In the near future, visitors to the central coastal city of Nha Trang will be able to take an unforgettable luxury cruise on King Yacht, the first such Vietnamese-made vessel invested by Hai Au Nha Trang Co. Besides the impressive splendor of the yacht, vacationers will be amazed by the story of owner Bui Nguyen The Vinh as he spent VND20 billion on the yacht just to make a day on the Nha Trang Sea more wonderful.
“King Yacht is my dream! Nobody knows how much I longed for a Vietnamese-made luxury yacht to serve cruise travel in the country,†Vinh said. Born in Khanh Hoa Province, the 43-year-old former doctor was the owner of a pharmaceutical company in HCMC for 11 years before establishing Hai Au Nha Trang Co. to make his dream come true.
The 80-ton yacht is 28m long, 7.4m wide and 5m high and was built at the Institute for Shipbuilding under Nha Trang University. It has been licensed as seaworthy by Vietnam Register.
We were lucky to be among the first passengers on King Yacht. On a beautiful sunny day, we took a cutter from Cau Da Port out to the international standard yacht where 53 crew members in crisp blue uniforms welcomed us smartly. With four cabins and a large restaurant serving Asian and European dishes, the yacht includes a spacious deck where we enjoyed the awesome beauty of this part of the Pacific.
The US$50 day cruise includes coffee, wine, a five-course lunch and a massage. The US$350 overnight cruise includes all meals.
The main compartment easily converts into a conference or dining room, even a bar. Cabins with private bathrooms, TVs, Internet access and portholes are on the upper deck. Rounding out the luxury are two four-star standard massage rooms.
King Yacht’s itinerary to Nha Trang Bay is also impressive with its view of Vinpearl Land Resort, stops at Mun and Mot islands for swimming or diving and Tam Island, a new four star tourist site.
Diners at the yacht’s elegant restaurant are invited to sing or play instruments and can demand massage service after a strenuous day of cruising and eating.
The US$50 cruises set out everyday regardless of the number of tourists registered. Vinh hopes to launch more yachts in costal regions throughout the country such as Halong, Vung Tau, Danang and Ca Mau.