Recently, the details of a visit made by a group of American billionaires to Ha Giang in December 2022 have been revealed for the first time, as a result of information security concerns.
In what was a momentous occasion, a helicopter transporting members of the billionaire delegation touched down in Ha Giang City, situated in the northern province of the same name, marking the first ever visit by affluent tourists to this rugged plateau.
The group, which consisted of six members, included two main guests – an American billionaire and his girlfriend – as well as a nurse, a physical trainer, and a representative from the travel agency that was catering to the couple’s needs in Asia.
The guests chose Ha Giang Province and Sa Pa Town in Lao Cai Province as their destinations for their journey through Southeast Asia.
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| A garden in the resort where an American billionaire couple vacationed in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre |
The couple decided to stay at P’apiu resort, the only luxury resort in Ha Giang, which sits atop Bac Buu Mountain in Bac Me District.
Despite their short three-night stay, the plan for the trip had been meticulously prepared four months in advance, with the main requirement being the exclusivity of the entire resort.
Nguyen Thi Thu Su, operations director of P’apiu resort, stressed the importance of privacy to ultra-wealthy guests when they choose a destination.
She shared insights into the extensive preparations that were made to meet the couple’s precise requirements and preferences.
Over the course of four months, there were extensive discussions to finalize the schedule, experiential activities, and menu.
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| A painted road in the resort where an American billionaire couple vacationed in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre |
The physical trainer meticulously planned a dense schedule of activities for the couple and their entourage, including forest walks, cycling, and immersions in the local culture.
To cater to their individual preferences, the representative of the group arranged for personalized bicycles to be transported from Hanoi to Ha Giang.
Highlighting local culture
According to Su, the American billionaire group was eager to immerse themselves in the local culture.
Unexpectedly, the guests did not need English-speaking staff, but were enthusiastic about learning ethnic languages from the resort employees, most of whom belonged to the Dao, Mong, and Tay ethnic groups and did not speak English.
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| Sunset on Bac Buu Mountain in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre |
“They took part in all the cultural activities we offered, such as dancing with the butlers and playing the ‘nem con’ game,” said Su.
“The fire dancing performance by the Pa Then ethnic people in Quang Binh District left a profound impression on them.
“Initially, we planned to hire dancers, but the billionaire insisted on fully experiencing local culture.
“They preferred to watch local people perform.”
A gala night was organized, featuring performances by Pa Then ethnic women from Quang Binh District.
Upon the guests’ departure, the specially tailored menus for the billionaire group were discontinued to ensure that their unique dining experiences remained exclusive.
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| A villa modeled after the traditional houses of the local Mong ethnic people within a resort in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre |
After this group, the resort welcomed two more groups of super-rich guests in 2023: a Thai billionaire couple in September and a group of young American elites in December.
These high-net-worth visitors have unlocked the tourism potential and brought in high-spending tourist flows to Ha Giang.
Trieu Thi Tinh, deputy director of the Ha Giang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said that the province would continue to seek strategic investors to attract high-end tourists.
Ha Giang has formulated comprehensive master and development plans aimed at attracting this specific segment of tourists by 2030.
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| A visitor poses for a photo at an accommodation in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre |
Tinh also acknowledged the tourism sector’s shortcomings in accommodating high-end tourists, such as a lack of tourism products, lodging facilities, and restaurants.
In the first two months of 2024, Ha Giang welcomed 200,000 tourists, including 10,000 international visitors.
The province aims to receive 3.2 million visitors this year.
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