Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 142 of 195

Before sunrise

The pure and sweet love dream of the eloquent youth who meet, connect and lose each other in the classic movie Before Sunrise has captivated many generations and it is the inspiration for the collection Pre-fall by designer Ha Linh Thu.

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This unrestricted infatuation, fascination and incredible emotions have been realised in sweet colours and dashing cut lines of cocoon dresses, bomber shirts, blazers and pleated skirts.

So when such sweet designs appear on the street, they look striking and distinctive but not out of place, even when they are shown on a sunny morning by the lake, next to a row of colourful flowers on a crowded street, on an old balcony or in a small, simple little shop.

Life still goes on, it may be sadder, more vicious, and less romantic, but it always contains such beautiful dreams. The items of the winter and fall season bring modern trends, reflecting the spirit of women’s freedom. The pink colour of love glows in the golden sunlight of Hanoi in early autumn.

Photographer: LE TUAN ANH
Make-up: TU TA
Hairstylist: VAN TRAN
Stylist: HUYEN GIN
Model: TIEN PHAM
Costume: HA LINH THU

Wanderlust Tips

Luxury cruises: Admire Halong Bay on a floating hotel

Thousands of limestone islands in various shapes, countless amazing hidden caves, surrounded by clear blue waters and vast sky. All of these create the dazzling and fascinating beauty of Halong Bay. Cruise on the sea, take part in an exciting journey, enjoy luxurious five-star hotel facilities with Wanderlust Tips’ July issue which introduces to our readers three magnificent cruises, promising to bring visitors experiences that could not be more attractive.

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EMPEROR CRUISES – A CRUISE OF THE PAST AND THE ARTS

Inspired by the life of King Bao Dai – the last king of the feudal dynasty of Vietnam, the cruise’s cabins are named after the famous landmarks where King Bao Dai’s villas were located including Dalat, Nha Trang, Do Son and Vung Tau. Along the long wooden corridors visitors can enjoy precious paintings and pictures of Bao Dai and his wives.

From the moment you enter the stately wooden doors of Emperor Cruises, you are immersed in a space of art where you can admire a range of works by the famous painter Pham Luc – from lacquer works of old Hanoian streets to still life of the Vietnamese lotus flower and oil on canvas paintings about Tet – the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Emperor Cruises is a museum floating on the sea.

Emperor Cruises offers eight suites with large glass doors and private balconies, breaking the limit of other cruises in Vietnam. From on board, visitors can admire the poetic beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay. There is also a cafeteria, gym, spa, library, movie room, wine cellar, bar and large sundeck – where people enjoy romantic dinners under the stars or participate in dances during exciting dinner parties.

Besides its delicate visual arts, Emperor Cruises also delights visitors with the smell and taste of attractive dishes cooked by experienced chefs or with melodious songs played by famous violinists and pianists. Travelling on Emperor Cruises will remind visitors about the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty and help them enjoy the magnificent beauty of Halong Bay in a luxurious and romantic space.

STARLIGHT CRUISE – A BRIGHT STAR ON HALONG BAY

Inspired by the light guiding fishermen in the dark night, Starlight Cruise was created to illuminate the hidden beauty of Halong. Starlight Cruise is both the newest member and the pride of the Oriental Sails Company. The yacht is made of steel and has a double layer on each side, so tourists can completely be assured of their safety throughout the trip. With a total length of 58 metres, a width of 10.72 metres and a height that is equal to a four-story building, the yacht is truly magnificent and has 46 sailors working around the clock.

The 32-room Starlight Cruise offers an overall impression of modern and comfortable accommodation. Rooms are equipped with a Jacuzzi tub and huge windows with bay views. The size of each room is larger than on other yachts of the same category: 22 square metres for Deluxe and Executive rooms and 50 square metres for Suite room. The rooms have wooden floors and are well equipped with handicrafts and modern amenities, offering guests the most adequate facilities during their stay on board.

In addition, a 350 square metres restaurant which includes a stage, balcony and large sea view window, is an ideal place for a party. The bar is spacious; there is a computer room, a small library and some children’s toys. Most significantly, on top of the boat is a huge sundeck, which has a row of benches on each side and a mini golf course for visitors to play while admiring the scenery. However, if you want a more private and quiet space, you can visit the wine cellar to sample hundreds of different kinds of wine. After a long day of sightseeing, the spa service will be a great choice for you to relax, and rebalance.

THE AUCO CRUISES – AN IMPRESSIVE JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY

The Au Co Cruise belongs to the Bhaya Group. 2017 marks the milestone of 5 years since the Au Co Cruise was officially launched and first offered a trip of 3 days 2 nights exploring the natural world wonders of Halong Bay. Visitors can take part in the journey to explore Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay and the beautiful wild islands. Then, visitors can participate in exciting outdoor activities such as trekking through the rainforest, visiting peaceful local ancient villages on the island, riding bicycles along tree-lined roads, exploring the national parks with rich fora and fauna or visiting the vegetable garden grown by participants of a community program of the Bhaya Group.

Along with interesting outdoor activities, visitors have the chance to get to know Vietnamese traditional culture as well as enjoy a dance named Au Co – Lac Long Quan, enjoy unique Vietnamese dishes prepared by talented chefs and explore the traditional tea art of Vietnam.

