Behind the Scenes: Welcoming Hà Giang's First American Billionaire Guests Arriving by Helicopter!

We're uncovering the secret getaway of an American billionaire couple at P'apiu Resort in Hà Giang. Come explore their profound 'Quiet Luxury' experience, where they had the entire Bac Buu mountain peak all to themselves.
Behind the scenes welcoming the first group of American billionaires arriving by helicopter to Ha GiangChoosing a secluded resort nestled on Bac Buu mountain peak (Ha Giang), a billionaire American couple spent 4 days and 3 nights leisurely living amidst the forest. They brought their private nurse and bodyguards to ensure the privacy of their trip.

A tall man appeared in a simple T-shirt and casual trousers. His hair wasn't meticulously styled, and there were no luxury brand logos visible on his attire.
No one would have recognized him as an American billionaire if he hadn't stepped out of a private helicopter during his trip to Ha Giang in December 2022.
Four months before his arrival in Vietnam, the only luxury resort in Ha Giang held over 10 intense internal meetings and discussions to prepare for this billionaire delegation. According to the resort's representative, their requests were all... 'unusual'.
"Quiet Luxury"
The American billionaire couple's private helicopter landed in an open field in Ha Giang city. To secure permission for the helicopter to land at this location, their Asia-based travel agency, in collaboration with P'apiu Resort (Bac Me, Ha Giang) – where the billionaire group stayed – meticulously prepared documents and obtained approval from local authorities.
This was the first ultra-wealthy foreign delegation to visit Ha Giang by private helicopter. Previously, another American group had planned to arrive at the resort by helicopter, but due to bad weather, they had to switch to ground transportation.
The flight carried a group of six, including the American billionaire and his girlfriend, accompanied by a nurse, a fitness trainer, a bodyguard, and a representative from their Asia-based service agency.
Before the trip, a representative from the group's Asia-based service agency visited the resort twice. This individual booked a room and personally paid to experience various services as a regular guest, to assess whether the resort could meet the American billionaire's requirements.

The villa on Bac Buu mountain peak – the residence of the first American billionaire to vacation in Ha Giang.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Su, a representative of P'apiu Resort who personally welcomed the ultra-wealthy group, stated: This group of billionaires embraces a 'quiet luxury' lifestyle, preferring not to flaunt their wealth. They are willing to spend a significant amount on a trip, but not in pursuit of glitz and glamour.
"Their primary and most crucial principle is privacy, information security, and safety. The group booked the entire resort for 4 days and 3 nights. They would not accept sharing even a single villa with other guests," Ms. Su explained.
During their stay, the billionaire guests requested not to be disturbed by 'unfamiliar faces.' They needed to know exactly who would be present on the resort grounds.
Every staff member, from managers, head chefs, and housekeepers to foot masseuses and gardeners, had to submit detailed profiles a month in advance for approval, including their names, job positions, and portrait photos.

Twenty-one staff members served the billionaire group, all 100% local residents belonging to the Dao, Tay, and Hmong ethnic groups, and most did not speak English.
Additionally, the group hired a private chef from a 5-star hotel in Hanoi to come to the resort, who collaborated with the resort's chef to create a customized menu based on their specific requests.
They meticulously planned every meal. Regulations specified what type of food should be used for breakfast; whether the ingredients came from their requested sources; and what condiments should accompany the breakfast.
The serving time for each dish was calculated based on the distance from the kitchen to the dining table, ensuring that the food presented to the guests maintained the exact required temperature.
"For example, with ingredients like cod or black caviar, they specified how many meals would use these ingredients and pre-selected the supplier. The resort's task was to contact this supplier and place orders according to their requirements.
Due to the small quantities and long-distance transportation, costs were significantly inflated. Naturally, they had to pay many times the usual price," the resort representative stated.
But money was clearly not an issue for a billionaire. It seemed his team had done this many times before, as they already had a standard framework for such trips.

The forest walking path taken by the American billionaire and his girlfriend during their trip to Ha Giang.
They worked quickly, providing the Ha Giang resort with specific bullet points and ample advance notice for preparations.
"I observed the billionaire's team's readiness to spend, but they needed to be certain that the money they paid was well worth it. High-end clients demand simple experiences that are perfect down to every last detail.
Ultimately, what they needed most was quiet time and space for genuine relaxation," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Su.
Deeply Rooted Ethnic Experiences
The sound of wind chimes echoing through the mountains and forests made Bac Buu mountain peak so peaceful that one could 'hear the sound of human breath'.
At 5 AM on the second day of their retreat, the American billionaire and his girlfriend slowly walked together on Vietnam's longest brocade road, located within the resort. They gradually moved towards a forest hiking trail, visited an ethnic village near their accommodation, and then climbed back up the slope, covering a distance of about 6km.
Strolling, an ordinary activity, became more engaging on their luxury itinerary as they observed things unique to Ha Giang: a vibrant pink banana flower in the forest, an ethnic village, or diligent housekeepers carrying water by hand without relying on modern technology...
"I believe they have traveled to countless places and experienced numerous world-class services. But the tranquility of a forest, Ha Giang's natural scenery, and its simple, everyday way of life likely captivated and impressed them," Ms. Thu Su remarked.

