A Life Journey Along Vietnam’s Coastal Line
Dr. Pham Ha – Chairman of LuxGroup
I have taken two life-changing journeys along Vietnam’s coastline—one as a ten-year-old boy, and another as a businessman, investor, and traveler navigating the voyage of my own destiny.
The first took place in 1985. I followed my father from Hai Phong to Saigon aboard a passenger ship. We stopped at familiar seaports like Da Nang and Nha Trang. That was the first time I saw the vast ocean, tasted the scent of freedom, and envisioned a dream so big that I couldn’t yet name it.
Nearly forty years later, I took the second journey—this time on a ship I had personally invested in. A cruise inspired by the royal lifestyle of Emperor Bao Dai, sailing from majestic Halong Bay to the poetic Nha Trang Bay. My father is no longer with me, but this voyage was a tribute—a journey of gratitude to the man who gave me vision, and nurtured my childhood dream with love and resilience.
7 DAYS AT SEA – 7 DAYS TO CLEANSE BODY AND SOUL
We departed from Tuan Chau Port at 4:15 PM on May 25, aiming to arrive in Nha Trang by June 2—just in time for the Sea Festival. It was a seven-day journey to cleanse body and soul amid the vast ocean, where only people, nature, and drifting thoughts remained.
We had prepared meticulously for months—physically, mentally, and operationally. I underwent a full health check at Hanoi Medical University Hospital and assembled an experienced crew: Captain Hue, First Mate Tuan, Chief Mechanic Quang, Engineer Luyen, and Head Chef Linh. Notably, Captain Minh traveled from Nha Trang to Halong ahead of time to study the ship’s operational characteristics and take over the helm.
We sailed along the coastal corridor within 12 nautical miles: Tuan Chau – Long Chau – Ba Lat – Hon Me – Hon La – Con Co – Son Tra Peninsula – Cu Lao Cham – Hon Xanh – Hon Tre – Nha Trang Bay. At an average speed of 6 knots, we covered over 1,100 kilometers along Vietnam’s coastal waters. “We’ve got food for ten days. If we run out… we’ll go fishing!” Captain Hue joked.
That day, a rare northern wind blew favorably at the end of May—perhaps nature and our ancestors were blessing the journey. Just past Cua Van, we encountered the Heritage Binh Chuan. Our crews raised hands over hearts in silent salute—a moving moment between kindred spirits of the sea, united by a shared dream.
CROSSING THE GULF – EMBRACING THE PRESENT
Contrary to expectations, rough seas greeted us beyond the Gulf of Tonkin—waves at level 5 to 6. “It’ll pass,” Captain Hue reassured. Even seasoned First Mate Tuan was dizzy, his ears ringing, face flushed. As for me, I could only lie down and chant quietly, occasionally seeing flickers of my father, Emperor Bao Dai, and our ancestors guiding us through the boundless blue.
Off the coast of Hon La (Quang Binh), we witnessed a cargo shipwreck—11 people were missing. Rescue forces searched through the night, floodlights sweeping across the silver waves. I silently prayed for the safety of those unknown souls.
My wife called, urging me to dock in Da Nang and take the road to Nha Trang. But I replied, “No. This is a journey of remembrance—to live and honor my father.”
CALM WATERS – A RENEWED STATE OF MIND
From the third day onward, the sea calmed along the waters of Da Nang and Cu Lao Cham. We began to fully appreciate the beauty of Central Vietnam’s coast—radiant sunrises, gentle sunsets, flickering lights of fishing boats, soft waves, and darting fish. We caught ten fish behind the stern—simple joys that brought real delight.
The southwestern wind blew out from the land—not against us—making the journey even smoother. The stretch from Quy Nhon to Nha Trang was the most beautiful: clear turquoise waters, shadowy ocean depths, distant rocky islets, and misty mountains rising like ink-wash paintings. A country with four parts mountains, three parts rivers, and just one part inhabitable—only when looking from the East Sea inward does one fully see the majestic, layered harmony of Vietnam’s mountains and coast.
