In the world of the super-rich, travel trips are not simply revolving around 5-star hotels or first-class suites.
It is a journey to conquer the limits that most people have never thought of, from flying into space, diving to the bottom of the ocean to renting a private island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.
According to senior tourism experts, the needs of the current super-rich customer group are no longer in luxury and ostentation, but in exclusivity, privacy and access to "one-of-a-kind" experiences.
One of the most expensive trends is space travel. Virgin Galactic once opened ticket sales to the edge of the universe with a price of about 450,000 USD, equivalent to about 11.8 billion VND per person.
Meanwhile, Blue Origin - billionaire Jeff Bezos' aerospace company - once recorded a ticket being auctioned for up to 28 million USD, equivalent to about 736 billion VND.
Not only heading towards the sky, the super-rich also find ways to reach the deepest place on the planet. Diving tours down to the Mariana Trench - the deepest point in the ocean - cost about 750,000 USD per trip, equivalent to nearly 19.7 billion VND.
This is considered one of the rarest experiences in the world when the number of people who have ever set foot in this area is even less than the number of people who have ever flown into space.
If space tourism is a symbol of technology and exploration, then private island rental and super yachts represent the concept of "absolute privacy".
In the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, many private islands are designed specifically for billionaires with personal chefs, private landlords, marinas and closed security forces.
The cost of renting a luxury super yacht can be from 1 million USD per week, equivalent to about 26.3 billion VND. For larger yacht models or integrated helicopter parking areas, the price can be up to 3 million USD per week, equivalent to nearly 79 billion VND.
Besides yachts, luxury train tourism is also strongly returning to the upper class.
Legendary trains such as Orient Express in Europe or Eastern & Oriental Express in Southeast Asia bring a nostalgic experience with gold-plated interiors, luxurious cabins and high-class culinary services.
Many billionaires are willing to rent a whole train car or a whole train to organize private parties, entertain guests or relax. Trips lasting many days through the most beautiful roads in Europe can cost hundreds of thousands of USD, equivalent to billions of VND.
In another trend, adventure tourism associated with wildlife conservation is becoming a new choice for the super-rich.
Instead of hunting as before, many people choose tours to monitor rare animals with the companionship of ecologists.
A journey to find a polar bear in Svalbard, Norway can cost about 300,000 USD, equivalent to nearly 7.9 billion VND. Meanwhile, a snow leopard observation trip in the Himalayas costs about 100,000 USD, equivalent to about 2.6 billion VND.
Not only paying for the experience, many super-rich tourists also spend heavily to access the most prestigious sports events on the planet. Tournaments such as Wimbledon, Formula 1 Monaco or The Masters become the focus of exclusive travel packages.
Customers will be transported by private jet, access to the backstage, participate in closed parties and use VIP areas that the general public cannot access. The total cost for such trips usually amounts to hundreds of thousands of USD, equivalent to billions of VND.
Notably, the new trend of the current super-rich is "quiet luxury" - silent luxury.
Instead of appearing at glamorous crowded destinations, they prioritize discreet locations, pristine nature and highly personalized experiences.
According to many experts, this is also the reason why countries like Vietnam are increasingly attracting international elites thanks to their natural landscapes, unique culture and the ability to create private experiences that have not been overly commercialized.
In the world of the super-rich, the value of a trip is not in the distance traveled, but in the fact that they can access something that most people only see through movies or imagination.
