Luxury Travel Blog

Located in ‘God’s own country’ Kerala, Periyar National Park is a favorite among tourists. The National Park has animals like, wild pigs, elephants, wild dogs, mouse deer, sloth bear, tigers, leopards, etc. For bird-lovers, there are birds such as kingfishers, darters, gray herons, etc. The Periyar lake, which covered an area of 16 sq. kms, and now covers an area of 55 sq. kms., gradually attracted animals from the adjoining woods.

Finally, the area was granted protection by the Maharaja of Travancore. The tourists to the National Park, can take a boat ride on the lake and take a closer look at the birds and animals. Wildlife India Tours offers booking for accommodation close to the Periyar. The visitors to the National Park can stay over at the Taj Garden Retreat and enjoy a wonderful holiday exploring the National Park.

Periyar National Park is beautifully nestled in the Western Ghats in the Idukki District in the state of Kerala. It is a jewel of Kerala and is a natural habitat to a number of wild species among which some are endangered as well. It is one of the most enchanting wildlife parks in of the world and a magnificent stopover in the itinerary of a tourist who wants to come close to nature and experience its splendid treasures. It is also an irresistible temptation for the enthusiasts of wildlife photography. A tour to Periyar is surely going to become one of the most memorable tours in India.

One of the most striking tourist attractions in Periyar is its lake which is called the PeriyarLake. The huge lake is the perennial source of water for the wild denizens residing in this exquisite forest. Periyar is most famous for the elephants that are spotted near the lake. The various other inhabitants that you can encounter during your tour to Periyar are leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar and sloth bear. You can also get a glimpse of the tiger if you are fortunate enough.

Periyar National Park in Kerala is also famous for the reptilian species such as monitor lizards, pythons, king cobras and flying lizards. A good number of the bird species can also be found that include darters, cormorants, ibises, gray herons, mynas, flycatchers, orioles, wood pigeons, kingfishers, kites, ospreys, thrushes, and blue-winged parakeets.

Periyar is a wonderful place for organizing nature India tour and trekking since its impeccable natural ambiance and a challenging terrain makes it a veritable spot for adventure activities. The resident naturalists and officials will provide you with information regarding the natural surroundings of this place.

Savvy international travelers have been aware that Southeast Asia is home to some of the great tours and sites that the world has to offer.  Now, The New York Times has taken notice and published its list of the top 45 travel destinations for 2012.  A number of these are locations serviced by Luxury Travel Ltd., including No. 3 on the list, Myanmar:

“3. Myanmar
Back on the tourist map after being off-limits for years.

With renowned cultural treasures, world-class boutique hotels and deserted beaches, Myanmar has long been high on intrepid travelers’ wish lists. For years, though, heeding calls by the pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and others, many stayed away in protest of Myanmar’s authoritarian regime.

Now, however, this is changing.

Since November 2010, when Myanmar’s rulers held nominally free elections and released Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi after 15 years of house arrest, the boycott has been lifted and Myanmar is set for an influx of visitors.

Because the country has been so isolated, the deeply Buddhist “Land of the Golden Pagoda” resonates with a strong sense of place, undiluted by mass tourism and warmed by genuine hospitality. Travelers will find atmospheric hotels and a network of well-maintained regional jets serving the main sites. (Keep in mind that visas are still required and that the economy remains largely cash-based.) “

You can read the full post here.  And please contact us so that we can help you make 2012 your best travel year yet!

Pushkar Fair of Rajasthan is held at one of the holy cities of India situated in the desert state of India Tour Rajasthan, far-famed throughout the world for its largest cattle fair held during the month of Kartika according to Hindi Calendar (October or November) beginning on ashtmi or 8th day of Lunar Calendar and continues till full moon (Poornima). As per the scheduled, the Pushkar Fair of Rajasthan will be held from November 14th to 23nd November 2010.

