This summer, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi welcomes guest chef Mickaël Le Calvez to the kitchen at the hotel’s French fine-dining restaurant, Le Beaulieu.
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Chef Mickaël, who is currently the Executive Sous Chef at Raffles Singapore, is set to sprinkle his culinary wisdom into a series of carefully crafted dishes that best capture the spirit of contemporary France.
From 15th – 21st June , guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a special five-course menu at Le Beaulieu featuring some of the French chef’s favourite childhood dishes including lobster tail with mango and quinoa tabbouleh, sautéed scallops with cauliflower risotto, and slow-cooked lamb with celery purée, spiced carrots and tamarind sauce. Chef Mickaël’s classic French fare is priced at VND1,950,000++ per person.
“Growing up in Brittany, in the northwest of France, I’m naturally passionate about fishing and I love seafood,” said Chef Mickaël. “I’m very much looking forward to sharing some of my favourite childhood dishes with guests at the Metropole.” Chef Mickaël started his career at La Cotriade in Paimpol, France before moving to the three Michelin-starred Aubergade de Michel Trama in the Périgord region.
After five years at the Aubergade, Mickaël moved to Hong Kong as Executive Chef at French Window. This was followed by roles at BRASS by Mickael in Hong Kong, Maison Pourcel by Jacques & Laurent Pourcel in Shanghai and Eon Epicurean Luxury in Saigon. The 32-year-old chef joined Raffles Singapore in 2014 and is currently the hotel’s Executive Sous Chef, responsible for eight of the hotel’s restaurants including Raffles Grill and Long Bar Steakhouse.
For more than a century, Le Beaulieu has set the standard for French cuisine in Vietnam, winning repeat visits from the likes of Graham Greene, Charlie Chaplin, Catherine Deneuve, Michael Caine, and Sir Roger Moore. Today, the French fine-dining restaurant, with its marble and wooden parquet floors, is especially well-known for its dazzling soirées and sublime Sunday Brunch.
Sofitel Legend is an illustrious selection of heritage luxury hotels where the best of past and present converge. Set within beautiful and culturally-rich destinations, each legendary retreat is both timeless and elegant, delivering lavish settings, renowned restaurants and modern comforts matched with impeccable service for the ultimate luxury experience. Noble, rare and soulful, Sofitel Legend hotels entice worldly travelers who are all drawn to these beloved places of grandeur for their architectural beauty, sweeping vistas and captivating ambience. Sofitel Legend is part of AccorHotels, a world-leading travel and lifestyle group which invites travelers to feel welcome at more than 4,300 hotels, resorts and residences, along with some 10,000 of the finest private homes around the globe.
[Wanderlust Tips May 2018] May is the month of the delightful change of seasons when the sweet pellucid spring is about to pass, while the brilliantly bright summer is coming.
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This is also a perfect time for the most peaceful and economical trips. Visitors can avoid the high season of summer when prices are high and tourist destinations are crowded.
The weather in May is very enjoyable for travelling, just warm and sunny enough for a getaway to the land of blue sea and golden sunshine, and also not too cold for a trip to green highlands.
The dynamic costumes with vibrant colors, soft and cool materials will be an excellent choice for your trips. You can indulge in exploring nature as well as take trendy pictures.
Photographer: Hoang Dang
Make-up: Truong Duong Thuy
Stylist: Quynh Anh Nguyen
Model: Duong Mac Anh Quan – Huyen Thu
Outfits: Phan Nguyen
Location: Minh Chau Island, Quan Lan, Quang Ninh (Viet Nam)
Nestled on the side of the pristine Cua Dai beach, Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa Hoi An has become the favourite destination of travellers especially families with kids.
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With its picturesque ocean view, stunning stretches of sand and endless blue sky, surrounded by lush garden, Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa is considered as Hoi An’s jewel. Inspired by local culture and contemporary living standards, the renowned British architect – David Hobkinson of NOOR has created a luxurious retreat that will bring you close to the nature. At Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa, each room is decorated in a modern style and livened up with warm wood furnishings and 5-star facilities. When you wake up early in the morning, walk through the stunning manicured gardens and stroll along the open-air walkways, you will experience the quintessential beauty of this premium resort.
Start off a new day at the Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa with a Taichi session next to the emerald water of the infinity swimming pool. After a superb choice of buffet breakfast at Spice Garden, you will now have the energy, to be refreshed and feel the calm within. When you ride on the vintage Vespa and cruise through the seaside fishing village, and then the blue coconut trees, and wooden bridges; this ride makes you feel like time has stopped. The peaceful village will remind you of your childhood.
After a journey full of tropical sunshine and wind, let’s choose an intimate romantic corner at The Lounge and enjoy the premium Afternoon tea. Evening is the most relaxing time for you and your family to savour exquisite seafood in the open-air atmosphere of the The Pool House.
“We are always available to serve you with a shining smile like a new day’s sunshine” Sven A. Saebel – General Manager of Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa said.