On Au Co Cruise, you will have time to relax in a luxurious five-star space. There are a total of 32 cabins on each Au Co Cruise, 30 cabins have private balconies and a bathroom with luxurious amenities. A world-class vacation on an Au Co Cruise will definitely satisfy even the most difficult guests.

Au Co Cruise as well as Bhaya Group always care about the feelings of visitors and hope to bring them the best service. So guests are sure to feel the thoughtful care from the time they start the journey by limousine from Hanoi to Tuan Chau, and making use of the private lounge at the Operations Centre of the company while waiting to have their cabin on the cruise assigned.

Wanderlust Tips

Roger Chng: We learn from every place we go and every person we meet

The well-experienced hotelier, Mr Roger Chng shared with Wanderlust Tips magazine his thoughts on the hospitality industry in general and Fortuna Hotel Hanoi’s orientation development in particular.

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Being one of the best four-star hotels in Hanoi, what are the criteria, which Fortuna Hotel Hanoi follows to keep its standards and quality?

At Fortuna Hotel Hanoi, we always strive to maintain a high standard by giving ‘full service under one rooftop’ for the guests, which includes many below-mentioned amenities. Firstly, we have to mention our fully equipped guest rooms in four ranges: Deluxe, Grande, Premier and Suite featuring the most comfortable and classy living spaces for all guests.

Secondly, it would be a deficiency to not mention our three restaurants, which boast wide ranges of choice: May Man – Dim Sum and Chinese cuisine, Emperor Japanese cuisine & Tiffn All Day Dining – International Cuisine.
Last but not least, Fortuna Hotel Hanoi also has two ballrooms and four multi-functional meeting rooms and a spa and fitness centre with an outdoor swimming pool.

How will Fortuna Hotel Hanoi be different after the renovation?

The process of renovation started last year and will last for at least 3 years. In our plan, the renovation includes guest and meeting rooms, restaurants and lobby. For the outside look, we repaint the façade, changing the colour from white to brown purple; the aim is to change the face of the hotel.

Rooms are injected with a more contemporary look: wooden floors, standing bathtub, Hollywood twin beds in some rooms and other state of the art new furniture. Besides, everything is possible to hand-reach to maximise guest’s convenience. The new ballroom looks brighter, the main colour is gold and elegant with fower patterned curved soundproof walls. The foyer is bigger and most signifcantly, equipped with more contemporary facilities such as better sound system and a LED screen. After renovation, the Golden Ballroom is one of our best-seller meeting rooms, especially ideal for weddings and themed events. We are promoting MICE services so renovating the ballroom is one of our key strategies.

Why did you choose to renovate the hotel to be more modern rather than remaining classic and Asian? Is the target customer changing too?

Actually we are still following modern Asian style, as our main target customer remains the same. However as the world is changing day by day, there is no reason for a 19-year-old hotel to stay the same. We renovate to achieve a modern Asian style to give more convenient living conditions for the guests, so as to make them as comfortable as possible. As I said above, our guests are our priority and we do everything for their best experience. The hotel and resort market in Hanoi has been performing well since 2017, partially thanks to the growing international arrivals.

How would you predict the outlook of the whole market in the second half of this year?

Hanoi is the heart of Vietnam with most of the head offces located here, besides, Hanoi has many tourist attractions thus this is a destination, which is suitable for both business and leisure travellers. Since 2016 and the 1st half of 2017, many hotels have opened in Hanoi, which is proof that this is a potential market. I believe that the positive outlook will continue in the future, at least in the second half of 2017 and 2018.

After many years in the position, could you compare the potential of the hotel resort market in Vietnam to other countries?

In my point of view, Vietnam’s hotel and resort market will see sustained or even accelerated growth in the future. First of all, Vietnam’s tourism is developing faster and faster and attracting more and more international visitors, and it is said that Vietnam is becoming one of the most favoured destinations in South East Asia. This rapid development is not only because of breath-taking scenery and succulent cuisine, but also thanks to the proper strategy of the Tourism Department and the huge investment from local and foreign companies. Secondly, compared to other countries, Vietnamese hotels and resorts have attractive prices along with international standard services.

It is not easy to fnd a destination with comparative hotel prices and professional services like the ones in Vietnam. For instance, with around USD100, in Singapore you can only fnd a 2-3 star hotel but in Vietnam you have a wide range of choices from 3-4 star hotels in city centres to a deluxe room in a resort near the beach. What a bargain!

In Vietnam, is anything changing in your way of approaching, caring for customers, training and managing staff?

As an international hotel, it is necessary for us to have different ways of approaching and caring for customers. For example in our hotel, most of our guests are from Japan and Korea, thus to make the guests ‘feel at home’ and have the most convenient experience, we have Japanese and Korean ambassadors to assist them. In terms of cuisine, we offer a wide range of choices to meet guests’ demands. Besides, many guests are businessmen, sometimes they need space for a short meeting with colleagues or partners, so we also offer them small meeting rooms and facilities for their needs. These are two of many ways we approach and care for customers. Once again, guests are our priority; bringing them the best experience is our mission. Regarding training, every month we offer external and internal training classes with the aim of improving staff’s skills and knowledge in servicing, soft skills and languages.

