8 must-see places in Sa Pa in the morning

[Wanderlust Tips January issue 2018] Travel to Sa Pa in the afternoon, where to go and what to do to have the most enjoyable experiences? Here are eight suggestions from Wanderlust Tips.

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1. SAPA’S STONE CHURCH – SAPA’S TOURISM ICON

The Holy Rosary Church, commonly known as the Stone Church of Sapa, was built in 1895, and is located in the heart of town. It is the only ancient French architectural structure left in Sapa. The building was built in the shape of a cross. The typical style of Roman Gothic architecture is reflected in the building’s rooftop, bell tower and arches, which are pyramid-shaped, lending the building its elegance.

Top tips: The Stone Church is a favourite place of tourists for taking photos. You can admire the building from a nearby cafe and feel Sapa’s atmosphere during morning hours.

Cuisine: Sao Dem Café (Pham Xuan Huan Road), Good Morning Vietnam Restaurant (Fansipan Road), Bich Ngoc Restaurant (Fansipan Road).

2. HAM RONG MOUNTAIN – SAPA’S FAIRY

Ham Rong Mountain or Ham Rong resort is located in the heart of Sapa and covers an area of nearly 150 hectares. The park features a pristine natural landscape filled with unique wild plants and moss rocks. During your hike, you can admire the most beautiful scenery of the orchid and stone garden, Heaven’s Gate, and Cloud Courtyard.

Top tips: The climb to the mountain is fairly convenient; simply follow the path to reach the top of the mountain. You should wear comfortable clothes, a light jacket and a pair of comfortable shoes. A camera is a must-have on this hike; you will want to record the beautiful scenery on your way. Tickets are VND70,000 per adult and VND20,000 per child.

Cuisine: Truong Sinh Restaurant (No. 8 Thach Son Street), Hai Yen Restaurant (No. 8 Thach Son Street) or Kham Pha Viet Restaurant (No. 15 Thach Son Street) offer a delicious “hiker’s menu”.

FANSIPAN PEAK – THE ROOF OF INDOCHINA

At a height of 3,143 metres, Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam, and is considered the roof of Indochina. Its peak is a pop-ular destination for many hikers. Located nine kilometres to the southwest of Sapa, the mountain is a challenging hike that takes days of walking, and requires assistance from professional tourism companies or a local guide.

Top tips: The Fansipan cable car has shortened the time of the trip to 15 minutes. Round trip ticket price is VND700,000 per adult, VND500,000 per child (1 – 1.3 metres tall), and are free for children under 1 metre.

Cuisine: Hai Cang Restaurant is located at the Fansipan cable car station, serving Asian and Western cuisine with prices ranging from 58,000 – VND198,000. The restaurant is open from 9am to 6pm every day.

O QUY HO PASS – ONE OF THE FOUR MOST FAMOUS PASSES IN VIETNAM

Located on Highway 4D crossing Hoang Lien Son mountain range, O Quy Ho Pass connects the provinces of Lao Cai and Lai Chau. O Quy Ho is the longest mountain pass in Vietnam, and one of the most dangerous yet majestic mountain-passes in the Northern mountainous region.

Top tips: You can rent a motorbike to conquer this famous pass. Stop at the top of the mountain to admire the spectacular view of Sapa and take some photos.

Cuisine: At the top of the mountain, visitors can enjoy many barbeque eateries run by locals. Try grilled beef, grilled eggs or bamboo sticky rice.

TRAM TON PASS – THE ROAD TO HEAVEN

Located 18 kilometres to the north of Sapa, Tram Ton Pass is nestled inside the majestic Hoang Lien Son mountain range. This winding pass winds up among rolling hills, decorated with fluctuating rays of sunlight. Heaven’s Gate is located at the top of the pass.

Top tips: Standing at Heaven’s Gate, you can enjoy an incredible unobstructed view of the valley below filled with green rice terraces and winding roads and see the spectacular Silver Falls from afar.

Cuisine: Tram Ton Restaurant (Highway 4D, San Sa Ho).