Among many resorts on Cua Dai Seaside, Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa Hoi An promises to bring you an unforgettable experience of a luxury and comfortable relaxing vacation with the marvellous scene of beautiful blue sea, white sand and golden sunshine.
To welcome the summer of 2018, Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa Hoi An has launched Vietnamese Holiday Package – the exclusive promotion for families. Starting from VND3,990,000++ per night, you and your little angels will have an opportunity to experience a 2 Day 1 Night stay at the elegant Deluxe Room, a buffet breakfast at Spices Garden, free of charge (FOC) extra bed for children under 12 years old; complimentary swimming lesson, cake making, painting, hat painting for children from 6 to 16 years old. Moreover, the resort also offers complimentary ice cream for kids, free private airport transfer as well as steam and dry sauna at Bliss Spa.
Besides, any stay of more than 2 nights will be entitled to receive a complimentary premium afternoon tea at The Lounge from 3pm to 5pm. Especially, guests who stay for 3 nights would receive 30% discount on Spa, 10% discount on laundry, an extra complimentary afternoon tea from 3pm to 5pm and a lunch/dinner for whole family or weekend buffet dinners. Promotion is applicable from now until 30th June 2018.
SUNRISE PREMIUM RESORT & SPA HOI AN
Address: Au Co, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam.
In June, the Hôtel des Arts Saigon will offer its customers a variety of culinary events
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CULINARY JOURNEY WITH MICHELIN STAR CHEF YUICHI KAMIMURA
Hôtel des Arts Saigon, MGallery Collection welcomes acclaimed Japanese Chef Yuichi Kamimura from Michelin-starred restaurant KAMIMURA in Japan to Social Club Restaurant (23rd floor) from 27th – 29th June 2018.
Having been in the food industry for over 15 years, chef Yuichi Kamimura not only runs an eponymous restaurant in Hokkaido, Japan — one of the city’s finest— but also travels through the world’s best kitchens, allowing his delicacies to reach a wider audience.
Renowned for his clever use of Japanese ingredients but prepared in an unmistakably French manner, his contemporary Japanese-French cuisine has been conquering the palates of connoisseurs in Japan, Malaysia, and now Vietnam. Having travelled to many of the world’s best kitchens across the globe, Chef Kamimura brings his experience to Vietnam with a spectacular culinary journey set menu dinner, which includes innovative culinary masterpieces.
Hosted by Executive Chef Egidio Latorraca, the Michelin star Chef Yuichi Kamimura will be introducing an artistic yet contemporary fusion of Japanese flavors with a French twist. Omakase Dinner with wine pairing priced at VND3,088,000++ per person (Available for corporate events).
QUINTESSENTIAL DINNER WITH RUPERT & ROTHSCHILD VIGNERONS
Hôtel des Arts Saigon, MGallery Collection is honoured to host a quintessential dine and wine night at its signature restaurant Social Club that offer a superb 5-course menu pairing with premium wines from Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons.
The evening will be hosted by Debra Savage, International Marketing Director for Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons. Diners can indulge with a swanky-performed Jazz band that represents another dimension of the French “Art de Vivre”. Following a champagne reception, these delightful wines will be paired with a specially created menu from our Executive Chef, Egidio Latorraca, which demonstrates the ‘Art de Recevoir’ crossbreeds ‘Art de la Table’ with exquisite culinary creations and premium wines.
The Rupert & Rothschild partnership was formed in 1997 by the late Dr Anton Rupert of South Africa and the late Baron Edmond de Rothschild of France. Their vision and guiding principles were carried forward by their sons, the late Anthonij Rupert and Baron Benjamin de Rothschild. Today, the Rupert and the Rothschild families continue to drive this prestigious partnership from strength to strength.
Experience a unique gastronomic adventure to celebrate the world class wines produced by Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons from Franschhoek in South Africa at our award winning Social Club restaurant.
The exclusive gourmet 5-course dinner with wine pairing is valid at VND2,688,000++ per person at Social Club Restaurant, 23rd floor of Hôtel des Arts Saigon on Saturday, 2nd June 2018 from 7pm to 10pm.
HOTEL DES ARTS SAIGON – MGALLERY COLLECTION
Address: 76-78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Before you head out on the highway, prepare your car for summer with these essential vehicle service and maintenance tips.
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Step 1. Radiator check-up
Overheating engines are one of the biggest causes of summer breakdowns. Intense summer heat can strain your cooling system, so check that your radiator and hoses aren’t damaged. Make sure that air flow around your radiator is not blocked by dirt or debris, and that the radiator cap isn’t damaged.
Step 2. Keep your engine cool
After cleaning your radiator, make sure that it has the proper amount of coolant, with the reservoir half-full, radiator coolant should be flushed and changed approximately every two years. Ensure that you keep a 50/50 mix between coolant and distilled water.