The small and beautiful town of Pushkar is set in a valley approximately 14 km off from the famous religious destination of Ajmer, Rajasthan. Circumvented by hills on three confronts and sand dunes on the one side, the city of Pushkar estimates a bewitching location and a fitting backdrop for the yearly religious and cattle fair which is globally famous and attracts lakhs of travellers and holiday makers from almost every length and breadth of Indian subcontinent on the one hand and from several parts of the world on the other.

The city of Pushkar Fair has normally hot climate. The maximum temperature all around the summer season fluctuates in between 40-45°C while during the winter season it reaches as below as 10°C. During the monsoon season, the rain is not very much. So, this Pushkar Fair holidays gives immense pleasurable trip to the travelers as they have not to face the scorching heat of desert land. The winter season, however starts in the month of October and continues till March every year.

The city of Pushkar is regarded as the one of the most sacred and spiritual destinations of India Tours as well as one of the five dhams. According to the Indian mythology, the spiritual places of Dhamas are held in high regard by Hindu community. However, there are five dhamas in India besides the Pushkar which are Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, and Dwarka. These spiritual destinations are considered as Mecca and must visit spiritual destination of India.

It is told that in a battle lord Brahma killed the demon Vajra Nabh with a holy flower lotus, whose flower petal blew down to earth and brought in three distinguishes in and around Pushkar where lakes sprang up. According to legends, Pushkar Lake was surrounded by 500 temples and 52 palaces (various rajas and maharajas preserved palaces here for religious journey) at one point.

Today, the Brahma temple of Rajasthan is considered to be the most substantial temple and is, in fact, the solely Brahma temple of India! So, the tourists who want to explore Rajasthan in its incredible zestfulness, fairs and festivals of Rajasthan especially the Pushkar Fair is the best time and the best means to realize the spiritual attraction while navigating the spiritual city of Pushkar and its vibrant culture. Among all the fairs and festivals of Rajasthan, this Pushkar Fair is the most appealing and most India Tour famous among the international travelers and tourists.

The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, is an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century. It includes a set of some twenty main fixed instruments. They are monumental examples in masonry of known instruments but which in many cases have specific characteristics of their own. The Jantar Mantar is an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period.

The Jantar Mantar observatory in Jaipur constitutes the most significant and best preserved set of fixed monumental instruments built in India tours the first half of the 18th century; some of them are the largest ever built in their categories. Designed for the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye, they embody several architectural and instrumental innovations. The observatory forms part of a tradition of Ptolemaic positional astronomy which was shared by many civilizations. It contributed by this type of observation to the completion of the astronomical tables of Zij. It is a late and ultimate monumental culmination of this tradition.

Through the impetus of its creator, the prince Jai Singh II, the observatory was a meeting point for different scientific cultures, and gave rise to widespread social practices linked to cosmology. It was also a symbol of royal authority, through its urban dimensions, its control of time, and its rational and astrological forecasting capacities. The observatory is the monumental embodiment of the coming together of needs which were at the same time political, scientific, and religious.

The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is an outstanding example of the coming together of observation of the universe, society and beliefs. It provides an outstanding testimony of the ultimate culmination of the scientific and technical conceptions of the great observatory devised in the Medieval world. It bears witness to very ancient cosmological, astronomical and scientific traditions shared by a major set of Western, Middle Eastern, Asian and African religions, over a period of more than fifteen centuries.

Jodhpur Tours India cover a lot of tourist attractions in Jodhpur and around the vicinity of Jodhpur and make for a fine travel experience for the guests. These include monuments, gardens, forts and palaces and a lot of other such tourist attractions. Jodhpur has a good location which is easily accessible by the air, rail and road network.

The tourists will be spoilt for choice about what to watch on their Jodhpur India Tours. The experience of witnessing the majestic forts, wildlife sanctuaries with varied flora and fauna, enchanting tradition and culture of the local people are surely going to be treasured by the guests. Mehrangarh Fort Museum is one of the finest museums in Rajasthan. It is beautifully laid out. It has a palanquin section where we can see a wide collection of old royal palanquins.

The palanquin section of the museum of Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India also includes the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol palanquin, won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The heritage of the Rathores, including arms, costumes, paintings, decorated period rooms, etc, is exhibited in the museum. The museum gives us an idea of the grandeur of the royal families of the past. We also visit this architectural delight while on India Tours to Jodhpur.

The Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph that is a wonderful architecture of stone and Maharaja Sadder Singh constructed the beautiful monument. The domes are decorated with wonderful curvatures and various other decorative items. One of cenotaphs is dedicated to one of queens who became sati in the by gone days. Due to the white marble the place looks wonderful at night; many tourists visit this place when they are on India.

Tour to Jodhpur will also embrace the shopping and entertainment districts of the city. While on their tour, the guests indulge in shopping in Jodhpur as it has on offer some of the finest bazaars on the country. The city is known for its excellent handicrafts and a lot of other such hand made good that can be taken back by the tourists to their homes as souvenirs. The travel to Jodhpur will make the tourists know more about. The notable monuments that we must go on tour to during our India Tours to Jodhpur, are the Meharangarh Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace, the Clock Tower, Mahamandir Temple, Sadar Market, Government Museum and the Kaliana Lake.

The Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu in South India attract both Hindu pilgrims and tourists. The most famous Tamil Nadu Hindu temple is the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. Some of the most famous South Indian temples include the Meenakshi temple in Madurai, the Shore Temple in Mamallapuram and the Shiva temples in the sacred city of Kanchipuram.

Shri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai

The Meenakshi temple in Madurai is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and his wife Parvati, known here as Meenakshi. According to legend, Shiva and Meenakshi were married in Madurai. The large temple complex contains 12 famous gopuras or towers that are decorated with brightly coloured sculptures of HIndu deities. The Thousand Pillar Hall contains over 900 (but just under a thousand) carved pillars. It takes hours to explore the enormous temple complex.The temple is always busy with pilgrims, tourists, beggars, salesmen and palm readers, but becomes even busier during temple festivals. Madurai has flight connections to Chennai and Mumbai, and train and bus connections around Places to Visit in South India.

Pilgrim Destination Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is an important Hindu pilgrimage destination, being the place where the Hindu god Rama built a bridge across the sea to the island of Lanka in order to rescue his beloved Sita from her evil abductor, Ravana. The Ramnathswamy temple dates back to the 17th century and is an example of Dravidian temple architecture as well as one of the holiest of India’s Hindu temples. Rameshwaram has train connections to Chennai and Madurai.

The Shore Temple in Mamallapuram

Mamallapuram (also known as Mahabalipuram) was an ancient seaport and the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. The Pallavas constructed many of Mamallapuram’s Dravidian-style temples in the 7th and 8th century AD.

Mamallapuram’s most famous sight is the 7th century Shore Temple, one of the oldest temples in South India. The temple stands on the shore of the Bay of Bengal and has suffered damage from erosion, and a rock wall has been built to protect it from the sea. The Dravidian-style temple was originally constructed in the 7th century and completed later by the Pallava king Narasimha Varman II, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 2004 tsunami uncovered previously undiscovered ruins. Mamallapuram is easily reached by bus or taxi from Chennai.

Kanchipuram: a Sacred City

Kanchipuram is one of Hinduism’s seven sacred cities. It is filled with stunning temples, most of them dedicated to the gods Shiva or Vishnu, although the goddess Shakti is also worshipped in the Kamakshi Amman temple. One of the largest and most ancient temples in Kanchipuram is the magnificent Ekambareshwar Temple.

Many of the temples in Kanchipuram will not let non-Hindus into the innermost area of the temple, but visitors can still walk around the temple complex. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks and temple visitors can expect lots of invitations to silk shops from rickshaw drivers and touts who hang around temples. Kanchipuram can be easily reached from Chennai. Check for south india temples tour.

India Temple Do’s and Don’ts

Hindu temples ask visitors to remove their shoes, which can usually be left in a shoe storage outside the entrance. Western visitors should also remember that appropriate dress for visiting a Hindu temple means covering shoulders (a large scarf is handy) and wearing long trousers or skirts. Some South Indian temples may charge for entry but others rely on donations. Find more on south india tour packages and India tours.