TA PHIN VILLAGE – LEARN ABOUT TRADITIONAL BROCADE CRAFT

Ta Phin Village is home to the Red Dao and H’Mong ethnic groups. The road to Ta Phin Village winds up the hillside, past lush green rice terrace fields. The village is famous for its meticulous and colourful brocade designs and products.

Top tips: Ta Phin Village is located 12 kilometres away from Sapa. From the town centre, follow Highway 4D for five kilometres, turn left at the toll station and drive for another seven kilometres to reach Ta Phin Village. Red Dao women gather here every day, so it’s not difficult to recognise them. Walk around to learn about brocade craft, buy some souvenirs, or experience a traditional Red Dao herbal bath with many health benefits. Ticket price is VND30,000 per visitor.

Must see: Ta Phin Cave located at the end of the village.

Cuisine: You can eat at one of the many homestay inns including May Kieu’s Homestay, Sapa Homestay, Stone Garden Homestay, and Chao Quay Ta Homestay.

HO VILLAGE – A COMMUNITY ATTRACTION

Located nearly 30 kilometres to the southwest of Sapa, Ho Village stands out with its magnificent natural scenery, mythical waterfalls and rapids, as well as and unique cultural heritage. It is home to five ethnic groups: Tay (make up the heritages of the population), H’Mong, Dao, Giay and Nung.

Top tips: There are many ways to reach Ho Village: rent a motorbike, a motor taxi or a jeep. Ticket price is VND15,000 per person.

Must see: Ban Den Commune is located in the centre of Ho Village, where the two streams of Muong Hoa and La Ve meet.

Cuisine: You can ask the locals to cook for you and enjoy a meal with them.

SAPA MUSEUM – LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT ETHNIC CULTURES IN SAPA

Sapa museum exhibits about 200 artifacts, statues, publications and documentaries about ethnic groups in Sapa, including H’Mong, Tay, Giay, Xa Pho, Ha Nhi and Red Dao. Learn about the 100-year history of Sapa as well as the work, religious traditions, culture, and clothing of different ethnic groups.

Top tips: The museum is located at No. 2 Fansipan Road, and is open every day from 7:30 – 11:30a.m. and 1:30 – 5p.m.

Cuisine: Little Sapa Restaurant (No. 14 Cau May Alley), Viet Emotion Sapa Coffee and Restaurant (No. 27 Cau May Alley), Anh Dao Restaurant (No. 34 Cau May Alley).

Wanderlust Tips

Celebrate Women’s Day at Hôtel Des Arts Saigon

On Women’s Day – a special occasion of the year, Hôtel Des Arts Saigon celebrates all ladies in all their glory with even more dedicated and special care and services during the day right at Saigon Kitchen restaurant.

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1. THE GENTLE GENTLEMEN OFFER (FOR CHIC BUFFET LUNCH)

With a stunning interior inspired by Asian street food market, Saigon Kitchen restaurant presents genuine Indochinese and Western cuisine. All tables offer the best seats in the house for viewing the outstanding performances in a vibrant open-kitchen atmosphere.

Any gentleman who invites a group of 4 ladies will get a discount of 30% for each of their ladies and a Lucky Draw for group (cash back vouchers of VND200,000 or VND500,000 for Spa, Lunch or High Tea).

Date & Time: Thursday, 8th March from 12pm – 2pm. Original Price: VND588,000++ per guest.

2. THE CLAN PACKAGE (FOR SEAFOOD BUFFET DINNER)

Behind every successful man there stands a woman. It is his wife, partner in crime, mother or all of them. Come with your clan, friends, colleagues and family to celebrate your ladies. Special offers for any group of 4 or more including free flow of house drinks; Lucky Draw (cash back vouchers of VND200,000 or VND500,000 for Spa, Lunch or High Tea); Complimentary for kids under 6 years old

Date & Time: Thursday, 8th March from 6pm – 10pm. Price: VND1,088,000++ per guest.

For table booking please contact via +84 2839 898 888 or email h9231@accor.com.