Step 3. Check your battery
Battery fluid can evaporate in the summer heat and internal parts can become damaged. Check that the water level in each of the battery’s cells comes up to just below the cell’s inspection hole. If levels are low, carefully add more distilled water. Clean off the battery, as dirt can be a conductor and drain power. Pay attention to the terminals, as dirt or corrosion can weaken the power going into your car.
Step 4. Inspect your tires
Change in temperature cause changes in your tire’s internal pressure, so now is the time to give your tires a check-up. If you still have winter tires on, switch to summer or all-season tires. Make sure your tires aren’t cracked and have good tread, as hot summer asphalt can worsen these conditions.
Step 5. Is your ACrunning?
If your air conditioner seems weak, clean and inspect you condenser. If dirt or bugs are preventing airflow, that could be the cause. Check the belt inside the compressor. If your AC is still weak, you may be low on Freon and will need to refill. It’s often a good idea to have a mechanic do this, as levels must be precise.
Step 6. Wash and Wax
The harsh summer sun can cause your paint to fade or peel. Paint damage is more than cosmetic. Since paint acts as a protective layer sheilding the aluminum body from the elements, losing it will cause problems down the road. Help protect your paint by cleaning and waxing your car.
Step 7. Change your oil
Finish off your car’s summer check-up with an oil change, which you should get every 3,000 miles. If your car experiences particularly strenuous driving conditions, then you may want to change your oil more often.
[Wanderlust Tips May 2018] Though Alba Wellness resort, Seashells Phu Quoc, U Nimman Chiang Mai are three new resorts, they are full of charm with luxury space and classy services, promising to bring unforgettable holidays for visitors in the summer of 2018.
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ALBA WELLNESS RESORT – THE CONNECTION WITH PURE NATURE
Located 30 kilometres to the north of Hue’s city centre, Alba Wellness Resort is built on the fabulous natural hot mineral spring flowing through sediment beds at the foot of Truong Son mountain range. The resort was designed by a famous Japanese architect, combining harmoniously the beauty of the two cultures of Vietnam and Japan in the idyllic countryside, with paths full of bamboos and red bridges crossing streams.
In particular, Alba Wellness Resort has built the first and only Onsen & Spa centre in Vietnam, offering an exceptional 7-step Japanese hot spring bath and unique spa technique.The days at Alba Wellness Resort will be a time when visitors experience countless impressive journeys. The first one is the mind-body treatment journey with hot spring and spa, or mind and body exercises with meditation classes and yoga. Or you can explore the local culture while leisurely cycling through fragrant rice fields, visiting local markets, temples, churches and centuries-old villages. Or you can walk to the Alba organic farm to learn about interesting farming techniques.
The culinary journey will awaken all of your senses with European and Asian cuisine, especially the delicious traditional Hue cuisine made from organic food grown in the farm of Alba Wellness Resort. The last one is the adventurous journey which includes highwire, zipline, or trekking through Truong Son forest to watch the sunrise and sunset.Everything will enable you to find the purest connection between people and nature, as well as find yourself again. In this pristine and pure space, you will enjoy a slow pace of life to listen to your innermost feelings, heal and regenerate energy.
SEASHELLS PHU QUOC – THE GATE TO THE BLUE SEA PARADISE
Located in the heart of Phu Quoc Island, just 15 minutes’ drive from the airport, Seashells Hotel Phu Quoc is an ideal resting place for travellers visiting the beautiful jade island of Vietnam. With its charming beachfront location, Seashells will give you the opportunity to enjoy smooth sand and clear blue water.
The hotel features 252 rooms with majestic sea and mountain views, promising to bring experiences like never before. You can spend time at the infinity pool, or visit the Sea Serenity Spa, a 31-room luxury spa offering breathtakingly relaxing moments. Turtle Club will definitely be loved by children, while the gym is full of modern equipment. When customers need to hold conferences or seminars, Seashells Phu Quoc is also available to provide modern facilities and functional space of up to 970 square metres.
Seashells Phu Quoc has 5 restaurants and bars in different styles, offering latest culinary concepts to the island. The Coral All-day Dining Restaurant serves international and local dishes, while Stingray Halls serves a selection of fresh seafood. Anchor Bistro will give you a unique experience while admiring the view of the vast ocean, and the Seashells Lobby Lounge is where you can enjoy hot tea. Finally, do not miss Escape Skybar – one of the first rooftop bars in Phu Quoc.All the experiences offered promise a perfect holiday to travellers in Phu Quoc.
Seashells Phu Quoc:
Add: 1 Vo Thi Sau Str., Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam.
Tel: (+84) 2973 923 999 | (+84) 2973 960 777
Contact: info@seashellshotel.vn
Website: seashellshotel.vn
U NIMMAN CHIANG MAI – A PEACEFUL CORNER AMIDST A VIBRANT CENTRE
Situated on Nimmanhaemin Road, just a few minutes’ walk from the vibrant dining, shopping, and entertainment area of the city, the U Nimman Hotel Chiang Mai is a refined accommodation with most attractive services.U Nimman Chiang Mai features 147 luxuriously rooms and suites, combining modern designs with traditional Lanna architectural elements. This special design has made U Nimman Chiang Mai one of Thailand’s most unique new hotels.