What is the biggest diffculty you have had since you came to Vietnam to take up this position?

For me the biggest diffculty is language. Understanding the native language is one of the most effective ways to understand local people, to know their thoughts and ways of working because language has a strong connection with culture and history. Vietnamese is hard, but I’m learning.

Do you travel often? Which destination do you like most in the country?

I have a passion for travelling as I think we learn a lot from each place we go to and every person we meet. Of course, Hanoi is the destination I love the most, as this is where our dream and our mission are. Besides, Hanoi has a lot of charming places, not only the popular attractions like Hoan Kiem Lake or Long Bien Bridge, but also other small corners and I am never done exploring enough of the hidden gems of this city. Having lived in Hanoi for nearly 20 years, it may be true to say that Hanoi is my second hometown.

As a traveller, which factors would you advise other travellers to take into consideration before choosing a place to stay to ensure a great trip?

People now have so many implements to help them plan a trip. And I can say without any exaggeration that we now can travel to every corner of the world easier than ever. As a regular traveller, I think you should take into consideration several factors before going on a trip including: place of interest, cuisine, security and safety, as I know Vietnam is one of the most peaceful countries in the world, and their hotels and services.

Thank you for your time and collaboration. We wish you great success with Fortuna Hotel Hanoi.

Wanderlust Tips

Beauty tourism & experiencing a new wind blowing through the land of Kimchi

Besides experiencing the tourist attractions and traditional culture, now visitors travelling to Korea to transform their appearance and become more beautiful, dive into a paradise of natural cosmetic or comfortably show the immortal spirit of girl fandom to their idols.

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TRANSFORMING YOUR DREAM IN KOREA

South Korea is famous as a place where tourists come with the hope for beauty transformation. Along with the development and infuence of the Hallyu wave all over the world, foreign visitors travel to Korea not only to visit, but also to adjust their appearance to become more beautiful, like Korean stars.

Although, the cost for such transformations is not cheap, it cannot stop the desire for beauty of women and men. To get double eyelids, customers have to pay USD700-1,500. The price for a high nose is from USD1,500 to USD4,500. Not to mention those who want to have a completely Korean-looking face, they will have to pay a huge fee to conduct more complex surgery such as grinding and cutting off part of the facial bone structure.

Lan Yu, 33, from Hunan, China, feels unhappy with her slowly aging body. “I came to Seoul this time to visit the natural scenery of Korea, and also to get belly fat removed and stretch my facial skin. If the results are good, I will do more surgery,” she said. The cost for Lan Yu’s beauty journey is estimated at USD8,000.

In Seoul’s Gangnam District, a place famous for the Gangnam Style song, it’s usual to see many Chinese women with bandages wrapped around their head and faces. They are the new trendsetters: beauty tourism in Korea. These women believe that the quality of health care in Korea is safer and more reliable than in China.

According to the Korea Tourism Organisation, the number of tourists entering Korea for cosmetic surgery tripled in the period 2010-2014, from 81,789 to 266,501 people. The increase in beauty tourism has created a huge wave, bringing great revenue to the country. Bloomberg estimated that South Korea’s medical tourism industry (including beauty tourism) in 2012 brought in USD453 million to the country. It is predicted that by 2020, the figure will increase to USD3.2 billion.

In addition to the demand for travelling and plastic surgery, one of the simple but important reasons attracting many people to Korea is cosmetic products. In the country of Kimchi, cosmetics have become a necessity, like carrying a purse when leaving home. On the streets of Korea, you rarely see anyone without make-up, from middle school students to middle-aged men and women.

Korea’s cosmetic industry has been completely transformed in recent years. From low-priced and low-quality cosmetics, Korean cosmetics are rising both in quality and design, comparable to the products of famous Western brand names. The most popular Korean cosmetic brands are The Face Shop, Innisfree, Laneige, Skin Food and Etude House.

In Korea, cosmetic shops are everywhere, from the subway stations, to the streets, from the common markets to the crowded commercial centres.

Yeongdeung shopping mall in Seoul is a popular shopping destination not only for Seoul residents, but also for tourists when they arrive in Korea. Thanks to the global K-Pop infuence, the 100 stalls in this shopping centre are always crowded with visitors. At other shopping malls in Seoul such as Myeongdong, Garosugil, and Apgujeong-dong, there are always crowds of visitors focking from all over the world to buy beauty products.

Like the United States or France promoting fashion through famous movies, K-Beauty also penetrates into people’s lives through K-Pop (Korean music) and K-Drama (Korean film). Every music and movie star is a model promoting Korean cosmetics, such as the movie “The Descent of the Sun”, thanks to the promotion of actress Song Hye Kyo in the role of a beautiful doctor, the two-tone lipstick of Laneige was bought by many people. Not only Korean girls, but also many foreign tourists coming to this country want to own this hot lipstick. In addition to the two-tone lipstick, Laneige’s BB Cushion, which Song Hye Kyo used in the movie, also became widely known. Laneige is one of the famous cosmetics brands of the Amore Pacifc Group.