HÔTEL DES ARTS SAIGON

Address: 76-78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Tel: +84 (0) 2839 898 888
Website: www.accorhotels.com

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort: Get lost in Paradise

Located at end of Ong Doi Cape, Phu Quoc Island, Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort offers 227 villas featuring private swimming pool, large living room with luxurious décor designed for those seeking ultimate private and high life vacation.

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All 2 to 6 bedroom villas are 2 stories and are complete with large dining room and fully furnished kitchen includes Nespresso machine, making these villas ideal for vacations with families and friends.

On the Rock Villa, the one-of-the-kind unique 2 story villa sits on the rocks, which design is to offer a sense of tranquility and complete privacy. Beachfront and Ocean View Villas situated by the shoreline with stunning view of the turquoise blue water in each 2 story villa. Set amidst a lush tropical garden, the Island Villa is a perfect choice for those who wish to cocoon in privacy.

Corallo is located in the center of the resort offering fresh catch of the day grilled to your liking and Mediterranean inspired delicious dishes in the ocean front setting. The concept is to provide a quality using best, seasonable and fresh ingredients. The restaurant offers wide selection of wine to highlights subtle flavors in the dishes.

The Market is a casual setting restaurant located conveniently at center of resort offering sumptuous spread of buffet as well as a la carte dishes including all time local favorites dishes. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining where you can smell the sea breeze, listen to the waves and enjoy a stunning view.

Extensive leisure facilities are available at the resort. In addition to the private pool at each villa, resort offers most uniquely designed scenic swimming pools. These pools resembling terraced rice paddy and they are spread out from one end of Island to the other end.

Plumeria Spa completes relaxing holiday experience using “Comfort Zone”; the premium products from Italy. Plumeria Spa offers body, facial, hair care and nail service for both women and men. Leisure activity center is located at the center of the resort for the guests who wish to enjoy beach activities. Kid’s Club is operated by our staff for children to have fun in a fun-filled and safe environment.

One more superb facility will be available in the 4^th quarter of 2018. The best vantage point in Phu Quoc is the Sunset Lounge; the perfect place to watch the sun goes down with someone special. Sunset Lounge can be the unique venue for parties as the sunset becomes the perfect backdrop for the setting for special occasion.

PREMIER VILLAGE PHU QUOC RESORT

Address: Ong Doi Cape, An Thoi Town, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam.
Tel: (+84) 029 7354 6666
Website: phuquoc.premiervillage.com.vn

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Tips for for driving when crossing the railroad

[Wanderlust Tips January issue 2018] The first thing you always need to keep in mind is to give right of way to the train, do not try to cross the railway when you see the train even if you think you have enough time.

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There have been many tragic accidents involving railroads, in which many cars have been crushed to scrap iron. The train is a special means of transportation; it not only operates on the main roads but also has an extremely large stopping distance. Therefore, the train cannot be stopped immediately when obstacles are detected. On average, the distance from the time when the train driver hits the emergency brake to a total stop can be nearly 1 kilometre, depending on the speed of the train. In cases where detected obstacles are too close, the train driver will not be able to hit the emergency brake as it may cause the train to overturn or derail, which could affect hundreds of passengers on board.

Therefore, driving across the railway where there are no safety barriers always carries underlying risks, which may result in extremely serious consequences far beyond a normal accident. Many experienced drivers still make mistakes, so it is essential to acquire the knowledge and skills to drive safely across the railroad.

The first thing you have to keep in mind is to always give right of way to the train, you cannot and absolutely should not try to cross the railway, even if the train is still in a far distance. It could lead to tragic outcomes and could even be the last time you drive. Always remember to give way to the train.

Wanderlust Tips has made a list of driving mistakes as well as the tips to to handle situations that may occur when driving across the railroad, with the expectation that you will always have safe journeys.

1. With stick shift cars, many people don’t bother to shift to a lower gear, resulting in the engine of the car dying while going over the tracks. At this point, drivers will easily be discomposed, and then change to the wrong gear or control the car clutch unreasonably so the car cannot cross the railway. Therefore, if you drive a manual car, you should shift to a lower gear when crossing the railway so the car can have enough traction as most railways are built on a slope.