Besides the design, U Nimman Chiang Mai offers services of maximum satisfaction. The hotel offers a policy of unlimited check-in times, which enables you to choose the most convenient time and experience the rooms for 24 hours since the check-in time. There is also a free breakfast service wherever and whenever you want during your stay. You can even choose your favorite pillow, soap, and tea before checking in.
A holiday at U Nimman Chiang Mai promises to offer you a most relaxing time. You will enjoy a myriad of memorable 5-star dining experiences including classy restaurants, rooftop bars, a swimming pool, a library, a gym and a quiet garden.
In addition, only 2 minutes walking distance from the hotel, the Nimman Convention Hall offers a large 500 square metre space with modern facilities, which makes it an ideal place to organize formal conferences and seminars.
U Nimman Chiang Mai:
Add: 01 Nimmanhaemin Road, Suthep Sub District, Muang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai City, Thailand.
I spent 24hours in the harsh weather and temperatures close to 0degrees celsius. during that 24hours, I shared the anxiety, nervousness, and expectation with my close friend who is an athlete participating in 100-kilometer long-distance running. After 24hours of struggle and exhaustion, I felt extremely worthy and proud because I overcame a challenging journey and went beyond my limits.
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I agreed to be a supporter of my close friend to assist her in a 100kilometres long-distance running marathon, without much thought, in May 2017. At that time, I did not know anything about the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB®) until she told me. I thought it was just like my climbing on Lang Biang Mountain in Da Lat; people join mainly for sightseeing, and trekking along the mountain road is an additional reason.
When I was in Chamonix, a tiny town located at the intersection of Switzerland and France, I realized how difficult it really was. Getting off the bus at the Chamonix at night, we went together to find the Chalet hotel, that we had booked in advance, on the sloping road covered by darkness and no people around.
Fortunately, we finally found the right home to take a rest. It was two o clock in the morning but we didn’t need to rush, as we would have time to admire the romantic autumn scene the next day.
Chamonix was a pretty little town with wooden houses on a hill and a lot of colorful flowers. The weather was cool so it was really pleasant to stroll along the road. We met many people who also participated in the UTMB® when receiving the registration number and event information handbook.
The 100kilometre long-distance running started at 9 am but we got up at 5 am, packed up, and walked to the bus stop as instructed by the organizers in order to get to Courmayeur town. Courmayeur had long been famous for the Mont Blanc ski resort, and this was also the venue for the opening ceremony and the start of the race. The 100kilometre long-distance race had more than 2,300athletes from various countries, but mainly from Europe and the United States.
Many athletes had their families, friends, and lovers cheering and supporting them, some even brought their pets with them. After the “dance for good luck” ritual, the head of the organizers carefully instructed the athletes before kicking off the race with a shot fired. I felt like I was saying goodbye to soldiers joining a battle and did not know when they would cross the line. The next 24hours would be extremely challenging as they would experience hot sun, cold winds, rain, snow, mud, and even darkness.
During the race, my friend had to cross three high mountains in the Alps, including the Grand Col Ferret at 2,500metres above sea level. This is the crossroad between Switzerland and Italy, well-known for the strong winds that carry the echoes of the mountains.
If you could reach the top of the Grand Col Ferret within the specified time, it means you have a 50%chance of finishing the race on time.
While thinking and praying for my friend, I strolled around Courmayeur town covered in autumn flowers and suddenly realized that Courmayeur looked so romantic. It had wooden houses and yards, as well as creepers, green lawns and colorful flowers blooming in the autumn sunlight.
Fortunately, that morning, the weather was very beautiful; it was sunny and pleasant with a cool breeze that made my strolling along the road become very poetic. I stopped by a local cafe for a cappuccino and a hot greasy croissant to get some more energy. After that, I took a backpack full of fast food, fruits and clothes, towels, hats, and gloves for my friend and went to the checkpoint – a stop that allowed supporters to meet the athlete.
During the journey, I would meet my friend at 3 stops. Getting to these stops was not easy as each year the organizers changed locations from where supporters took a bus. Things got more confusing when English was not the main language and the most spoken languages are French and German. After all, I became the leader of a group of supporters with multiple nationalities: American, Spanish, South African, and Korean.
We walked up and down the slopes during the 25-kilometer journey of the supporters, together we watched the majestic mountains of the Alps and thought of the athletes who were struggling on the mountain roads. It rained heavily when the sun just went down. Before I met my friend at the Champex-Lac stop, I carried the heavy backpack up to the 2-kilometer high hill to reach the stop. There were tents and beds for athletes to take a nap if needed or a large tent to enable supporters to meet and take care of the athletes.
