The allure of Ha Giang Province is not just for intrepid backpackers anymore. This northern Vietnamese gem, famed for its jaw-dropping mountains, is now turning the heads of the world's wealthiest travelers.

For information security reasons, the behind-the-scenes details of the December 2022 trip to Ha Giang by one of those billionaire visitors have just been unveiled.

In December 2022, a helicopter carrying members of an American billionaire delegation touched down in Ha Giang City, located in the namesake northern province, signifying the inaugural visit of affluent tourists to this rugged plateau.

Comprising six members, the group included two primary guests—an American billionaire and his girlfriend—accompanied by a nurse, a physical trainer, and a representative from the travel agency catering to the couple’s needs in Asia.

Ha Giang Province and Sa Pa Town in Lao Cai Province were chosen as destinations by the guests for their Southeast Asia journey.

The couple opted to stay at P’apiu resort, Ha Giang’s sole luxury resort nestled atop Bac Buu Mountain in Bac Me District.

Despite their brief three-night stay, the trip’s plan was meticulously prepared four months in advance, with the primary requirement being the exclusivity of the entire resort.

Nguyen Thi Thu Su, operations director of P’apiu resort, emphasized the paramount importance of privacy to super-rich guests when they select a destination. 

She shared insights into the extensive preparations undertaken to meet the couple’s exacting standards and preferences.

Over the course of four months, extensive discussions were held to finalize the schedule, experiential activities, and menu.

The physical trainer meticulously planned dense activity schedules for the couple and their entourage, including forest walks, cycling, and immersion in local culture.

To accommodate their individual preferences, the group’s representative arranged for personalized bicycles to be transported from Hanoi to Ha Giang.

Emphasis on local culture

The American billionaire group was keen on immersing themselves in local culture, according to Su.

Unexpectedly, the guests did not need English-speaking staff but were enthusiastic about learning ethnic languages from the resort employees, who mainly belonged to the Dao, Mong, and Tay ethnic groups and did not speak English.

“They engaged in all the cultural activities we offered, such as dancing with the butlers and playing ‘nem con’ [throwing cotton ball game],” Su said. 

“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 watching local people perform.”

A gala night was thus organized, featuring gigs by the Pa Then ethnic women from Quang Binh District. 

The resort had even recorded videos of the training process to update the guests as per their request.

Immediately after their departure, the menus tailored for the billionaire group were discontinued to ensure their unique dining experiences remained exclusive.

Following this group, the resort welcomed two more cohorts of super-rich guests in 2023 -- a Thai billionaire couple in September and a group of young American elites in December. 

These super-rich visitors have unlocked new tourism potential, bringing in high-spending tourist flows to Ha Giang.

Trieu Thi Tinh, deputy director of the Ha Giang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, stated that the province would continue to seek strategic investors to attract high-end tourists.

Ha Giang has formulated comprehensive master and development plans geared toward attracting this specific tourist segment by 2030.

Tinh also acknowledged the local tourism sector’s shortcomings in accommodating high-end tourists such as insufficient 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 host 3.2 million visitors this year.

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