2. How to handle the possibility of the car breaking down while crossing the railway: If you get stuck on the railway and try to restart the ignition of the car several times but still fail to cross the railroad, it is recommended to quickly get out of the car and help all passengers leave the car. If there is not any train coming, immediately report to the railway company, railroad staff, or the police so they can directly contact the train driver directly. In case there is a train approaching, do not try to save your luggage or any belongings when getting out of the car; try to run as far away from the track as possible. If the train is too close, you should run in the opposite direction to the approaching train because if you run in the same direction, the fragments of the car, from the impact of the train, may cause you injuries.

3. Do not try to cross the railroad when a train is approaching even if you think you have enoughtime to cross it. Many unexpected situations may occur when you try to cross the railway such as the car breaking down or being trapped on the railway, or wrong time calculation. When crossing the railway, always keep perpendicular to the direction of the railroad.

4. Do not cross the railway if the gap in the other side of the railroad is not large enough for your vehicle, even if you do not see any train approaching. In some cases, accidents were reported to happen because the car got stuck in a traffic jam and stopped on the railroad; the driver helplessly watched the train crashing into his car. Therefore, when the gap from railroad safety barriers to any obstacle is not big enough for your car, be patient to see if there is any traffic jam or obstacles on the other side of the railroad. Do not lose your patience if the cars behind honk to urge you.

5. Last but not least, always look both ways before crossing, and especially pay attention to the hidden corners by bush or houses. In addition, the lack of awareness seems to have been ingrained into the subconscious of many people when driving; it not only leads them to death but also causes injuries to others. In many cases, cars and motorbikes are hit by trains just because of the drivers’ disregard for life when crossing the railroad.

6. Five required steps to cross a railroad: Firstly, you need to slow down when approaching the railroad crossing. Then stop the car more than 5 metres away from the track if the vision is obscured on both sides of the railroad. Thirdly, take a close look in both directions, and it is recommended to get out of the car and look carefully if necessary. When the railroad signal lights are on, do not try to cross even if you do not see any train; you can also try to listen for the sound of the arriving train. Only passing through after looking carefully to ensure that everything is safe. Fourthly, when crossing the track, shift to a lower gear if you drive a manual car. Finally, drive carefully without any hesitation.

Tran Giap | Wanderlust Tips

Share the love: Explore the North Pole

[Wanderlust Tips January issue 2018] In the special issue about the North Pole, let’s explore this beautiful, snow-capped region of the world with brave young women who love to travel.

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LE THI ANH THU – 34, PRODUCT MANAGER OF VIETSENSE TRAVEL

Although I used to live and study in Russia for a long time, when coming to Muransk, I was still overwhelmed by this snow land; sometimes I could not distinguish between the earth and the horizon. Landing at the airport, at the moment when being faced with the blizzard winds, I immediately felt the extreme weather of the North Pole.

Everything here was new to me, from the specialized winter tires for travelling on ice, to the Snowmobile that we used to cross the snow desert to the Arctic Ocean. One side of it was the sea; the other side was the mountain, all of which were covered in a pure white color.

The most impressive thing of the trip was probably to admire the phenomenon of aurora dancing in the night sky. Bands of light constantly moved and appeared in different shapes.

To travel to the North Pole, the most important is to have good health, take enough clothes to keep your head, neck and feet warm. Furthermore, it is recommended to use fur-lined footwear that goes up to at least the calf. In order to have beautiful photos in the midst of the snow, you should wear clothes in bright colors.

NGUYEN THI HUYEN – 37, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF VIETRANTOUR

I have travelled through 38 countries, 266 cities, and took about 188 flights. During our two-or-three-night stay in Murmansk with favorable climate conditions, I saw with my naked eyes the “dancing lights of the sky”. These were colourful bands of light twisting in the sky in various shapes, changing and moving continuously.

About 120 kilometres from the center of Murmansk, we travelled on a snow-covered road to reach the Teriberka village. Despite having the opportunity to travel to many countries and experience a sandy desert, dry desert, death desert, this was my first time to cross the snow-covered desert.