When meeting her, many layers of her raincoat was soaking wet, the cap got cold and muddy. I quickly took the soup with electrolyte salt, bread, and cheese for her to eat and recharge her energy. I gave her my sweater, woolen scarf, and woolly hat, and only kept for myself a T-shirt and jacket, then I went out to dry her clothes and gloves. We sat next to each other taking a photo to send to everyone in Vietnam, comforting and instructing each other before she continued the race. None of us talked about or admitted our true feelings of anxiety because of the harsh weather as well as the cloudy sky above Mont Blanc.
However, we already finished two-thirds of the marathon, and if we tried a little bit more, we could finish it and be proud of overcoming ourselves in this challenge. I arrived at the Trient station late at midnight. Nearly one-third of the athletes had given up due to injuries or exhaustion. Around me were people whose faces looking haggard and eyes looking tired because of the extreme weather. Someone sat in a daze like a statue, and others went to get hot soup by themselves. Feeling so worried, I went to find my friend. Could she bear the cold at 3oC on the hill? Getting cold and nervous, I kept walking into the tent.
After a while, I opened the awning windshield, stepped out of the tent; the sky that night was full of sparkling stars. The singing sound of the pine trees, the wind, and the night sky covered by stars made me feel happy. I took a deep breath of the fresh mountainous air, calmed down, and told myself that both my friend and I would overcome this challenge in the end. I understood that great trials and tribulations only helped me become stronger and built more confidence in my capacity as well as my will. Maybe my friend would also stop to take a breath, look at the starry sky and have the same thoughts as me. Looking at my watch, it was almost 3 am.
The final destination was Chamonix. It was so bad that after taking the bus from Trient to Chamonix and walking from the town center to the hostel to wash clothes as well as get some warm clothes for my friend, instead of traveling to the final spot, I was so tired I fell asleep on the sofa. I woke up and was shocked to realize that it was only 15minutes to 9 am when I needed to meet my friend at the final destination. I hurriedly changed my clothes and carried my backpack out of the house. When I rushed to the finish line, I found my friend standing with a sad look on her face, maybe she was looking for me. When seeing me running with rocket speed, all her tiredness seemed to disappear and she smiled so happily at me. We were about to cry, happily hugged each other with so much emotion, then we walked on the stage to receive a medal and took pictures.
After completing the entire necessary procedure to receive the souvenir and Ultra Trail Mont Blanc UTMB®’s certificate, we leisurely enjoyed the coffee and breakfast to recharge our energy. In Chamonix that day, the sky was blue with warm golden sunshine and bright flowers as if welcoming the “warriors” who completed this harsh race. We did not talk much, just sat together to look at the clouds and other athletes conquering the destination in the joy of their families and friends.
And then I thought to myself, “Travel to experience a hard long-distance race taking place in the mountainous jungle at the intersection of Switzerland, France, and Italy, why not?”
USEFUL TRAVEL TIPS FOR ULTRA TRAIL MONT BLANC
Transportation
Chamonix is located in Haute-Savoie province in the Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. Courmayeur is a city located in the Aosta Valley, Italy. Chamonix and Courmayeur are ski resorts so the peak season is from November to March. If you do not like the winter when the temperatures may go down below 0ºC, you can travel in the summer to enjoy the green scenery and romantic flowers.
You can travel to Geneva and then take the bus (online booking) to Chamonix for about 2hours, and get on the train from Chamonix to Zurich. In addition, there are some other beautiful Swiss cities nearby such as Bern, Interlaken, Lucerne, and Morcote, so you should take time to discover all of the fairy beauty of the country featuring many mountains and shimmering lakes.
Accommodation
In Chamonix, the accommodation ranges from 5-star luxury hotels to budget guesthouses. Most 4-5 star hotels have prices of around EUR200. It is recommended to choose reasonable hotels (Chalet) and book 2-3 months in advance in high seasons and one month in advance in low seasons. In Chamonix, room prices for 2 people per night vary from EUR75 to EUR150 depending on the location and service demand there. To get the most economical trip, you can go in groups of 2 or 4 people.
Travel cost
You need to plan your expenses carefully because the cost of living in Switzerland is quite expensive. A cup of coffee costs from EUR4 to EUR7. A meal consisting of soup / salad and main course costs from EUR15to EUR30 (it depends on whether you eat chicken, beef, fish or seafood). In order to save money, a group of friends can go to the supermarket to buy food for cooking because most of the guesthouses are equipped with a kitchen and cooking tools.
You need to buy a sim card (Swisscom or Sunrise) at the airport for about USD20 to get fast Internet access. If you buy Orange or Vodafone sim cards from other European countries to take to Switzerland for roaming, the speed of Internet access will be slower.
[Wanderlust Tips May 2018] With 20 years of working experience in the tourism industry, Bui Van Chi, The Director of Oriental Sails, will share with Wanderlust Tips readers some matters relating to travel costs and how to plan the most reasonable travel budget.