According to a report by the Hyundai Research Institute, the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea for shopping has increased from 2.64 million (equivalent of 36%) in 2011 to 4.76 million (equivalent to 47%) by 2015. The estimated amount of money visitors spent on shopping in 2015 was nearly USD9.8 billion, double the USD4.1 billion in 2011. According to a survey by the Korea Tourism Agency, when asked about the products being bought, 60% of foreigners say that perfume and cosmetics are what they look for the most.

Among foreigners, Chinese and Japanese tourists spend the most money to buy beauty products from Korea. According to Amore Pacifc, the country’s largest cosmetics company made up 40% of the gross market share and Chinese tourists accounted for 40.1% of gross revenue in 2011, while Japanese visitors contributed 9.1%.

Although most of the Korean cosmetic brands are already available overseas, Korean travel combining leisure with shopping for cosmetics is a trend that many visitors choose. It is not diffcult to explain this. First, if you buy directly in Korea, the price will be much cheaper than in your country. In addition, stores of Korean cosmetics brands in Seoul also regularly offer promotions, discounts and freebies.

“There are a lot of Korean cosmetics in Vietnam, but I do not feel it is reliable and am afraid of buying fake products. During the trip to Korea, in addition to the time to visit the famous places, the rest of my time I went shopping for cosmetics. At that time, cosmetics companies had big sales programs, sometimes the discount was up to 70% ,” said Minh Anh, who just returned from a Korea tour.

FOLLOW THE HALLYU WAVE

About 15 years ago, Korea became the “Hollywood of the East”, producing a series of movies and idol groups stirring the Asian entertainment market. This country is also home to the phrase “Hallyu” (Korean wave) – the popularity and infuence of Korean culture rising throughout the world in the 21st century.

The Hallyu Wave not only helps Korea spread its art and culture to the world but also promote the cosmetics, fashion and tourism industry of this country.

“Many people come to Korea because they like culture, people, food, or shopping for cosmetics, but I’m sure there are plenty of people like me coming to Korea to meet our idols, to at least one time in life see the work place of our idols, and when wandering on the streets, we may come across our beloved idols, and indulge in calling their names out loud.”

The story of the young girls who come with the nickname TUGARU.VIV is one of many stories of other young girls who come to Korea with the main purpose being to live in the atmosphere of the place where the Hallyu Wave started, and to meet K-Pop and K-Dramas stars.

It sounds impossible, but actually it is quite practical. There are countless things for girl fans to experience in the country of Hallyu. If you manage the travel yourself, you can go to the headquarters of entertainment agencies like JYP or SM Entertainment and wait, if you’re in luck you may fnd the idols you are looking for. One way to be sure to meet an idol is to attend fan meetings or concerts, but the ticket price is not cheap and the way to get it is not easy. The best and easiest way to get into the Hallyu Wave is to visit some of Korea’s Hallyu cultural highlights such as SMTOWN COEX ARTIUM COEX Complex (COEX Trade Centre) and K-Star Road. Here you can comfortably take pictures with giant posters of your idol or buy everything related to your favourite stars from albums and jackets to lovely chibi statues. You can even try to become an idol through a one-day dance class taught by back-up dancers or record at professional studios with vocal training, recording, music mixing, MV shooting and CD publishing.

Currently, the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) coordinates with tour operators to build Korean tours for tourists – especially young people, based on the effects of the Hallyu Wave. Coming to Korea, visitors not only visit the famous attractions, enjoy food, learn about traditional Korean culture but also explore the selected places like the flming locations of Famous TV dramas such as N Seoul Tower, Dongdeamun Design Plaza (Man From the Stars) and Samtan Art Mine (The Descendants of the Sun) or enjoy K-Pop night music at Hologram or The Show and you cannot miss a journey to explore the centre of flm and music production – the cradles of training Korean singers and artists such as KBS, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment, who the top stars of the Hallyu Wave such as Big Bang, TVXQ, Girl’s Generation, 2PM and Super Junior work for.

“Together with the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO), we have organised a number of new tours combining sightseeing with the experience of Korean culture (Hallyu). Travellers are all excited about this new travel trend. We are planning to organise more tours like this to explore the market for young travellers who love Hallyu,” said Vu Thi Bich Hue, Deputy Manager of Marketing – Communications Department, Hanoi Redtours Tourism Joint Stock Company.

Whether for beauty purposes, buying cosmetics or experiencing the Hallyu Wave, a trip to the land of Kimchi will always be memorable to visitors. The trend of beauty tourism and Hallyu tourism also promises to bring a new wind to the smoke-free industry of Korea in the future.

SM TOWN COEX ARTIUM – HOLY LAND FOR K-POP FANS

SM TOWN Coex Artium – the cultural complex of SM Entertainment – is located at Coex Mall (Samseong-dong, Seoul). SM Entertainment is one of the three largest entertainment groups in Korea, others are YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. The SM was originally understood to be the abbreviation of Soo Man (the founder of the company) but later people called it the Star Museum. This place has produced many famous stars and music bands, leading the Hallyu Wave such as TVXQ, SNSD, EXO, Super Junior, BoA, SHINee, F (x) and Red Velvet.

As one of the most popular companies in caring for fans and giving them more opportunities to approach their idols, SM Entertainment has built SM TOWN Coex Artium, where the images of idols appear everywhere from the candles to the food. It can be said that this is a paradise for K-Pop fans especially foreign fans who are visiting Korea for the first time.