With ice and snow as their “speciality”, people here know how to develop tourism with all kinds of games and services such as driving snowmobiles to the Barents coastline to watch non-freezing hot currents, playing on a snow slide, fishing on ice, riding a dogsled at Husky Farm, and listening about their racing achievements.

In order to have a good Arctic journey, you have to prepare suitable clothes. You need to wear a lot of coats with a waterproof outermost layer and a lot of thin layers inside. In addition to a pair of snow boots that are not slippery on ice, it is recommended to choose shoes that are one to two times larger than your normal size.

Wanderlust Tips

Travel fashion collection: Tropical Blossoms

[Wanderlust Tips January issue 2018] Fashion King Michael Kors has said, “Clothes are like good meals, good movies, and great pieces of music”. The designs of Jovana Louis brand are not just casual outfits; they are vital sources of energy for women to be more radiant, confident and gorgeous.

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In the modern space of JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi, the outfits of Jovana Louis seem to implement their elegance in the midst of green nature and the luxurious lobby.

The designs in this fashion collection are made of silk and cotton, providing maximum comfort to the wearers. The Caribbean tropical floral printed details are specially designed to highlight the sweet yet energetic beauty of women. Especially, the combination of luxury jewelry from HAVNA brand makes the fashion collection more impressive.

Jovana Benoit – the owner of these inspirational designs – is also the spouse of the Ambassador of Haiti to Vietnam. Her designs have a blend of Haitian, French and Asian cultures.

And whether they are casual, business or party outfits, Jovana Louis’s designs ones always satisfy women with their elegant yet not monotonous, seductive yet modest, and modern yet traditional features, features, always attracting admiring glances.

Producer: MINH HIEU, PHUONG CHI
Photographer: HOANG DANG
Make-up: MONICA THACH THAO
Model: JOVANA BENOIT
Costume: JOVANA LOUIS
Accessories: HAVNA
Stylist: TRAN TRUNG
Location: JW MARRIOTT HOTEL HANOI, VIETNAM

Wanderlust Tips

The appropriate outfits for expedition to the North Pole

[Wanderlust Tips January issue 2018] Clothes are extremely important because the temperature here ranges from minus 10°C to minus 25°C, and you may stay outdoors 5-6 hours a day.

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CLOTHING

Wearing a few thin layers of clothing to keep warm and to remove easily in case you feel hot. The most important is the innermost and outermost layers of clothing.

– Innermost clothing

It is extremely important because if you dress properly, you will feel comfortable. You need to prepare heated clothes (long sleeves and long trousers are the best). Avoid wearing cotton clothing because it will absorb moisture and make you cold. It is recommended to wear wool socks, but not too many layers as it will be very uncomfortable.

Suggestion: heated clothes of Under Armour, Gunze, 32 Degrees, uYES.

– Middle layer

You can wear one or more layers to keep warm. Do not wear cotton, only polyester.

Suggestion: Wool sweater of Canifa, The Irish Store, Calvin Klein, Woolrich.

– Outermost clothing

The Arctic Winter is extremely cold so you need to prepare thoroughly. The outer layer needs to be windproof, moisture resistant, and most importantly needs to be able to keep the body heated.

Suggestion: Lightweight premium down jacket of Andrew Marc, Richmon; Snow pants of The North Face, Arctix.

Note: You should especially choose colorful outfits to stand out in the photos with the snow white background.

FOR HEAD, HANDS AND FEET

– Headwears and gloves

There is an Inuit Eskimo saying that “When your feet are cold, cover your head”, so it is a must to have warm headwear. Especially when you ride a snowmobile, reindeer sleigh or dogsleds with high speed, headwear become really useful. Gloves need to be thick and warm.
Suggestion: Woolly Hat of HM, Simplicity, Redess; fur hat of Kolodo Odema, Prooral; gloves of Zara, Dakine.

