Hai Duong welcomes super rich tourists, why not?

Vietnam is consistently ranked among the most attractive and cheapest tourist destinations of the year. I called to congratulate you, the owner of a travel agency in Hanoi, because I know this is an opportunity for you to make a fortune. However, you said that "delicious, nutritious, cheap" is also a criterion, but I hope Vietnam will exploit "VIP" tourism, which is tourism for the rich.

You pointed out that Vietnam tourism has many differences. Along the country, there are many scenic spots with rich and attractive regional cuisine. You also said that Hai Duong has a famous specialty of delicious lychee; the quality of the crab area is a gift from heaven; the beautiful and deep mountains and rivers in Con Son-Kiep Bac... but to exploit this tourism segment, there must be a specific strategy and policy. Luxury tourism requires separate and sophisticated services.

Booking.com's 2024 Travel Forecast Report shows that nearly two-thirds (about 66%) of luxury and super-rich travelers want to travel just to have a quality, uninterrupted sleep. Vietnam ranked 6th, equal to Singapore with a rate of 67%. The 2023 survey by the Wellness Tourism Association also showed that up to 78% of respondents want to spend more on health-improving trips, 55% are willing to pay more for psychological therapy services and activities, and experience new things in life.

Thinking about what you said, I see that my hometown, the land of the Eastern culture, also has great potential to attract wealthy tourists. Because the tourism goal of luxury tourists is not to go to crowded streets, hotels, restaurants covered in gold, destinations in bustling, vibrant cities... but they want to experience a different, quiet and relaxing life. That difference is found in many tourist destinations in Vietnam in general, and Hai Duong in particular.

In early April 2024, Hai Duong sent a document to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposing to implement the Thanh Long Lake eco-tourism area (Chi Linh). This place has a poetic landscape with open, spacious space, four sides of overlapping mountains and hills, a system of forests, a lush environment, rich villages and many ancient historical relics. Surrounding the lake are the Dan Hoi mountain range, Phuong Hoang mountain, Con Son mountain, Ngu Nhac mountain, Cam mountain, and Tran Rong mountain. In the middle of the lake is the Nghe Dim mountain range. 7 km to the northeast are the Huyen Dinh mountain range and Thanh Mai mountain. This is an ideal destination for many tourists, especially the wealthy when they need a quiet space to rest and relax. Thanh Ha land is likened to a garden in the North, and is also a place where tourists can experience and enjoy the cool green space of the Northern Delta.

It is not a dream to say that Vietnam has a great opportunity to welcome "VIP" tourists because recently on October 16, Da Nang simultaneously welcomed 5 of the most luxurious and expensive Gulfstream super aircraft in the world. Those are 5 legendary Gulfstream private jets carrying 50 customers who are billionaires from all over the world and Gulfstream's operating partners gathered in Da Nang. Previously, a delegation of more than 4,500 people of the Indian billionaire visited Quang Ninh and many other places in the country. According to the plan, the Arts Festival for Climate will take place in Ha Long (Quang Ninh) from January 13-19, 2025 with the participation of more than 80,000 people, including 200 European billionaires. The billionaires will come to Ha Long by super yacht. Many places have considered ways to attract "VIP" tourists, so Hai Duong also needs to take advantage of this opportunity.

We know that “delicious, nutritious, and cheap” tourism is also an advantage, but if we miss the opportunity to exploit the potential of high-end tourism, it would be a waste. Hai Duong needs to have aspirations and find its own direction to catch the “green eyes” of super-rich tourists.