Tours for super-rich to Ha Long's deserted islands all set for launch

Exclusive private tours for the super-rich to deserted islands in Ha Long Bay are set to start in November, offering an "unprecedented and special" experience.

Nguyen Duc Hanh, CEO of All Asia Vacation, which organized a tour for American tech billionaire Bill Gates in Vietnam in March this year, revealed that his firm has been granted permission to trial ultra-high end tourism products for ultra-high-net-worth (UHNWI) travelers in Ha Long Bay.

The inaugural group, set to arrive in November, includes a U.S. billionaire whose identity has not been disclosed to ensure privacy.

This first group will spend two days and one night in the Tra San - Cong Do area, a location with natural sandy beaches, coral reefs and a diverse underwater ecosystem spread over an area of up to 800 square meters.

His company plans to get a group of super-rich tourists each month until the first quarter of next year.

The preparations for November's trip are nearly complete, with the itinerary specially curated to meet the guests' unique preferences.

One request was that "they should not have to travel by road for more than 30 minutes." So, after arriving at Van Don International Airport by private jet, they will travel by car for only 20 minutes to Ao Tien Port, where they will board a yacht to travel to the bay.

Hanh said environmental conservation is a top priority in exploiting these private and pristine areas of Ha Long Bay.

The company will ensure that trash on the islands and in surrounding areas is cleaned up before guests arrive, and the islands will be returned to their original state after each trip.

The guests will enjoy private island parties and overnight stays on luxury yachts. While some have proposed organizing camping activities in Bai Tu Long Bay, Hanh said this "requires further consideration" to avoid impacting the natural landscape.

The trip will also include visits to famous caves in Ha Long Bay, such as Sung Sot and Thien Cung, and these visits can be arranged as an exclusive and private experience too.

Hanh said his company has sought permission from local authorities to open several areas in Bai Tu Long Bay to tourism.

Quang Ninh Province officials have unveiled plans to designate seven secluded islands and beaches to cater to billionaires and high-spending tourists as part of efforts to boost tourism revenues.

In the first nine months of this year the province received 15.6 million visitors, a 20% increase year-on-year, with tourism revenues soaring 39% to VND37 trillion (US$1.49 billion).

They included 2.6 million foreign arrivals, the majority coming from China, South Korea, India, and France.

In early September Ha Long Bay hosted 4,500 employees of Indian behemoth Sun Pharmaceutical Industries owned by billionaire Dilip Shanghvi.

Other Indian billionaires have in the past chosen Ha Long Bay's luxury resorts to hold wedding ceremonies.