Vietnam’s outlook for tourism in 2012 slow but positive.
The tourism industry will continue to grow in 2012, but at only a slight rate due to global recession and poor government marketing strategies.
The tourism industry marks some important achievements in 2011. The number of tourists visiting Vietnam reached 6 millions in 2011. We have more heritage sites awaiting international recognition, andmore celebrities continue to visit the country. Also, Vietnam officially accepted the designation of Ha Long Bay as one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World. Ha Long Bay will continue to be a major attraction despite some safety issues. Many new luxury branded hotels recently opened or are set to open soon, and Vietnam is emerging as a top luxury destination in Asia.

Vietnam tourism has a new slogan and logo: “Timeless charm from 2012-2015.” The infrastructure is getting better, with roads and airports having been upgraded or newly built in 2011, including Phu Bai Airport and Danang International Airport. Further, Vietjet Air scheduled its first commercial flights in December, while Vietnam Airlines launched direct flights to London and Air Asia now links Kul to Danang.

All of the above are very encouraging, and Vietnam’s outlook for tourism in 2012 is positive. But, we should not simply be satisfied with an increasing number of tourists, andmust also look at the facts and identify potential weaknesses that might hinder sustainable growth for the tourism industry in Vietnam.

Tourism in the Central Highlands, northern Vietnam and the Mekong will decline slightly. Hanoi and HCMC will remain at current levels, but tourism in coastal areas will increase moderately. Central Vietnam still lacks some basic amenities that hinder filling rooms at many new properties.

Some destinations are experiencing worsening conditions, including increased crime, traffic accidents, drowning and pollution. The main areas affected include Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, NhaTrang and Mui Ne. Despite an ongoing controversy, Vietnam will push forward with dams at the Cat Tien UNESCO Biosphere and encourage UNESCO to address the issue of serious degradation of the park.

Vietnam should focus on the quality of tourism and not just the number of inbound tourists, while also promoting better quality domestic travel experiences for the local population.

Better positioning, planning, forecasting and marketing through social media should be implemented, especially after the visits to Vietnam of celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Developing higher standards and human resources for the tourism industry in the long term should be the goal of Vietnam, which lacks sufficient numbers of quality decision makers, managers and tour guides.

Developing tourism with the protection of the environment in mind should be a major goal, while also remaining focused on quality destinations and product promotions. Our activities are not well coordinated between the national government and localities, and also the public and private sectors. We should have more joint promotional activities.

Further, we should create visas on arrival for all foreign visitors, as well as implement a better and more consistent tourist information network, while removing all unnecessary administrative barriers.
Vietnam apart from other destinations in the region according to Pham Ha, here is the 8 charms of Vietnam, VNAT should promotes them to international tourists.

1. Thrills, 2. wilderness, 3. heritage, 4. festival, 5. pristine, 6. enjoyment, 7. scenery, 8. essence,

1. Thrills:

The thrills offered are endless and span a wide range, including: hiking, trekking, biking, kayaking, climbing, rafting, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, hot air ballooning, camping, yachting and more. Some of the locations where these activities can be enjoyed include: Sapa, Halong Bay, Cu Lao Cham, the Central Highlands, the Mekong Delta, Phan Thiet, Con Dao, the Phu Quoc Islands and many more.

2. Wilderness and Nature:

The wilderness amazes, from the green beauty of the national parks, reserves and ramsars to the mountains, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and grottoes. Halong Bay is a new seven natural wonder of the world. Discover the natural allure of Vietnam by indulging in a wide array of accommodations, tour packages and attractions at places such as Mai Chau, Sapa, Ha Giang, Ba Be, Halong Bay, Phong Nha Ke Bang, the Central Highlands, Nam Cat Tien and many more.

3. Heritage

With its long history and unique way of life, Vietnam has a rich heritage. There are many interesting and diverse sites to be found around the country. In fact, Vietnam boasts 7 world natural and cultural heritage sites, not to mention many intangible heritages.