We slowed down again when a sudden storm hit the South Central Sea: the sky darkened, thunder echoed, lightning cracked, waves surged. In that moment, nature appeared both violent and magnificent—before settling into a peaceful night after the rain.
On the fifth day, Khanh Hoa welcomed us with golden sunlight—proof that after every storm comes calm.
A NEW DAY RISING – NHA TRANG CALLS
The final night before entering Van Phong Bay, I couldn’t sleep. At 4:30 AM, I quietly pulled back the curtain—and there it was: the East Sea still half-asleep, the sky shifting gently from night into dawn. As it turned out, I wasn’t alone—the entire crew had risen early to witness the moment.
The first light pierced the darkness like a symphony of nature—pushing back the shadows with golden rays. From the horizon, the sun rose slowly, a giant ring of fire rising from the heart of the sea. I held my breath—it wasn’t just the start of a new day, but a sacred manifestation of life between sea and sky.
I looked at our ship—Emperor Cruises Legend Nha Trang—gently riding the waves like a living being awakened by sunlight. A child of the sea, nurtured by its waters, blessed by the heavens.
This journey didn’t merely carry guests between destinations—it invited them to immerse themselves in nature’s most magical moments, where the sun, wind, dawn, and dusk are at their most beautiful in Vietnam. It’s a heartfelt invitation to discover Khanh Hoa, with its nearly 500 kilometers of coastline—Nha Trang, Ninh Van, Cam Ranh, and now even Ninh Thuan—a coast both gentle and full of life, where each day begins and ends in awe. Where sea-born vessels like Emperor Cruises Legend Nha Trang call home.
As we passed Van Phong, we saw Ninh Van Bay and the outline of Nha Trang city on the horizon. We changed course to get a closer look at the seaside city bathed in morning light. Instead of entering by the lighthouse channel, we passed through Hon Tre, Hon Mun, and Bich Dam—symbols of this sacred land of agarwood, salanganes, and the sea.
DOCKING AFTER 40 YEARS – A VOYAGE OF GRATITUDE
At sunrise on May 30, we docked at Nha Trang Bay—two days earlier than planned. Five days at sea unfolded like a slow-motion film in my memory—of my father, of 1985, of the Thong Nhat ship from North to South, of Dong Nai, Bien Hoa, and Saigon—places where he once sought a future.
Had my father stayed in Saigon, perhaps I would not have gone to university or become the man I am today. But he returned to our hometown, quietly sacrificing his dreams to raise his children. Today, I continue his vision—a dream of Vietnamese ships delivering happiness along the S-shaped coastline.
HONORING THE PAST – COMMITTING TO THE FUTURE
More than a century ago, visionary entrepreneur Bach Thai Buoi completed the historic 27-day Binh Chuan voyage from Hai Phong to Saigon—laying the foundation for Vietnam’s private maritime industry. His legacy gave rise to a fleet of steamships and national pride.
Today, I follow in his footsteps aboard the Emperor Cruises Legend—my fourth spiritual creation under Lux Cruises Group, Vietnam’s first boutique cruise line, home to three brands: Emperor, Heritage, and Amiral Cruises. This is the second Emperor Cruises vessel to reach the sacred seas of Khanh Hoa—the legendary land of agarwood.
HAPPINESS AT SEA – LIVING THE DREAM
I love the sea—for its generosity and ferocity, for its raw beauty, independence, and freedom. Every day on the water is a day fully lived, where I greet the sunrise on the waves and glimpse the distant city as a gentle welcome from the land.
To those ashore, we may appear as tiny white dots on the horizon. But to me, those are punctuation marks—closing one chapter and opening the next.
“To do something great, one must first have a big dream—and a kind heart.”
I believe that those with deep fortune and bold vision are chosen by the universe and our ancestors to carry the torch forward. I believe I am one of them—chosen to continue writing the story of cruising along Vietnam’s coast. A story of happiness, heritage, and a nation rising proudly to the sea aboard Made in Vietnam ships—just as Bach Thai Buoi once dreamed, more than a hundred years ago.
Dr. PHAM HA
Chairman, LuxGroup
www.luxgroup.vn