SM TOWN Coex Artium opened on 13th January 2015 and consists of 6 foors, divided into many unique entertainment spaces for fans. Here, fans can enjoy a true experience relating to their idols in four areas: SUM, SMTOWN STUDIO, SMTOWN LIVERESS CAFE and SMTOWN THEATER.

SUM is a shopping area, including a chain of souvenir shops. Here, there are a lot of CDs and second-hand objects of SM idols available like hats, balloons, masks, blouses, Bluetooth speakers or cute souvenirs such as artist chibi and idol images.

SMTOWN STUDIO is a cyberspace, bringing experiences relating to idols’ activities. Here, you can record your favourite songs, be made up beautifully and dance and shoot music videos like real idols. The awards that SM’s idols have achieved over the years are also on display here.

SMTOWN LIVErary CAFE is a café for resting and energy recovery. This is like a mini supermarket selling food and drinks presented by idols such as snacks, instant noodles, confectionery and canned goods. Most impressively the tables here all signed by SM idols.

Finally, the SMTOWN THEATER – the multiplex cinema projects a variety of formats and content. There is the Surround Viewing projection – for which the audience is sitting in the auditorium surrounded by three giant screens and Hologram – with images that make the audiences feel like they are watching the real idols on stage. In addition, the SMTOWN THEATER has the Hologram Musical School OZ with the participant of SM artists performing a storyline about an adventure in the magical world called OZ.

♦ Address: 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
At the Samseong Staton (Seoul Subway, Line 2), take exit No.5 or 6. Go to COEX Mall via the underground road connected to the staton.
♦ Open hours: 10am-10pm/all year round
♦ Website: www.smtownland.com
♦ Tel: SUM: 02-6002-5811, SMTOWN STUDIO: 02-6002-5820, SMTOWN LIVErary CAFÉ: 02-6002-5838, SMTOWN THEATER: 1670-6330.
♦ Surrounding Atractons: COEX Artum, COEX Aquarium, Megabox COEX.

AMORE PACIFIC – A GIANT GROWING NON-STOP

Amore Pacifc (아모레퍼시픽) is one of the largest beauty corporations in Korea, founded in 1945 and after more than 70 years of development, Amore Pacifc ranks 7th among the top 100 beauty companies in the world voted by Women’s Wear Daily’s Beauty.

The group currently has more than 30 cosmetic brands and personal care and health care products including:

– Cosmetics: Amore Pacifc, Laneige, Innisfree, Etude House, Espoir, IOPE, Aritaum, HERA, Sulwhasoo, LIRIKOS, Verite, Mamonde, Hanyul, TeenClear, Primera, Lolita Lempicka, Odyssey, MIRAEPA, Annick Goutal and RYOE.

– Personal care products: Mise-en-Scène, Rye, Happy Bath, Dantrol, Median, Songyeum and Illi.

– Health Care: O’Sulloc, VB Program.

With a domestic market share of 35.1% and an annual revenue of 49 billion Won, Amore Pacifc is one of the largest cooperation in the Korean cosmetic industry. At Myeongdong – the shopping paradise of Korea with shopping centres and retail stores of international brands, every few hundred meters, customers pass by a cosmetics store owned by this corporation.

Amore Pacifc’s export revenue to other countries accounts for about 25% of their total revenue. With ambition to dominate the global market, Amore Pacifc’s business strategy is focused on China, Asia and North America. For Asia, the giant is consolidating their presence in developed markets such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and Vietnam.

To maintain the unique element of its products, Amore Pacifc spends an average of 3.5% of its revenue on research and development. They focus on exploiting oriental aromas such as ginseng, green tea and herbs to pander to the nature-oriented tendency of consumers.

Since the establishment of the frst cosmetics laboratory in Korea, Amore Pacifc has become a historical contributor to the beauty industry in Korea. The group is constantly pioneering in product improvement, bringing a variety of beauty values to consumers. Its cosmetic categories that are contributing to the beauty culture are: skin essence, sleep masks, BB cushions and two-tone lipstick from brands of Amore Pacifc.

Currently, Amore Pacifc is building a research and production complex in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Expected to be completed by 2020, this will be the centre of research and production in the Asian region.
To fnd out more about Amore Pacifc, you can visit the Story Garden building opened in 2013, which recalls the past, present and future of Amore Pacifc as well as showcases Amore Pacifc products.

STORY GARDEN

♦ Address: AMORE PACIFIC SCM, 37 Gajang Industrial Dong-ro, Osan City, Gyeonggi-do. Visitors can go to Sema Staton on Line 1, take bus No.31 and get of at Amore Pacifc Bus Staton or you can go from Osan Staton Line 1, take bus No. 31, and get of at Amore Pacifc Bus Staton.

♦ Tel: +82 31 8047 1481
♦ Website: storygarden.amorepacifc.com/MainIntro.do
♦ Open hours: 10am-6pm/Closed on Saturday, Sunday and holidays
♦ Language: English, Korean, Chinese.