As of January 1, 2012, there are more than 3,000 relics and landscape areas classified as national heritage sites, including some very special national relics. Besides the two mentioned above, UNESCO recognized five world cultural heritage sites: the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Ha Noi, the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, the complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary.
There are also six on the world intangible heritage list: Nha Nhac – Vietnamese Royal Court Music, the Space of Gong Culture in Central Highland, Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs, Ca Tru singing, Xoan singing of Phu Tho Province and the Giong Festival of Phu Dong and Soc Temples (Hanoi).
Last, but not least, there are two inclusions on the World Documentary Heritage list: the woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty and the stone steles in Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Hanoi).

4. Festivals:

Many colorful festivals can be enjoyed year round. The time after Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) is especially exciting. Festivals include the Perfume Pagoda, Hung King, Kate, Lim and Giay Festivals, just to name a few.

5. Pristine:

Many pristine islands and beaches are to be found in this tropical country. Vietnam has 3620 km of coastline, with beautiful white sand beaches and world class resorts. Of these, you should not miss the stunning sand and clear waters of My Khe, Cua Dai, Nha Trang, Ninh Van Bay, Quy Nhon, Mui Ne, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc and the Con Dao Islands.

6. Enjoyment:

Holidaymakers have the choice of new and trendy boutique hotels, spas, golfing, cruises, shopping centres, restaurants and nightlife. With new luxury hotels and world class golf courses having recently opened or set to open soon, and the introduction of luxury train journeys, exclusive cruises and upscale private tours spanning the length of the country, Vietnam is fast emerging as an exciting destination in Asia.

7. Scenery:

Spectacular scenery and a diverse landscape exist from North to South. Mountains, forests, nature reserves, rivers, beaches, and islands are all here to be enjoyed. Verdant patchworks of rice paddies and pointed lampshade-style hats are just a small part of what there is to be seen in this formerly war ravaged country. Visitors will see more than the economic repression often portrayed on worldwide television and in newspapers. There is also natural beauty, a harmonious array of ethnic cultures, imperial monuments, timeless traditional villages, idyllic sea resorts and dynamic cities.

8. Essence:
Vietnam boasts scores of traditions, lifestyles and religions. The friendly and hospitable population has been influenced by the cultures of China, France and America, and this is reflected in the country’s lifestyle, architecture, cuisine and art.

Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel which is the first luxury tour operator and DMC in Vietnam operating in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand . Opened in 2004, the Luxury Travel Company Limited has its own offices, luxury vehicles, luxury travel advisors, and serves thousands of high-end travelers every year, while experiencing 30% growth annually. The company’s depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill client expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent award: “Best Luxury Tour Operator in Vietnam
Visit www.luxurytravelvietnam.com.

