Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg in Vietnam: Why don't their images get out?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - A representative of a high-end resort in Da Nang described their job of welcoming billionaire delegations as "actually nothing unusual, because everything has to happen in a... normal way."

In recent days, news of Bill Gates' visit to Da Nang has garnered significant media attention. The billionaire's itinerary was published by a foreign news website. Immediately afterward, Vietnamese netizens, newspapers, and media outlets relentlessly searched to verify the exact whereabouts of this billionaire's delegation in Da Nang. On March 5th, an image of Bill Gates' private plane parked at Da Nang airport was seen as a sign that he was in Vietnam. However, no source could definitively confirm Bill Gates' location in Da Nang or his sightseeing schedule. When reporters from Dan Tri newspaper contacted international-standard accommodations that typically host VIPs, they all stated that no delegation from Bill Gates was present.

Bill Gates recently attended a pre-wedding celebration for the son of an Indian billionaire (Photo: Bill Gates' personal page).

Previously, in December 2011, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife (then girlfriend) Priscilla Chan took a secret trip to Vietnam, visiting two famous landmarks in the North: Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh) and Sa Pa (Lao Cai). However, all information and the itinerary were kept strictly confidential. The Meta CEO rented kayaks to explore the bay and visit some famous caves of the World Heritage site. To mislead the media, Mark Zuckerberg hired several boat companies in Ha Long Bay for sightseeing and also booked rooms at several famous hotels such as Hon Gai and Novotel. Throughout the vacation, no one knew where Mark Zuckerberg and his wife actually stayed or what their schedule was like. A representative of a high-end resort in Da Nang described their work of welcoming billionaire groups as "actually nothing unusual, because everything has to happen in a... normal way." Information related to high-profile clients is rarely disclosed. Ms. Le Ngoc Chau, representative of P'apiu Resort, a provider of luxury resort services in Ha Giang , said: Billionaire clients often have very strict requirements regarding information confidentiality.

This resort once hosted a group of American billionaires who arrived in Ha Giang by private helicopter. Privacy and security for guests are prioritized (Photo: P'apiu Resort).

Money isn't an issue when they readily agree to expensive trips, but security and privacy must be ensured down to the smallest detail. Billionaire clients often travel by private helicopter and are willing to spend money to book an entire resort, even if they're only traveling with two people. Before the trip, the resort must send them a list of all service staff, and they will vet each person, including the gardeners. During their stay, service staff are not even allowed to use phones or electronic devices with recording or photography capabilities. "They are VIP guests, so their demands must be top-notch. If the resort violates its commitments, it will not only suffer significant economic losses but also lose its own reputation," said Ms. Le Ngoc Chau. In early March 2024, the Paradise Peak cruise ship of Paradise Vietnam Group welcomed a group of American billionaires who arrived in Vietnam by private jet. There were only four of them, but they paid to charter an entire cruise in Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province), and requested that staff absolutely not take photos during their stay on the cruise. "VIP guests don't like being disturbed; they pay for luxury services, but they have strict requirements for privacy. With many groups, even after the trip ends, information about the number of people in their group and the dates of the trip is not disclosed," a representative from Paradise Vietnam stated.

The cruise ship welcomed a delegation of American billionaires to Ha Long Bay in early March (Photo: Paradise Peak).

The representative also stated that Vietnam typically welcomes around 10-20 high-end delegations of billionaires from various countries each year. These billionaire guests often choose the most luxurious services. The cost of experiencing such services is usually 138% higher than the price of standard luxury cruise services. They even offer unique, exclusive travel packages. "For example, the Russian billionaire delegation that visited Vietnam at the end of February chose to stay on the Paradise Peak cruise ship, considered a masterpiece of luxury accommodation with the most upscale amenities in Ha Long Bay today. The cruise ship has a spa, library, gym, jacuzzi overlooking the sea, and dining areas in each cabin. Notably, it is also one of the few cruise ships that provides a private butler service," the representative revealed. Before the billionaire delegations arrive for their vacation, someone will come to survey and prepare the facilities for a month in advance. Service providers must also sign contracts with detailed and stringent terms, where even minor violations can result in hefty penalties. Some travel agencies say that even after the billionaires' group leaves, their meal records and travel itineraries must be destroyed to ensure privacy. Furthermore, they are accompanied not only by assistants, secretaries, and medical staff, but also by private bodyguards. These bodyguards are responsible for ensuring privacy and safety during the trip. This is also why, even if they want to do media coverage, travel agencies and accommodations catering to billionaires are not allowed to disclose their clients' information.

Dantri.com.vn

Source