Wanderlust Tips

Bangkok Airways launches Bangkok – Phu Quoc air route

Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited will launch the new direct route between Phu Quoc and Bangkok on 29^th October 2017 in attempt to bring the best flying experiences to customers and meet the rising demand between vibrant Bangkok and up and coming holiday destination in Vietnam – Phu Quoc.

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Following the success of Bangkok – Danang direct route, Thailand-based boutique carrier Bangkok Airways announces its new service connecting Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport and Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam.

Bangkok Airways is the first airline operating direct flights to Phu Quoc Island, with four flights weekly using ATR 72-600 70-seat capacity aircraft. The aim of this new launch is to provide better flight connections for European, Thai and Vietnamese customers as well as offering regional connecting routes to Phu Quoc Island for its long-haul codeshare partners.

Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, Bangkok Airways’ vice president for sales said, “With the launch of new direct service between Phu Quoc and Bangkok, I believe there is mutual benefit in terms of tourism and businesses between the two countries. Fast growing economy in Phu Quoc sees potential of travel demand from the local and expatriate travelers, while Phu Quoc, as a paradise island in Vietnam will attract tourists from around the world.”

Beautiful Phu Quoc – known as Pearl Island, is Vietnam’s largest island with an area of approximately 600 square kilometres. Phu Quoc is known for being the center of tourism in Southeast Asia and it is appointed as a special economic zone with the expected annual economy growth up to 25 – 30 per cent.

In 2016 Phu Quoc attracted over 1.45 million tourists all over the world. With the 30-day visa free policy for foreigners, Phu Quoc now is one of the most popular tourism destination in South East Asia for European travelers, especially Germany, England, France, Switzerland and Russia.

Bangkok, the Golden Temple capital, rated as one of the best shopping destinations in Southeast Asia, which is now considered as the ideal stopover for five – continent travelers who wish to explore Asian culture. With Bangkok Airways’ new route, passengers can now enjoy a direct flight to Bangkok, without transit at Ho Chi Minh City and Danang airports.

Not only will it save time, Bangkok Airways’ passengers will experience great services such as free snacks, wi-fi access and parents can play comfortably with their children at the children’s corner in the lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport. For those who have a Flyer Bonus Premier card, they can also use the services available at the Blue Ribbon Club such as: hot luxury meals, private bathrooms, massage, using private reading rooms as meeting rooms. In addition, you can receive more privileges such as check-in at the Blue Ribbon counter.

“Phu Quoc is a rising star of tourism destination, attracting a great number of Southeast Asia and European customers to come and wish to visit again every year. The new direct route between Bangkok and Phu Quoc will support the growing tourism demand, and provide better flight experiences for travelers. We believe this launch will bring sustainable benefits for the tourism development of Thailand and Vietnam in the future,” Songkrot Palakawong Na Ayuthaya, corporate communications director of Bangkok Airways said.

New flights Bangkok – Phu Quoc

Flight PG991 departs at 11:30am, arrives at 1:10pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Flight PG992 departs at 1:50pm, arrives at 3:35pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and Sunday.

Special offer:

One-way ticket from Phu Quoc to Bangkok: USD88 (including all charges)
Round-trip ticket from Phu Quoc to Bangkok: USD166 (including all charges)
Reservations start from 5^th October until the end of April 2018

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Wanderlust Tips travel magazine’s September issue 2017: Old place, new vibe

September issue of Wanderlust Tips will be a journey to discover familiar places which bring new perspectives, new feelings for the travellers.

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How long does it take to fill a heart with the soul of a place, to fully discover every corner and wonderful things along with experiences that are less spectacular than expected? This question recalls in my mind a famous quote of the French writer Marcel Proust: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.“

Whereas, in previous issue of Wanderlust Tips we discovered the remote Everest region, bone chilling Polar exploration in Fjällräven and magnificent aurora in Iceland in the September issue we explore voyages finding the strange in the familiar.

Like in the United States, where unlike in the movies, besides super tall skyscrapers and busy traffic, the country also offers the best ice cream in the world, immense forest-like parks and flower-filled winding paths. Travel with Travip to explore such amazing experiences when wandering in this beautiful country through the article THE UNITED STATES – JOURNEY TO A DREAM COME TRUE in the Destination Category.

Or dreaming of PHOENIX ANCIENT TOWN (Destination Category), then, you will be amazed when visiting Phoenix Ancient Town, which has both urban-like bustling, and moments of quiet that feel like the time is trapped.

Like discovering that in Ziro women not only have tattooed faces and nose plugs – here you will be treated to smoked meat preserved for decades and tapyo salts not found anywhere else in the world. Let’s turn to the Culture Category to travel with the young girl Mai Huong to learn how to LIVE HEALTHY LIKE THE APATANIS.

There are trips – not holidays – that you want to experience again. Because it is a VOLUNTOURISM – TRAVELLING FOR A GOOD CAUSE (Trend Category). Through the practical experience of the volunteers, readers will have the opportunity to understand more about this type of tourism and the impression, good meaning it leaves to the participants or its downsides.

Wherever you go, the journeys ahead will always bring you new experiences and discoveries, when you travel with an open heart and broad vision.

Lastly, the article HOW TO SURVIVE A DESERT OR SEMI-DESERT DRIVE shared by the guy who is riding a motorbike around the world Tran Dang Dang Khoa in transportation category will be valuable experiences for you to to conquer the upcoming journey.

