ha Noi, |
| travel as we think of it today was only for the | | | | Viet Nam |
| very elite until 1950s when business travel | | | | 26 Dong Khoi Street, Dist 1, Saigon |
| became more common and popular. Initially, most | | | | Phone: +84.4. |