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As far as I know, you have worked in the travel industry for nearly 20 years; therefore you must have travelled to many places. What places do you like the most?
Before becoming the director and founder of Oriental Sails, I had the opportunities to travel to a lot of destinations in my country and abroad. In Vietnam, I have been to all of the famous tourist destinations, while abroad I have visited many countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Spain, and France.Whenever I travel, I feel that each place has its own beauty.
However, I like Ha Long the most. Ha Long is beautiful in a unique way; it brings both a sense of peace and the salty flavour of the sea. It is no surprise that Ha Long cruises have become one of the most important experiences that international visitors should not miss when travelling to Vietnam. Spending a night on a Ha Long Cruise is really a wonderful experience that promises to wake up all your senses. With the aim to share my affection for Ha Long Bay with everyone, I decided to set up Oriental Sails.
Could you tell us more about the Oriental Sails brand?
The Oriental Sails brand features four luxury cruise ships: 3-star Oriental Sails, 4-star Calypso Cruiser and 4-star Starlight Cruise. These cruises have been serving a night package tour for domestic and international tourists. Every year, Oriental Sails serves about 25,000 visitors from all over the world. In addition, Oriental Sails cooperates with more than 1,000 travel agents across the country, and Oriental Sails has become familiar with international partners.
At the end of 2018, Oriental Sails is expected to launch two more 4-star yacht cruises with a capacity of 60 guests each.
Travel cost is something that every visitor is concerned about. Travelling on your own or with the help of a travel agent has its own advantages and disadvantages. Travelling with the assistance of a travel agent, you may be quite passive due to the fixed schedule, but the budget is clear and planned, minimizing the unplanned spending. In contrast, travelling on your own, you will be more active, with more price options available, but the risk of overspending is high when many unexpected circumstances may happen at any time. What do you think about this?
Each form of travel has its own pros and cons. Each person will choose a different form. If you have travelled many times and had experiences, you can go by yourself. Otherwise, booking tours is a good idea as you do not need to worry about schedules, and a tour guide will make the trip more interesting.
In addition, currently, many travel companies offer free and easy tours that include essential services such as flight tickets, hotels, airport transfers, and visitors can do the rest themselves.
Accommodations like resorts and cruises often offer all-inclusive packages that cover all services for guests from bedrooms, utilities, meals, tour guides, and fun activities. These packages have affordable prices and flexible schedules, as well as offer the best services for customers, which also enables visitors to take the initiative in planning the schedule and travel budget.
How has Oriental Sails implemented allinclusive packages?
The service packages at Oriental Sails are allinclusive, offering the most convenience for travellers. To admire Halong Bay in the most impressive way, you should choose the overnight stay experience. It is quite complicated and expensive to book an overnight stay with separate services.
With an all-inclusive package, the services like Ha Noi – Ha Long shuttle bus, sightseeing tickets, meals, tour guide, kayak, and boats are all included. There are other services such as massage and sauna for tourists to choose from. Ha Long’s tourism has four main sightseeing tours, but we always try to change the attractions and renew the schedules so that visitors can feel relaxed and most pleasant, avoiding the overcrowded and commercial attractions. All services on the boat will make visitors enjoy a relaxing experience on a comfortable floating hotel.
In addition, if any groups of guests want to book the whole cruise or organize events, Oriental Sails can also offer the services, create programs and provide on-demand services.
For us, the best way to approach and promote our image is to serve customers with the greatest respect, listen to their feedback, and give customers the best experiences on the cruise.
Can you share some of your own experiences in budgeting a trip, and how to have the best journey full of experiences and save on costs at the same time?
Previously, I often travelled with my friends in small groups without booking any tours. Then, over the past ten years, I have tended to choose tour packages. Many times organizing the trips for myself and friends, as well as booking package tours, I have drawn some experiences as follows:
First of all, find out the information about the destination and main services such as hotels/cruises, popular attractions, and meals to plan your budget.
With relaxing vacations or familiar destinations, you can book the accommodation yourself. There are many sources for you to order these services such as travel agents and reputable online channels. The procedure for booking these services is extremely fast and convenient. At this point, you do not need to book a package tour, just book each prominent service.
With trips including activities and sightseeing, besides overnight service, I recommend booking through a tour company or travel agency to save expenses and avoid wasting your time and effort. These companies often spend a lot of money creating a perfect tour schedule for customers. You can also request them to adjust the schedule to fit your health and finances.
Secondly, booking services 2-3 months in advance, depending on long-term or short-term tours. At that time, the prices of the services are very good, and you can enjoy many incentives.
Thirdly, you should prepare a budget and health insurance to enjoy local specialties or impressive activities at the place you visit. It is recommended to ask receptionists or the locals for good restaurants and prestigious shops.
Thank you for sharing with us interesting stories. We wish you and Oriental Sails success!
[Wanderlust Tips May 2018] The four travellers will share about how to have an enjoyable trip on a budget.