The ultra-wealthy guests played 'ném còn' (cloth ball throwing) and 'nhảy sạp' (bamboo dancing) with the housekeepers, all of whom were local ethnic people.
One of the billionaire group's requirements when choosing this resort was to experience deeply authentic local activities.
Their fitness trainer designed a personalized itinerary that included forest walks, cycling through surrounding villages, playing 'ném còn' and 'nhảy sạp' with locals, and receiving traditional herbal foot massages...
According to the resort representative, all foreign guests visiting here request a local cultural performance. When introduced to the Pa Then fire dance ritual, the billionaire guest was fascinated and asked for this activity to be included in the show. Their specific request was that the performance should not feature professional artists; instead, they wanted to see and hear genuine Pa Then artisans who still practice this ritual in their daily lives.
The resort contacted the women's association in a Pa Then ethnic village (Quang Binh, Ha Giang). For a month leading up to the performance, these women worked in their fields during the day and gathered at the communal cultural house in the evening to rehearse.
The practice progress was updated daily, directly with the billionaire's assistant via video clips, until the performance received the guest's approval.
No resort staff were allowed to participate in the performance, but according to the Pa Then community performers: "They were so excited and watched with such passion that they forgot the time."
Paving the Way for Billionaire Guests to Ha Giang
Following two groups of ultra-wealthy American guests who visited Ha Giang in December 2022, this resort welcomed two more billionaire delegations: one from Thailand (September 2023) and another comprising sons of American billionaires (New Year's Day 2023). These were also the first billionaire groups to visit the 'land where stones bloom'.
From a destination previously known to tourists for its hundreds of kilometers of adventurous motorbike loops, where Western visitors often sought thrilling experiences like waterfall jumping and camping, Ha Giang is now rolling out the red carpet for the ultra-wealthy.


Billionaires are not short on money; they have experienced all types of luxury services. What they truly desire is to enjoy and experience authentic local culture.
In 2023, the province piloted high-end tourism products such as kayaking races, paragliding, and granting permits for tourists to fly helicopters to Ha Giang. These activities, according to Ms. Trieu Thi Tinh, Deputy Director of Ha Giang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, were 'relatively successful'.
In the first two months of 2024, Ha Giang welcomed 200,000 tourists, including 10,000 international visitors. While the number of ultra-wealthy guests is 'countable on one's fingers,' this group generates overwhelming revenue.
For instance, at P'apiu Resort (Ha Giang), the resort representative stated that a regular guest might spend around 30-100 million VND for a retreat. However, for billionaire groups from the US and Thailand, this figure ranges from 1-2 billion VND for approximately 3 days and 2 nights.
According to Mr. Hoang Nhan Chinh, Head of the Secretariat of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, Ha Giang in particular, and Vietnamese tourism in general, have significant potential to attract billionaire guests seeking luxury services.
Ultra-wealthy guests often choose secluded accommodations that offer unique, authentic local characteristics and a close connection to nature. They are not hesitant to spend money on trips but require services to be prompt and perfect down to the smallest detail.
Boasting majestic natural landscapes – a feature that consistently amazes foreign visitors to Ha Giang – the Deputy Director of Ha Giang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism stated that the province will continue to leverage this strength in attracting international tourists, especially high-spending visitors.
"The province has plans to develop more high-end tourism products linked to cultural characteristics. Concurrently, we will upgrade accommodation facilities and enhance staff quality at over 400 tourist destinations in Ha Giang to meet visitor demands," Ms. Tinh said.
Furthermore, sustainable development is also a concern, according to Ms. Tinh: Can Ha Giang's pristine nature be preserved as resort projects 'descend' upon this land?
In Ha Giang, visitors can also explore many other famous tourist attractions such as:
Lung Cu Flagpole
As a symbol marking Vietnam's northernmost point, the Lung Cu Flagpole is built atop Dragon Mountain, in a small commune within Dong Van district, Ha Giang province. Situated at an altitude of 1,470m above sea level, it's a popular check-in spot for many young people and a conquest destination for almost all tourists visiting Ha Giang.View details

Ma Pi Leng Pass
Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang is also known as Ma Pi Leng or Ma Pi Leng, meaning 'horse's nose bridge.' Ma Pi Leng is renowned as one of the 'death passes' in the northern mountainous region, due to its treacherous curves that challenge drivers.View details

Dong Van Old Quarter
The beauty of Dong Van Old Quarter emerges like a poetic watercolor painting, where all the hues of nature converge. The ancient houses, built by locals right next to the cliff faces, stand as a testament to human strength and determination against the forces of nature.View details

Hoang Su Phi
Hoang Su Phi is an expansive area comprising six communes: Ban Luoc, Ho Thau, San Sa Ho, Ban Phung, Thong Nguyen, and Nam Ty, all located within Ha Giang province. With its unique geographical position in northern Vietnam, Hoang Su Phi is particularly memorable for its terraced rice fields, especially in September and October when the rice ripens to a golden hue.View details

Pho Bang Town – Yen Minh
Hidden deep within layers of 'cat-ear' limestone formations lies a small town called Pho Bang. This is a little-known area, and despite being forgotten by time, it remarkably retains its pristine, ancient, and unusually peaceful charm.View details

Tuyen Quang 6369 view
Update day : 13/03/2024
Source : dantri.com.vn Affiliate links
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