Wanderlust Tips

A beautiful carpet of Mexican tournesol near Hanoi

You do not need to travel to Da Lat to admire bright yellow flowers; near Hanoi, Ba Vi National Park also has beautiful Mexican tournesol.

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The Mexican tournesol in Ba Vi begin to bloom around October, but flourishing in from 10 days to 2 weeks in November. When Mexican tournesols bloom, it means that the dry season has come very close. This flower has the noble yet powerful beauty of the mountain woodlands.

Mexican tournesol is not as big as sunflower, but because it grows in dense thickets, so when it blooms, it creates a bright golden carpet under the sunlight, and become more prominent on dark green leaves. Mexican tournesol is most beautiful in the morning, when the air is bathed in winter sunshine, the dew still on the leaves and the flowers.

Taking a walk in the middle of the flower carpet, enjoying the magnificent colours of nature and the wind bringing the lovely scent makes us feel ecstatic. Although not as large as in Da Lat, but Ba Vi Mexican tournesol garden still has its own beauty, especially when admiring the flowers in the majestic cloudy Ba Vi mountain.
A guide to the flower viewing spot in Ba Vi National Park:

You have to pay VND40,000 per ticket for adult to Ba Vi National Park. Tickets for students, children, the elderly, and the disabled are VND20,000 per ticket.

From Ba Vi National Park’s gate, you reach the outpost 400 (The swimming pool), continue to go 1 kilometre to the crossroad, then head to the historic area at the outpost 600, then you will meet a guard. You ask for permission to visit the hill area 700 to take photos. From the guard station, you go about 1 kilometre to the crossroad again, turn left to come to the hill 700. When you come to the Forest Fire Observatory, continue to turn left to flower hill of Ba Vi National Park.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Banyan Tree and Angsana Lăng Cô welcomes new area general manager

On 25^th September, Banyan Tree and Angsana Lăng Cô, under the management of the Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, has appointed Mr. Brett Burton as the Area General Manager of the two beachfront resorts located within the world-class integrated resort Laguna Lăng Cô in Central Vietnam.

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In his new appointment, Brett is responsible for the successful management of 62 private pool villas of Banyan Tree Lăng Cô and 229 contemporary rooms and suite of Angsana Lăng Cô.

Prior to joining Banyan Tree and Angsana Lăng Cô, Brett was the Area General Manager and General Manager of Vinpearl Danang, Hoi An and Nha Trang and held senior positions with Mandarin Oriental and Hyatt International.

Brett has a Bachelor of Leisure Management degree from Griffith University and an M.B.A. from the University of New England, both in Australia. He is also a certified Bikram hot yoga instructor.

With his expertise of over 20 years in the hospitality industry across the globe in different departments including Operations, Marketing, Commercial Innovation, Guest Satisfaction, Project Management and Brand Development, Brett believes in continual learning and upgrading by listening to people, understanding the desires of high-end travellers and adapting to various cultures.

“Since its opening five years ago Banyan Tree and Angsana Lăng Cô has become one of the most luxurious resorts in Central Vietnam and enjoyed many successes. I am excited and look forward to leading the exceptional team, and to welcoming guests to experience the incredible culture Vietnam has to offer,” said Brett.

Banyan Tree and Angsana Lăng Cô strongly believe that Brett will contribute to the resorts’ service excellence and Banyan Tree’s signature hospitality standards and working closely with the team to deliver continual success to the two resorts.

Banyan Tree and Angsana Lăng Cô beachfront resorts

Address: Cu Du Village, Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien Hue Provine
Tel: +84 234 3695 888 | Fax: +84 234 3695 999
Website: langco@banyantree.com

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Run for a cause in Quang Nam province with run to give 2017

Marriott International today announced that its ‘Run to Give’ charity run took place in over 100 locations with the participation of associates working at over 550 hotels and resorts across Asia Pacific on 24^thSeptember, 2017. As part of this Asia Pacific-wide initiative, Sheraton Danang Resort, Sheraton Hoi An & Tam Ky and Fourpoints by Sheraton Danang joined hands to organize the event.

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Run To Give 2017 held in Tam Ky gathered more than 100 associates from 3 pre-opening teams including Sheraton Danang Resort, Sheraton Hoi An & Tam Ky and Fourpoints by Sheraton Danang. It took place in Tam Tien Beach, Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province, in the morning of 24^thSeptember, from 7:00am. Funds raised through the charity run in Danang City and Quang Nam Province will go towards Ngo May Elementary School to support renovating school toilets, building a reading corner, and planting trees & flowers.

Now in its fourth year, Marriott International has dedicated the entire month of September to encourage additional volunteer efforts and also celebrate its associates’ volunteer work that takes place year-round throughout the world, making a positive impact in their communities.

Run to Give underscores Marriott International’s commitment to drive meaningful impact to the local communities as we recognize that the vitality of our business is directly linked to the vitality of the places where we operate. Last year Marriott International hotels in Vietnam organized the charity run nationwide to immense response, raising over USD6,700; this year with the continued support from our associates, we are confident that Run to Give will accomplish more than we ever could alone.