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LE HA, HO CHI MINH CITY – I USED TO VISIT EUROPE WITHOUT ANY MONEY IN MY POCKET
I have had the opportunity to travel to many countries in Asia and Europe. With my foreign language proficiency, experiences of studying, living and working abroad for many years, as well as friend networks in many countries around the world, I feel very lucky to have had many chances to go on trips by myself and experienced extremely interesting things. Each trip has a lot of interesting or even crazy stories, and travelling by myself helps me remember those special experiences for a long time.
One of my most memorable trips was to Europe with my close friend for three weeks without any money in my pocket. At that time, I was her supporter in the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) race at the crossroads of Switzerland, France, and Italy. I did everything for her, carried her backpack which weighed 8 kilograms, and also crossed 25 kilometres of mountain road in cold winds and rains, with temperatures of below 10 degrees Celsius for 24 hours. Although I was not the one who completed the 100-kilometre mountain route, I felt very happy to be able to provide support for the athlete who is also my very close friend.
THAI PHUONG THANH , HO CHI MINH CITY – WORKING AS TOUR GUIDE IS MY WAY TO RETURN TO MY FAVOURITE DESTINATION FOR FREE
After a period of solo travels to many destinations, I now guide tours to beautiful tourist attractions where people still face difficulties when travelling by themselves. Honestly, this is a way to return to my favorite places for free. I value experiences more than money, so almost all of the payments I have got from guiding tours is spent on trips. From my personal experience, I advise you to plan your trip early. For me, I often spend at least half a year to hunt for cheap flight tickets. Then you will have enough time to prepare everything like things to do or must-bring essentials.
You should also compare the prices of accommodation services, restaurants, and entertainment activities on TripAdvisor site. It is recommended to read the feedback carefully to make the most appropriate choice. Finally, buying travel insurance is a necessity. By calculating the expenses mentioned above, you will have an idea of how much to budget for your trip, and additional expenses will include shopping and dining.
DUY HOANG, HANOI – THE TYPE OF TOURISM AND TRAVELLING TIME WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT THE BUDGET OF THE TRIP
I like to travel and often go by myself because I can follow the schedule that I like, and I am not limited to the time of a tour. So far, I have had the opportunity to visit many places in Vietnam, most countries in Southeast Asia and some other Asian countries. I think the type of tourism and travelling time will directly affect the budget of the trip. For example, a relaxing and shopping vacation will cost more than a backpacking trip. Travelling time of the year and duration of stay in each location need to be taken into consideration to have the most beautiful scenery or to get good deals.
In my experience, we need to thoroughly reserve the destination before we depart. The two biggest expenses of travel are transportation and accommodation. You can use Skyscanner or register to receive promotional emails from airlines to find the best deals. In terms of accommodation, you can compare the prices on some reputable sites such as Agoda, Booking.com or Expedia. And do not forget to check out banks’ promotions for credit card holders when purchasing flight tickets and making hotel reservations.
NGUYEN ANH VU, DAK LAK – PLANNING AND SETTING A BUDGET BEFORE THE TRIP IS REALLY IMPORTANT
My passion for travelling is inspired by the desire to test my limitation while travelling on long roads, to discover the beauty of nature, people and the cuisine of different regions. The feeling of conquering yourself and experiencing new things is really exciting.
A few years ago, I did my first trip with a group of friends to Vung Tau when I was a freshman. Driving far away for the first time, I got lost many times and due to not planning in advance, we went over our budget. Therefore, the trip had to end early as we could not afford to go to all of the beautiful places in Vung Tau. After that, as we travelled more often and gradually gained experience, we learned how to balance the cost of a trip. In particular, I strongly believe in using the Travel Budget application to book hotels, transportation and search information about destinations and dining places. Planning and setting a budget before the trip is really important. When you are young, don’t hesitate. Just go and experience the amazing life of travelling and learn as you go.
[Wanderlust Tips May 2018] Cost management is always a top concern for travellers. In order to manage the cost, you need to set up an effective strategy for hotel reservations, transportation, sightseeing and dining at each destination. Wanderlust Tips would like to share some tips to help you plan your budget effectively for an affordable yet enjoyable journey.
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1. BOOK HOTEL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Before booking, you should learn about the location, quality, services, amenities, rooms and prices to choose the best hotel. One advantage of online booking services is that they have huge and authentic data of customers’ assessment, feedback and photos of the destinations. This makes it easier for you to make decisions rather than relying solely on hotel advertisements.
Hotel booking websites often offer incentives for early reservations. Therefore, it is recommended to book 60 days in advance to choose cheap and good quality hotel rooms. If your booking is close to the date of departure or the holiday, you will have to pay much higher fees. Currently, there are many useful booking sites that provide users with many price ranges as well as quality comparisons among hotels in the same area. In particular, you can make reservations without paying immediately or cancel the room free of charge within a certain time. During the waiting period for payment, you should consult other options or keep track of the booked hotel, as you may find better deals.