– Footwear

Use snow boots which have a heat-retaining layer and can withstand subzero temperatures. It is necessary to wear shoes with the minimum height to your calf; otherwise, the snow will easily enter your shoes. The ideal footwear has a leather outer layer to avoid moisture absorption, and the inner lined with fur. It is recommended to wear wool socks to keep your feet warm.

Suggestion: Snow boots of The North Face, Quechua, Crocs, Sorel, Ollas.

Hong Nhung | Wanderlust Tips

Essential items for the journey to the North Pole

[Wanderlust Tips January issue 2018] We spend a lot of time on selecting and arranging belongings before departing. Here are 10 tips from Wanderlust Tips for the things you need for a trip to the North Pole.

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Snow Goggle: The white color of snow everywhere will make you dazzle, especially on sunny days. If you travel during the Polar Night in the 40-day period from December to January next year, you won’t be disturbed by the brightness because there is no sun.

Sunscreen: In Polar Regions, the solar radiation is usually stronger than other places, so sunscreen is essential even if it is sunny or not.

Personal medicine: Bandages, antipyretic, oresol to compensate electrolytes; analgesics, nasal sprays are indispensable in every journey.

Moisturizer: The weather in Murmansk is cold and dry, so a moisturizer will help your skin feel more comfortable. You should moisturize the whole body instead of focusing only on the face or hands.

Phone strap: When you move, ride the sledges and use your mobile phone regularly, the strap will help you keep the phone not to be thrown away.

Bodywarmer patch: If you try all possible methods and still cannot adapt to the cold, or your warm clothes get wet, the body warmer patch will be the best solution for you. 4 patches per day and you can indulge in experiencing warmth without worrying about getting cold.

Camera, tripod, battery charger: There will be countless moments you would love to capture, such as taking photos in traditional Saami costumes or with reindeer when riding a dogsled, or hunting for aurora. You should bring a zip bag or a moisture-proof box to protect the camera.

Suitcase: You need a large waterproofing suitcase with four wheels that can move easily, because pulling a suitcase on the snow will be very difficult.

Hong Nhung | Wanderlust Tips

Caviar: The black gold on the table

Caviar has long been considered the symbol of luxury, the “black pearl” that stands out on every party table. This top-notch dish will taste even better with Vodka Beluga.

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On 22nd December, 2017, Vietnam’s first caviar brand – Caviar De Duc and Russia’s noble Vodka – Beluga held the event “Fragrance & Flavor night with Beluga”. This event offered its guests the most perfect and classy experience while enjoying dishes from Caviar with famous Beluga Vodka. In the framework of the event, they introduced the most luxurious products produced in a limited edition of Vodka Beluga, Beluga Epicure. This was also the spirit created by the collaboration between Beluga and the world’s most famous crystal brand Lalique.

Caviar is collected from Sturgeons, and is recognized as one of the 10 most luxurious food products in the world. This luxury dish has many nutritional benefits such as a support for a better sex life, heart disease prevention, health recovery, and a great choice for a hangover. This speciality is considered as “the black gold on the table”. Caviar is often served in small amounts as an appetizer, just enough to make diners feel attached to its unforgettable taste. The eggs are small and silvery-black, not as transparent as white caviar but in principle, the eggs have shells, liquid and embryo in different colours. The eggs are round and don’t stick together.

Traditionally, Caviar tastes best when it is served cold. Caviar is placed separately in crystal jars in large ice buckets. Use a set of pearl or nacre spoons and plates to compliment the delicate flavor. The food connoisseurs in Russia – the home country of Caviar – often order cold vodka to enjoy with Caviar, and for them, Beluga Vodka is regarded as a perfect drink.

Wanderlust Tips

6 prominent travel trends for 2018

[Wanderlust Tips January issue 2018] From a tailor-made cycling tour in Nepal to a wellness vacation in Bali or an extreme adventure in Lauterbrunnen, Wanderlust Tips has made a list of 6 most prominent trends in the 2018 New Year.

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1. WELLNESS TRAVEL

Rather than making difficult trips or following busy schedules with the main goal of discovering destinations, wellness travel directs you towards taking care of yourself, maintaining and renewing energy, as well as setting the balance both inside and outside. Besides for enjoying the scenery and exploring the culture, visitors can also consider wellness travel as a journey for the purification of body and soul.