For Immediate Use
Luxury Travel and The Cape Club have established a joint venture to provide fully escorted luxury travel services into Vietnam/ South East Asia
A Marriage of Two Brands to Promote the luxury travel category to Australia, and other International Cities.
(HANOI, VIETNAM –26th Oct 2011) With new luxury hotels and world class golf courses newly opening, luxury trains, exclusive cruises and upscale private tours spanning the length of the country, Vietnam is fast emerging as the world’s latest luxury destination.
Vietnam has a French colonial influence with unique architecture, tree-lined boulevards and baguettes and croissants to rival any Parisian cafe. We also boast many attractions, including beautiful resorts, spas, majestic scenery, a rich traditional culture, easy going and welcoming locals, great cuisine and an improving tourist infrastructure. This makes Vietnam a more attractive destination for travelers seeking the best value for their money.
Luxury Travel Vietnam, the leading tour operator in Vietnam and South East Asia, and The Cape Club, a division of More Collections Pty Ltd, Australia, today announced that they have reached an agreement to establish a joint venture to develop fully accompanied concierge services for the travel industry across Vietnam and South East Asia.
The new joint venture will be trading as CAPE LUX TRAVELS, providing “A dedicated concierge with every group”.
The parties agreed to their basic division of functions; Luxury Travel Vietnam (LTV) will essentially be the tour operator and The Cape Club (TCC) will essentially be the tour manager. The area that Cape Lux Travels will initially do business is across South East Asia countries, including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar.
Cape Lux Travels aims to provide High End Tours in a specified “keeper of the candle” Comte des Cierge category. Some existing Tour Products on the drawing board are: Revive, Restore – Re-awaken Escapes, Golfing, “Meet the Photographer” Tours, Cookery and Wine Tasting Across S.E Asia, Art and Antique Appreciation Tours, High end Rail Journeys, The Makeover & Pamper Girls only Trip, A Concierge for the Connoisseur, Retracing French Colonial Charms and custom categories to your requirements.
To start this joint venture, Jean Wethmar – Representative of TCC will visit Vietnam to meet, greet and have further business talk with LTV about their scheduled Vietnam Trip this 1st – 15th March 2012. For a full itinerary and further details of this Reawaken Senses Tour, please contact Mrs. Jean Wethmar jeanw@thecapeclub.com and Mr. Nguyen Cuu Hung dos@luxurytravelvietnam.com.
On this 15 day trip, travellers will journey through Vietnam, exploring world heritage sites in style, discover delicious Vietnamese cuisine, stay in gorgeous luxury accommodation and villas, uncover many hidden charms amongst the highlights of an amazing country: Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Hoian, Hue, Hanoi, Halong Bay, combined with Golf Courses for golfers, Cooking Classes for culinary delights, and Spa treatments – a total Reawakening of all senses. Crisp white linen suits, dark mahogany wooden furniture, panama hats, “Pearl of the Orient” – “Paris of the East? Vietnam!

Our tours start in Saigon (HCMC), with her million scooters, where simply crossing a road is a huge challenge. A stroll down Dong Khoi Street, with its alluring silk stores is sure to set the pace. We end our Tour in Hanoi.

“Our tours are aimed at taking a glimpse into the French Colonial Splendor of an era, where clearly opulence was the order of the day. We’ll meet chefs, photographers, authors, bamboo boat makers, potters, get to stay in amazing 5* luxury French Architectural hotels – Park Hyatt, La Residence, Metropole Sofitel Hanoi, Ana Mandara Six Senses to name a few. Plenty of time for Spa treatments/ shop. Good morning Vietnam!”, said Mrs. Jean Wethmar – Co-founder of The Cape Club and a Colonial Romantic.
Exclusive, discreet attention to fine detail, ensures a journey of a lifetime.. 1-15 March 2012 – $US4418 per person. The price include all land services: tour manager, luxury accommodation, private English speaking tour guide, all private transfer and transportation, meals, domestic flight tickets.
“This is an important step of Luxury Travel’s plan to expand the travel industry in the South East Asia. Sophisticated travelers are looking to have the best travel experience with Cape Lux Travels”, said Mr. Pham Ha – Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Vietnam. “With a major partner, we’ll largely expand our presence in Australia to create products that reflects the needs and desires specifically of Australian travelers. We look forward to collaborating with The Cape Club to develop the travel industry in South East Asia and a happy marriage”.
About Luxury Travel Vietnam:
The first luxury tour operator (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) and full travel service agency based in Hanoi with offices throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, Luxury Travel is exceptional in designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences. Opened in 2004, the Luxury Travel Company Limited has its own offices, luxury vehicles, luxury travel advisors, and sales offices in California, Paris, and Melbourne. The company’s depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill client expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd won numerous travel awards for excellent performance including the most recent award: Best Luxury Tour Operator in Vietnam.
About Cape Club
It’s easier to deliver to a stated purpose, if careful and structured thought precedes the planned statement of actions.
Why do we travel?…. We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate….. we travel, in essence, to become young fools again – to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more – Pico Iyer
Be creative, Take chances, Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, for its from this that we learn, recover, renew, regain. Many travelers prefer the camaraderie, convenience and fun of small group travel and The Cape Club’s style is simply unique. And it is from this need that The Cape Club began. Starting in 2008 in Sydney, Australia, director Jean Wethmar became aware of a great niche market to provide high end travelers with a unique traveling opportunity. Limited to small groups of like-minded travelers who relish learning and discovering, these classic escorted journeys offer unparalleled flexibility, personal attention and smooth, discreet travel arrangements. Connoisseur fully escorted packaged tours with personal assistance from the time you arrive until your departure. A concierge with every group.