Typically, hotels have many promotions for customers such as the anniversary of establishment, customer gratitude, golden hours, events and holidays. You can update this information by registering to receive emails on promotional announcements. In addition, resorts or hotels always offer all-inclusive services to help you enjoy your holiday without having to worry about issues such as rooms, meals, drinks, transportation, or entertainment programs. These kinds of service packages will save you more money.
2. FIND CHEAP FLIGHT TICKETS AT THE RIGHT TIME
Currently, some airlines provide supporting tools to compare airfares over several days, so you can choose the most appropriate date and time with reasonable prices. Before or after peak season and holidays is when ticket prices are cheaper. Each destination will have its own low tourist season; this will be the time when many airlines sell super cheap tickets to create demand. Therefore, you should hunt for cheap tickets at these times.
If you’re always ready to travel, last-minute flights are always a great bargain that you should not miss. Keep in mind that last-minute flights are not always expensive; some sites even specialize in selling cheap last-minute tickets.
Cheap flight ticket campaigns are organized throughout the year. Information is often posted on the website for visitors to keep them up to date with regards to incentive programs. However, in order to avoid missing these tickets, you should subscribe to receive emails directly from the airline.
You can also use the price tracker function of the flights you plan to book, and the airline will notify you by email when the price changes. This is also an effective way to help you choose the right time to book with the best price.
In addition, promotional programs will also help you save the costs. In order to increase incentives for customers, airlines continually organize promotions in cooperation with banks. For instance, when customers use a bank card from that specific bank, they get discount. Or using co-branded cards will help customers accumulate flight miles to exchange for flight tickets at the end of the year.
Many travel agencies and airlines also offer a variety of promotional forms such as code and discount vouchers, which you can buy in advance to use before having any travel plans. They will also help you save a lot of costs.
3. USE TECHNOLOGY TO EARN MORE INCENTIVES
With the rapid development of technology, many websites and applications have cooperated with big brands to get attractive deals for their customers when shopping online. Before traveling to a new place, you should search information about restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and famous attractions. Also, do not forget to look for possible deals on some websites or applications that offer discount codes and vouchers, or packages of items or services. You can purchase these codes and vouchers in advance or directly go to the stores to check the products and services first, then buy them using your international credit card to get discounts. Be a smart shopper by using technology that saves you money rather than spending a great deal of cash at the store.
Over the past few years, more people use bank cards instead of cash. Besides the advantage of quick payment processes, bank cards are widely accepted in most countries in the world, users can enjoy many promotions when booking, ordering food, and shopping. In addition, the cards have high level security, when detecting suspicious transactions, you can call the bank to lock your card immediately.
Besides paying by card, many people have tried out many new payment methods, such as Visa Contactless – Payments are made by just the touch of your card on the reader. This allows you to pay without having to leave your card in the hands of a stranger and also allows safer transactions as you do not need to use or reveal your pin in public like mobile payment. Moreover, you could earn cash back on transactions you make with bank cards. These methods are still new in Vietnam but have long been used worldwide and are popular among foreigners.
4. USE PRIVILEGES FOR MEMBERS
Most of the hotels, flight ticket and tour booking websites have a policy that allows member to accumulate points, allowing them to get discounts or exchange points for their next flight. You should register to be a member of the websites to get full benefits and incentives. Today, the cooperation of luxury brands helps customers enjoy many incentives, discounts, and gifts when using the linked programs.
Registering to the membership program of hotel groups, associations,and airline alliances will offer you many benefits. Large corporations such as Accord, IHG, and Marriott always have attractive policies which apply to their members when they book hotels, resorts, restaurants, spa and associated facilities around the world. Another suggestion is the SkyTeam alliance with 20 members including Vietnam Airlines, helping you to travel anywhere in the world offering many incentives. Besides, you can also save travel costs for your itinerary by using use accumulated points to exchange for free airfare.
5. BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE TO REDUCE RISK
Travel insurance is a “safe ticket” for trips. When customers encounter risks or natural disasters while travelling or participating in tourism activities, being hospitalized or having accidents while on a trip, they will receive a compensation payment. In such situations, travel insurance will assist travellers to protect, handle and ensure to minimize the damages to people and property.
Currently, many companies offer various travel insurance packages with different compensation levels. In Vietnam, there are four basic types of travel insurance: domestic travel insurance, travel insurance for Vietnamese travelling abroad, travel insurance for foreigners travelling in Vietnam, and international travel insurance.
Before choosing the insurance packages, you need to consider the medical cost and the possibility of risk of your upcoming destination. Furthermore, you should regularly update the promotional information of different insurance companies to enjoy the best price.In case of emergency, for those who do not know English while travelling abroad, at anytime and anywhere, you can call the hotline (848) 823 4120 of International SOS to receive timely support in Vietnamese. Even when abroad, your calls are completely free of charge.