If you are aiming for such trips but still have a passion for lands with unique cultural identity, you can consider the cycling tours promoted on the website of Intrepid Travel. “No big bus window, no iPhone screen, no maps, walls or guidebooks. Just the wind and open roads”. This trend has many similarities with the one predicted by Forbes, which is a type of travel to explore spiritual aspects including intrinsic exploration.

It is extremely great to visit a coconut shady resort in Tembok village in the north-east of Bali to enjoy rejuvenation and taste healthy food and healthy wholefoods. Or tourists can take a break at the Post Ranch Inn, a breathtaking resort on the coast of California. Besides taking yoga courses, watching the stars, travellers can experience the spa offering Shamanic rituals including experiences of edification, evocation, prophesies and spiritual rituals by the fire.

2. REMOTE LUXURY

In the traditional sense, when mentioning luxury places, people usually think of central areas, large urban areas, while remote areas are often associated with lack of facilities. However, nowadays when people are willing to spend a lot of time for travel, fully-equipped luxury resorts in isolated areas have become a trend. “Travellers are willing to travel to extreme distances to enjoy the feeling of having a small piece of this vast world to themselves” says pilotguides.com.

The glamping trend also originated as a result of this. Going to places outside of the popular travel map, you will enjoy your own moments, but be prepared to sacrifice some of the standards of luxury, or bear the inconvenience. For example, when you travel to the Annandale resort in New Zealand, with the slogan “Stay where the world cannot find you”, you can either rent a private chef or choose your own dishes, the resort will cook and preserve them in the refrigerator for you to reheat in the microwavefor whenever you are ready to eat (We Create, You Serve).

Furthermore, in Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp in Namibia, you can only travel there by chartered flights because the resort is located deep in the desert. For a glamping experience, the Hoshinoya Fuji resort in Japan is also a good choice if you would like to admire the majestic scenery of Mount Fuji each morning, experience camp fire, sleep in hammocks in the pine forest, and row on the romantic Kawaguchi Lake.

Although it is a little inconvenient, enjoying the fresh air, wonderful nature and breathtaking scenery along with the feeling of getting away from the world will make you think that it is a worthy trade-off.

3. CUSTOM-DESIGNED TOURS

Being one of the trends expected to take the throne in 2018, custom-designed tours are based on the wishes and hobbies of visitors. Forbes has also predicted that visitors would even want to participate in the tour design process, for example choosing their favourite room space or toilet paper colour. People spend money in traveling to enjoy the fun, comfort and relaxation as much as possible. However, there are tours that make you feel stressed because of unsuitable journeys and unforeseen troubles.

To avoid this at all costs, wealthy tourists do not hesitate to spend a considerable amount of money to have a tour designed exactly like how they want it. All of your personal preferences will be considered. The type of accommodation you like, the transportation you want to take, the excursions you like to include, the kinds of food and tour guides you want, Tuncan Travel will consider all of these before recommending a suitable tour.

You will no longer go on a tour in which you have to follow the schedule of other people or pass through destinations that you might find amusing too fast and then later regretting not being able to have spent more time admiring these places. In addition to Tuncan Travel, you can also consult the great offers on On The Go Tours: “Travelling at your own pace, seeing exactly the places you would love, spending as much time at each site as you wish, and staying at a hand-picked selection of accommodation to suit your taste and budgets”. Is there anything better than when you become the centre of the journey?

4. EXTREME VACATIONS

As the magnificent landscape and exotic cultures have become increasingly familiar to travellers, extreme vacations are exactly what thrills them. There are countless choices to turn a journey into a thrilling game, and a trip into a challenging adventure.

On an 11 – day trekking tour following trails of gorillas in Kibale National Park in Uganda, you will see gibbons, gorillas, elephants, and lions in their wilderness. Extreme vacations can also involve diving with sharks. You will be in a cage while the beast of the sea can swim freely, sometimes only about 30 centimetres from you.