Many affluent consumers find personal satisfaction not in things, but in what they do — “greats news for the travel industry,” a U.S. marketing expert says.

Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing and author of “Putting the Luxe Back in Luxury,” said more than half of all U.S. luxury consumers report the source of their greatest personal satisfaction and happiness is what they experience — as opposed to luxury goods.

“This is great news for the travel industry, which is built upon providing memorable luxurious experiences to guests,” Danziger said in a statement.

Danziger’s Luxury Consumers and Their Luxury Travel Plans 2012, a trend report by Unity Marketing, based upon a recent survey among 1,498 luxury consumers — average income $279,100 — found 40 percent of the affluents surveyed expect to spend more on luxury travel in 2012 than they did in 2011.

About 12 percent of affluents expect to spend significantly more in 2012.

“Clearly, the affluent consumer is poised to spend more in the coming year, and this spending will be directed at those experiences that will give them the most pleasure,” Danziger said.

Vietnam’s diverse natural environment, geography, history, and culture make it a destination with great potential for the tourism industry. The country boasts long coastlines, verdant forests, and mountainous regions with magnificent landscapes. Vietnam also has a long and diverse cultural history, much of which is reflected in its ancient architecture and regional customs.

With more than 125 beautiful and convenient beaches, Vietnam has more locales for beach enthusiasts than many countries can dream of. Traveling from north to south, many of the most famous beaches will be found in places such as Tra Co, Ha Long, Do Son, Cat Ba, Sam Son, Cua Lo, Thien Cam, Lang Co, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Ca Na, Mui Ne, Vung Tau, Ha Tien, and Phu Quoc.

One location in particular is especially noteworthy, Ha Long Bay. A naturally occurring bay, Ha Long has been recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO twice, in 1994 and 2000. Because of its natural beauty and geological value, the bay is now provisionally listed among the new seven natural wonders of the world.

In addition to Ha Long, the bays at Nha Trang and Lang Co are members of the unofficial club of the most beautiful bays of the world. However, officially they have also been given recognition as Da Nang Beach was voted one of the six most beautiful beaches on the planet in 2005 by Forbes Magazine. Not to be outdone, Bai Dai (Dai Beach) in Phu Quoc was voted one of the world’s five best hidden beaches by ABC News in 2008 and Con Dao was proclaimed one of the most impressive destinations in Southeast Asia in 2010 by the New York Times Magazine.

Further, in 2011 Con Dao was included in the top 20 list of the most mysterious islands in the world by Travel and Leisure Magazine and also voted one of the 10 best and most mysterious islands in the world on which to enjoy a romantic holiday by Lonely Planet. Not only that, but the aquatic preserves in Phu Quoc and Con Dao are home to the “dugong”, which are an extremely rare species of sea mammal, similar to the Manatee or “sea cow.”

With a large coast line and thousands of islands near the mainland and archipelagos of Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands) and Truong Sa (Spratly Islands), sea and island touring has played an important role in Vietnam’s tourism development strategy.

With its geographic diversity, Vietnam has many famous natural tourist sites such as Sa Pa, Tam Dao, Bach Ma, Ba Na, Da Lat. These sites are, on average, around 1,000 meters above sea level and therefore have climates that are similar to those of many temperate zones. One such location is Sa Pa Town, which is home to old French style villas, as well as modern buildings interspersed between peach gardens and green lines of sa mu (cunnighamia konishii).

Sa Pa Town was voted one of the world’s top ten places for walking by Lonely Planet guidebooks and is a place where you can easily integrate into local life among terraced rice fields and other nearby villages. Moreover, the Sa Pa terraced rice fields along the mountain sides have been selected as one of the seven most beautiful and spectacular terraced rice fields in the world by Travel and Leisure Magazine.