Started in 2014 as Hotel Charity Run, the inaugural event saw an overwhelming response of over 20,000 runners take part in over 100 locations across Asia Pacific; raising a total of close to USD300,000. Associates from Marriott International hotels all over the region organized these unique runs to raise funds for a local charity in which their hotels operated in.

Sheraton Danang Resort

Add: 35 Truong Sa Street, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Danang City
Tel: +84 236 3988 999
Fax: +84 236 3981 988
Website: www.sheraton.com/danang

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts opens Vietnam’s Highest Hotel in Hanoi

InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 brings together the InterContinental life with unprecedented views of the Vietnamese capital & boosts Hanoi’s MICE profile.

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InterContinental Hotels Group, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the opening of InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Perched atop the towering Keangnam Landmark72 from the 62^nd to 71^st floors, InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 is now welcoming guests to enjoy one of the 359 sophisticated and luxurious rooms.

The capital’s newest stand-out luxury hotel is within the wider Landmark72 complex, which comprises retail, commercial, and entertainment offerings, including a variety of meeting spaces ranging from 70 to 920 square metres. It is situated close to some of Hanoi’s major landmarks and attractions such as Hanoi Museum, Vietnam National Convention Centre, Garden Shopping Centre and the headquarters of many Vietnamese multinational corporations. The hotel is less than 40 minutes from Noi Bai International Airport, promising guests a smooth transit when visiting the capital city.

ADDING LUXURY

The hotel’s sophisticated and luxurious rooms, include 34 spacious and well-appointed suites, all offering panoramic views of the city skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows from the 62^nd to the 70^th floors. Club InterContinental guests can also enjoy exclusive access to the Club InterContinental Lounge a quiet sanctuary on the hotel’s 71^st floor – one of the largest in South East Asia. Club InterContinental guests can start the day with a la carte breakfast, enjoy all day refreshments, take an afternoon tea service as well retreat for evening canapés and drinks while soaking in the view of Hanoi from over 300 metres above the city.

Commenting on the hotel opening, Leanne Harwood, Vice President, Operations, South East Asia and Korea, IHG, said: “Hanoi is truly a booming travel destination in the region, with double-digit year-on-year growth in international arrivals and attracting over four million visitors in 2016 alone. Opening our second InterContinental hotel in Hanoi puts us in even better position to offer top-notch luxury accommodation for travellers in the country.”

“The launch marks an exciting time for IHG and for the InterContinental brand as we have made history by welcoming guests to the highest hotel in Vietnam. The InterContinental brand has been offering luxury travel for over 70 years, and we are looking forward to our guests experiencing the sophistication of the InterContinental life at the new InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72,” she said.

MICE BOOST

Harwood added that the capital’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibition) profile is boosted by the new hotel opening. The new hotel’s MICE offering comprises state-of-the-art and versatile meetings spaces, totalling 2,861 square metres with eight function rooms ranging from 70 to 920 sqm. The hotel boasts one of Hanoi’s largest pillar-less ballroom that accommodates up to 1,000 people, which is complemented by the largest ballroom foyer (1,020 sqm) in Hanoi, perfect for large conferences, exhibitions, and glamorous social events.

SKY-HIGH DINING

The hotel’s enviable sky-high location has rocketed Hanoi’s restaurant and bar scene to new heights. Located on the 62nd floor are the hotel’s showpiece restaurants and bars including 3 Spoons, with triple market-style kitchens each serving unique cuisines, Hive Lounge, an exquisite lounge and centrepiece of the hotel’s lobby, the vibrant Q Bar and Stellar, the hotel’s signature restaurant and steakhouse.

Stellar is a contemporary and multi-concept steakhouse embracing timeless traditions with a modern twist, serving only the best and most premium cuts of beef. It features private dining rooms including a cooking studio, wine, and cheese room and a separate teppanyaki micro restaurant offering premium cuts from Japan. Stellar’s standout highlight is its in-house meatsmith service – a first for Hanoi – where the restaurant’s resident butcher and meat expert guides diners through the cuts of in-house-aged meat, from the butchery. Similar to a sommelier recommending suitable wines, the meatsmith will give diners one-on-one and personalised attention, guiding them through the intricacies of the cuts, the provenance of the meats and marble grading followed by on-the-spot carving and grilling the meats to perfection right by the dining table.

John Kim General Manager, InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72, said: “The InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 is one of the most impressive InterContinental hotels in the region. Our position at the Landmark72 lets us offer the finest facilities and amenities for both business and leisure travellers to truly experience the glamour of the InterContinental life and we are confident that the hotel will soon become one of the city’s icons of modern luxury travel.”

Furthermore, InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 guests will benefit from IHG’s latest connectivity offering, IHG Connect, which makes its regional debut in Vietnam. Recently launched in the US, IHG Connect delivers a faster, more reliable and consistent hotel Internet guest experience by combining significantly increased bandwidth and state-of-the art, cloud-based Wi-Fi technology. A key component of IHG Connect is the auto recognition feature for IHG’s loyalty members, where guests only need to sign in once to access hotel Wi-Fi at all IHG Connect-enabled hotels. They will automatically be connected for all future visits and will roll-out in the rest of South East Asia in the coming months.

To celebrate the opening, guests can benefit from a special rate of USD108++.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet