Cat Ba Archipelago Officially Recognized as a World Natural Heritage, Heritage Cruises Nominated for ‘Oscar’ in the Best Boutique Cruise Category Worldwide 2023
Cat Ba Archipelago has just been officially recognized as part of the expanded World Natural Heritage, alongside Halong Bay, during the 45th annual meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the evening of September 16 (Hanoi time).
Halong Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago are situated in the northeast of Vietnam, 165 km from Hanoi. Often dubbed the “jewel of the Gulf of Tonkin,” this region is a stunning fusion of majestic mountains and vast seascapes. The core of the Heritage Site covers 65,650 hectares, with a buffer zone spanning 34,140 hectares.
This area has earned numerous important national and international accolades, including the special national monument status of Halong Bay, the scenic marvel of Cat Ba Archipelago, Cat Ba National Park, Lan Ha Bay (one of the most beautiful bays in the world), a marine conservation area, a biosphere reserve, and the World Natural Heritage designation for Halong Bay in 1994 and 2000.
The expansion of the World Natural Heritage status to include Cat Ba Archipelago alongside Halong Bay will further enhance the value of this heritage, as evidenced by its harmonious landscapes, geological formations, topography, ecosystems, and the diversity of flora and fauna. The global significance of this region encompasses both physical and biological attributes, geological formations, geography, and the habitats of endangered species, all from aesthetic, scientific, and conservation perspectives.
Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan, located in Lan Ha Bay, Hai Phong City, is a spiritual monument inspired by the Binh Chuan ship, Vietnam’s largest ship at the beginning of the 20th century, designed by businessman Bach Thai Buoi. What’s particularly noteworthy is that Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan (https://www.heritagecruises.com) has been nominated for the title of ‘Best Boutique Cruise Worldwide 2023’, a prestigious award in the boutique cruise industry.
Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan marks a breakthrough by featuring the largest onboard art exhibition in the country, with hundreds of unique artworks created by the renowned painter Pham Luc, often referred to as “Vietnam’s Picasso.” Together, they create a unique cultural and artistic experience, strongly influenced by the 1930s Indochina style.
From the legendary memories of over a century ago, Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan not only revives the beauty of Vietnam’s legendary “King of Ships” but also takes travelers on a journey to explore Lan Ha Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world with emerald waters and hundreds of stunning islands and beaches.
Famous for multiple international and domestic awards in the past, Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan has achieved the “Best of The Best” award voted by international travelers on TripAdvisor. This is based on strict criteria including excellent service, space experience, facilities, satisfaction, and top-quality.
Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan is defined as a premium boutique cruise in the Gulf of Tonkin, with exquisite design and artistic quality in every detail. Its journeys focus on privacy, creating an intimate space and making it a perfect destination for travelers who love heritage tourism.
Boutique cruises typically offer a range of luxury experiences, from fine dining to lavish accommodations, personalized services, and unique activities or tours. They often focus on specific interests or themes such as cultural exploration, adventure, or relaxation, aiming to provide a customized and immersive experience with well-explored destinations.
The term “boutique” here originates from the retail industry, denoting small, unique, and specialized shops offering one-of-a-kind products. Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan meets all ten top criteria for boutique cruises as defined and determined by the World Cruise Awards, including size, personality, design, character, culture, service, dining, guest, location perception, and the uniqueness of the experience.
Mr. Pham Ha, Chairman of the Board and CEO of LuxGroup (https://www.luxgroup.vn), the owner of Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan, shared: “We always prioritize the comfort and respect the privacy of our guests. Therefore, despite its large size of thousands of square meters, we design only 20 luxury rooms and accommodate around 40 passengers for each sea voyage.”
With a visionary leadership, entrepreneur Pham Ha has brought his company to success, with dozens of heritage ships operating along the coast of Vietnam. He has realized his childhood dream – introducing the beauty of the country from North to South.
According to him, Lux Cruises Group’s (https://www.lux-cruises.com) past awards and the nomination for the title of ‘Best Boutique Cruise Worldwide 2023’ are proof of his and his team’s unwavering dedication to providing captivating and unique experiences for travelers.