Da Lat is an ideal tourist area, famous for pine forests, waterfalls and many kinds of beautiful flowers. Coming to Da Lat, tourists are enraptured by the melodies of the t’rung and gongs, two traditional musical instruments which the highlanders commonly play at evening parties.

Vietnam has 30 national parks and many nature preserves which feature great collections of flora and fauna indigenous to the tropical zone. One such place is Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, with vivid evidence of the Earth’s formation. It is an area of geological, topographic and geomorphologic history, and unique landscapes. Its biodiversity, as well as its unique historical and cultural values, have led it to be named a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang is home to the largest cave in the world, as well 300 different grottoes and smaller caves. Phong Nha Cave has been regarded by British Cave Research Association as the top cave in the world due to its 4 top records: the longest underground river, the highest and longest cave, broadest and most beautiful fine sand beaches inside the caves, and the most spectacular stalagmites and stalactites. Son Doong Cave has been recognized as the overall largest natural cave in the world.

In addition, as of 2011, there are 8 world biosphere reserves recognized by UNESCO in Vietnam, including Cat Tien National Park (now known as Dong Nai biosphere reserve) (2001), Can Gio mangrove in Ho Chi Minh City (2000), Cat Ba Island in Hai Phong City (2004), the Red River Delta (coastal wetlands of the three provinces of Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh) (2004), Sea Island and the coast of Kien Giang (2006), Western Nghe An (2007), Cu Lao Cham Archipel in Hoi An – Quang Nam (2009), and Ca Mau Cape in Ca Mau Province (2009). There are also four national parks recognized as ASEAN heritage parks include Hoang Lien, Ba Be, Chu Mom Ray and Kon Ka Kinh.

There are several regions in Vietnam that have been reserved as bird gardens and sanctuaries. At Tam Nong Bird Sanctuary, there is a garden conservatory for redhead cranes, established as an information center for cranes funded by the International Fund for Bird Protection in Bergheim, Germany.

Vietnam has abundant mineral water sources found throughout the country, such as the Quang Hanh hot stream in Quang Ninh Province, the Kim Boi mineral spring in Hoa Binh Province, the Bang mineral spring in Quang Binh Province, the Hoi Van mineral spring in Binh Dinh Province, the Duc My and Thap Ba hot springs in Nha Trang City of Khanh Hoa Province, the Vinh Hao mineral spring in Binh Thuan Province, and Binh Chau – Ho Coc in Ba Ria in Vung Tau Province. These areas have become popular destinations for health rehabilitation and relaxation, attracting numerous tourists every year.

Vietnam has a long history, during which time many amazing architectural monuments reflecting typical oriental styles have been built. Many of these vestiges maintain their ancient appearances, such as the One Pillar Pagoda, Kim Lien Pagoda, Tay Phuong Pagoda, Tay Dang Temple and Chu Quyen Temple in Hanoi, Pho Minh Pagoda Tower in Nam Dinh Province, Binh Son Tower in Vinh Phuc Province, Keo Pagoda in Thai Binh Province, But Thap Pagoda and Dinh Bang Temple in Bac Ninh Province, the Cham Towers in the provinces of the Central Coast of Vietnam and the Hue Citadel.

As of January 1, 2012, there are more than 3,000 relics and landscape areas classified as national heritage sites, including some very special national relics. Besides the two mentioned above, UNESCO recognized five world cultural heritage sites: the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Ha Noi, the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, the complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary.
There are also six on the world intangible heritage list: Nha Nhac – Vietnamese Court Music, the Space of Gong Culture in Central Highland, Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs, Ca Tru singing, Xoan singing of Phu Tho Province and the Giong Festival of Phu Dong and Soc Temples (Hanoi).

Last, but not least, there are two inclusions on the World Documentary Heritage list: the woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty and the stone steles in Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Hanoi).

In addition, tens of millions of valuable antiques and national treasures are being preserved and are on display at the system of 125 museums distributed all over the country. Also, the traditional festivals, customs, arts performances, handicrafts, gastronomy and costumes of the community of 54 ethnic groups have been becoming important tourism resources.