At a tourist office in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, a poster was written: “Respect your limits”. This is a reminder as well as a warning for lovers of base-jumping – parachuting not from planes, but from a building, bridge, or cliff. At Lauterbrunnen-the sanctuary of this extreme sport-you can jump from a 1,000 – metre high cliff. In this adventurous sport, anyone who jumps improperly or makes a wrong wind direction prediction will bump into the cliff, which leads to death. No words can describe the player s feeling when jumping from such high altitudes because even if hundreds of people have died, this number can not stop people flocking here to test their limits.

A new “ innovation” for visitors who want to take their experience to a new level is heli-skiing – skiing not from available slides with guaranteed safety levels but from higher altitudes which can only be reached by helicopters.
Or if you love water rafting but do not like peaceful and predictable rapids, you can go to Futaleufu, Chile, which is called “the destroyer”. Needless to say, your emotions will be pushed to the extreme when admiring the river lying in the heart of the valley surrounded by green mountains and roaring powerfully with white foam and countless rocks underneath.

5. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Sustainable tourism seems to increasingly attract the attention of the community, and in particular, is gradually moving from theory to practice. As there are more alarming overcrowded tourist hotspots, and the climate change is becoming more complex, sustainable tourism is increasingly becoming the focus of society.

Many vineyards use animals instead of machinery to eliminate pests and fertilize the land. In some places such as Kayotei in Japan, Emiliana in Chile or Vergenoegd in South Africa, people use ducks. At Vergenoegd Wine Estate, twice a day, ducks are driven into vineyards to get rid of pests and leave fertilizers to fertilize the fields. Matetic Vineyard in Chile uses llamas and chickens to do this task.

Many resorts creatively produced some methods to preserve the ecosystem. Baines Camp in Botswana, for example, is built from recycled plastic cans. The tour company Jacada Travel conducts many community projects to reduce carbon emissions. Their constructive activities have helped to offset 100 % of the carbon emissions from their tours.
Singita Kruger Park applied solar energy technology in 2017, while Kenya has completely forbidden plastic bags. On the last days of 2017, the Sun reported that the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced seven overcrowded cities including Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Macau (China), Rome (Italy), Venice (Italy) and Warsaw (Poland). The report is based on local people’s unfriendliness, degraded travel experiences, overloaded infrastructure, environmental degradation, and threats to culture and heritage.

Many destinations such as the Balearics (Spain) even try to reduce the number of returning visitors by coming back by raising taxes. Meanwhile, Barcelona and Venice prohibit the construction of hotels and shops for tourists.

6. CULINARY TOURS

It is said that the best way to get to know a new place or a new culture is to eat local foods. A meal tells us manythings about the culture, climate, geography, products, lifestyle and eating preferences of the local people. New culinary trends have been predicted by Adventure Studen Travel and Cox & Kings, the world›s oldest travel company with 250 years of experience.

It is an amazing experience to admire the beautiful scenery and enjoy the delicious food at a new destination. According to the World Food Travel Association, up to 30 % of the 170 million people in the United States chose their tours based on food-related activities such as tasting the local food in different regions of China or taking a cooking class at the foot of the Atlas Mountains.

The Dolce Vita Tour in Dolomites mountains in northern Italy will give you the chance to savor delicious Shrimp Dumplings, famous Alto Adige wines, and the best fruitcake while exploring magnificent mountain ranges and picturesque valleys.

Vietnam is also a promising land for this type of tourism because of the richness of three regions’ cuisine and the balance between food flavours. There are various cuisine tours ranging from 1-4 days to 11-12 days. Visiting traditional markets, watching indigenous people preparing food, enjoying the dishes of each region, and attending cooking classes are some of many interesting experiences that you may have on a culinary tour. Travelling to remote areas to experience elaborate healthcare travel experiences will take a lot of time, while the culinary tour is very flexible. If you have only a few hours or half a day to spend, you can choose one of the options mentioned above. If you have more time, you can discover the culinary adventure in many different regions. And tour prices are also flexible because local food like street food is quite cheap.

Hong Nhung | Wanderlust Tips