Corporate Profile Dr. Pham Ha
Founder, President & CEO, LuxGroup®
Dr. Pham Manh Ha, widely known as Pham Ha, is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of LuxGroup®, Vietnam’s leading luxury tourism group and a pioneer in heritage-inspired luxury travel experiences. For more than three decades, he has dedicated his career to building globally respected Vietnamese brands while promoting the country’s culture, history and maritime heritage to international travelers.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in French and English, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), National Economics University.
- Completed executive education in leadership, strategy, finance, sustainability and social entrepreneurship through Harvard University programs.
- Honorary Doctorate in Tourism, American University (USA).
International Recognition
With more than 30 years of experience in luxury tourism, hospitality and cruise development, Dr. Pham Ha is widely recognized as one of Vietnam’s leading tourism entrepreneurs and a passionate advocate for sustainable tourism.
He currently serves as Vice President of the Vietnam Green Tourism Association (VGTA) under the Vietnam Tourism Association, contributing to national initiatives on green tourism, ESG and sustainable destination development.
Throughout his career, he has spoken, lectured and participated in professional conferences across more than 80 countries on five continents, building an extensive international network spanning North America, Europe, Australia, Japan and Southeast Asia.
His views on tourism, sustainability and destination branding have been featured by leading Vietnamese and international media including BBC, Forbes, Travel + Leisure, Travel Weekly, TTG Asia, Robb Report, VTV, VOV, Tuổi Trẻ, Nhân Dân and VnExpress, among many others.
LuxGroup® — House of Small Giants®
Founded in 2005 with nothing more than a laptop and an entrepreneurial vision, LuxGroup® has evolved into a boutique ecosystem of award-winning brands operating across:
- Luxury travel services
- Boutique cruise lines
- Hotels and resorts
- Arts and cultural heritage
- Restaurants and hospitality
- Tourism real estate
Rather than simply delivering travel services, LuxGroup creates meaningful experiences that connect guests with Vietnam’s history, culture and people.
Guided by the philosophy Luxury is Culture®, together with Delivering Happiness®, People First®, and a commitment to becoming Net Positive, LuxGroup has established itself as one of Vietnam’s most respected luxury tourism groups.
Milestones
2005 – Luxury Travel®
Founded Luxury Travel®, one of Vietnam’s first luxury tour operators specializing in tailor-made travel experiences for discerning international travelers.
2015 – Emperor Cruises®
Launched Emperor Cruises®, inspired by the lifestyle and artistic legacy of Emperor Bao Dai.
The company became Vietnam’s pioneering luxury cruise brand, earning international recognition and numerous prestigious awards.
2018 – Heritage Cruises®
Introduced Heritage Cruises®, inspired by legendary Vietnamese entrepreneur Bach Thai Buoi and the country’s maritime heritage.
Today Heritage Cruises is recognized as one of Vietnam’s iconic boutique cruise experiences.
2024 – Lux Cruises Group®
Established Lux Cruises Group®, bringing together:
- Emperor Cruises®
- Heritage Cruises®
- Amiral Cruises®
under one vision to become Asia’s leading boutique cruise group.
2025 – International Recognition
The year marked another major milestone with achievements including:
- Travelife Certified
- Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice
- HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia
- Luxury Lifestyle Awards
- Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards
- World Travel Awards nominations
- Launch of Emperor Cruises Legend Nha Trang®
2026 – A Landmark Year
In 2026, LuxGroup continued strengthening its international position through major recognitions including:
- Asia’s Leading Cruise Line (Nominee)
- Asia’s Leading Integrated Tourism Group (Nominee)
- Asia’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator (Nominee)
- Asia’s Responsible Tourism Award (Nominee)
- Lux Travel DMC recognized among the Top 100 Luxury Travel Agents & Tour Operators of the World
- Heritage Binh Chuan® ranked Top 5 and Emperor Legacy Ha Long® ranked Top 6 in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia-Pacific 2026
- Lux Travel DMC received the VITA Green Awards 2026
Amiral Cruises® — A Lifetime Dream
On 5 June 2026, exactly 115 years after the historic departure from Nha Rong Wharf, LuxGroup officially launched Amiral Cruises for Presidents® on the Saigon River.
Described by Dr. Pham Ha as “the happiness project of my lifetime,” Amiral Cruises fulfills a dream that began more than forty years ago.
Inspired by the historic Amiral Latouche-Tréville, the vessel from which young Nguyen Tat Thanh—later President Ho Chi Minh—departed Vietnam in 1911, the brand blends history, culture, design and contemporary luxury into an entirely new river cruise experience.
Each voyage is designed as a journey through memory, connecting guests with the stories that shaped modern Vietnam while celebrating its cultural identity through architecture, gastronomy, art and hospitality.
Vietnam Waterways® 2045
Dr. Pham Ha’s long-term vision is Vietnam Waterways® 2045, an ambitious national initiative to position Vietnam among Asia’s leading luxury river and coastal cruising destinations.
The strategy includes:
- Developing a fleet of approximately 30 boutique cruise vessels operating on Vietnam’s most beautiful rivers, bays and coastal waters.
- Expanding operations from Ha Long, Lan Ha and Nha Trang to Saigon, the Mekong Delta and Cambodia.
- Launching iconic vessels under The Lux Yacht Collection®, including Spirit®, President® and future flagship projects.
- Creating Vietnam’s first luxury coastal cruise network connecting the nation’s maritime heritage.
Continuing the Legacy of Bach Thai Buoi
One of Dr. Pham Ha’s greatest inspirations is Bach Thai Buoi (1874–1932), widely regarded as Vietnam’s pioneering maritime entrepreneur.
More than a century ago, Bach Thai Buoi built a Vietnamese shipping enterprise that competed successfully against foreign operators while inspiring national pride through commerce.
Today, Dr. Pham Ha seeks to continue that legacy by restoring Vietnam’s maritime heritage through world-class boutique cruise experiences that celebrate Vietnamese identity on the global stage.
For him, entrepreneurship is not merely about building successful companies. It is about creating enduring institutions, preserving cultural heritage, generating shared prosperity, and proving that Vietnamese brands can compete internationally through authenticity, excellence and purpose.
