Quang Nam Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Le Hoang Ha - Director of Hoi An Unique Tourism Service Co., Ltd., the unit selected to welcome guests from the 5-star S-Jouney cruise ship.
Quang Nam - a special stopover
Why is Unique, a lesser-known brand, chosen to welcome passengers from the S-Journey cruise ship?
I have worked in the tourism industry for decades, interacting with and building a vast network of colleagues in the high-end clientele. Not long ago, a group of colleagues I had worked with for many years in Hanoi established a company and invested in a North-South tourist train system focusing on high-end customers.
These people understood my capabilities, recognized my unique qualities, and therefore approached me about becoming a partner in Quang Nam to transport tourists from train stations to visit destinations in Quang Nam.
*Could you elaborate on the type of cruise ship your company is currently using for tours in Quang Nam?
This train runs across North and South Vietnam on the railway lines of the Vietnam Railway Corporation. The journey lasts 8 days and 7 nights, with the current price per passenger at 8,360 USD, equivalent to approximately 220 million VND. The majority of passengers are foreigners.
There are currently only about 30 such ships in the world, concentrated in Europe and the United States. Guests are selected from high-end markets to experience this in Vietnam.
Quang Nam is one of the stops identified as a highlight of the train journey. On average, one train arrives at Tra Kieu station each month.
The train travels from Hanoi to Ninh Binh and stops there for a day. After sightseeing there, the train will go to Quang Binh, then to Quang Nam. We pick up guests at Tra Kieu station in the morning. From there, guests are taken on a sightseeing tour, and in the evening, they must be dropped off on time to continue their journey. Guests always sleep on the train.
From the countryside to the city
We pick up guests at Tra Kieu train station, then take them to the Au Lac cultural site. Here, visitors will hear woodcarvers tell stories through their handcrafted products depicting the cultural imagery of Quang Nam province throughout the journey from the Ngoc Linh mountain range to the lower reaches of the Thu Bon River. After this site, guests continue their journey by jeep through the countryside. This is also a unique highlight, as Ninh Binh welcomes guests by bicycle, Hue by Vespa, and Nha Trang by boat…
Each locality has its own unique characteristics to create a distinct impression. The next stop is Thanh Ha Pottery Village. At noon, visitors will stop for lunch at a special restaurant located in a local's home in Cam Thanh commune. This meal is cooked by the locals themselves; visitors don't know the menu, and those who go to the market cook as if they were serving their own family. The final stop of the journey is on the Hoai River to release floating lanterns with wishes...
(Mr. Le Hoang Ha)
Why is Quang Nam included in the list of destinations for S-Journey?
Quang Nam is a special stop and a highlight of the S-Journey journey exploring Vietnam. For tourists, Quang Nam is a unique destination, known not only for the World Heritage sites of Hoi An and My Son but also as a culturally rich tourist space.
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Starting in April 2024, before the S-Journey began operating, the team surveyed potential stops from North to South Vietnam. In Quang Nam, the team announced that the ship was expected to stop at 9:00 AM and return at 6:00 PM. During that time, the receiving unit had to create an attractive itinerary that would showcase the most distinctive features of Quang Nam for passengers to experience.
Based on this assignment, we planned and suggested that the train should stop at Tra Kieu because the station has a system of three independent tracks, ensuring the train can stay for an extended period.
In Tra Kieu, tourists can also easily access rural areas that have long been largely undeveloped, such as Go Noi and Duy Xuyen... These are ideal locations for rural agricultural tourism.
The true value of cultural and ecotourism
*After the reception, what feedback did guests give regarding the Quang Nam stopover point?
We are delighted that our direction is on the right track, promoting the high-value tourism image of Quang Nam while also creating excitement for visitors. Everyone highly appreciates the organization and arrangement of the product.
According to customer feedback, during their journey of thousands of kilometers across Vietnam, Quang Nam was the place that left the most lasting impression.
*The story of Unique Travel shows that the foundation for community-based tourism and heritage in Quang Nam is almost ready. The only thing left is to attract tourists?
That's right. Currently, Quang Nam has abundant and diverse cultural and natural resources. The most important thing is the mindset of those working in tourism – how to connect all the stakeholders into a well-structured, logical, and professional system. To host this tour, I myself had to attend at least five training sessions…
* But if it's as simple as the sightseeing tour you're talking about, it would be similar to other products. Instead of traveling by train, customers could choose road transport and have a similar experience without having to spend thousands of USD?
Currently, for train stopover tours in Hoi An, our partners sign exclusive service contracts with train passengers for at least 5 years. Each stop along the route also offers special services to ensure a unique and more attractive experience compared to other groups of tourists. We guarantee exclusive and unique services for a specified period.
The products we sold to train passengers are not sold anywhere else. The highlight of the S-Journey train's stop in Quang Nam is the homemeal meal. Guests are treated to meals cooked by the host family as if they were serving themselves, enjoying an exclusive experience with unique products that are guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind.
The main focus of the Quang Nam exploration tour is the countryside, traditional crafts, and rural landscape. So, what benefits does the community receive?
Our approach to organizing this tour is different; we don't calculate the actual costs and then add our profit margin to the invoice. Instead, we highlight the intangible value of the rural culture and ecosystem, ensuring customer appreciation. This encourages them to pay a reasonable price, where the intangible value of the countryside—the things you can't see—outside the actual cost.
It's not easy to create an ecological space, nor is it easy to provide the cultural depth for visitors to experience, like in a restaurant or cooking a meal. Cultural and ecotourism must be valued appropriately for its true worth and stature.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/khach-nghin-do-dung-chan-xu-quang-3151853.html
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