Founder of Silk Sense Resort: “Luxury is about empowering customers to become classy.”

Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort is the fifth hotel in Hoi An to be awarded a 5-star hotel rating by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

“Once the pandemic is over and tourists return, tourism products cannot be worse than before; on the contrary, they must be better and more unique, because tourists will spend more cautiously and consider their options much more carefully,” shared Mr. Tran Thai Do – Founder of Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort.

126 American tourists were the first visitors to Hoi An in early April 2022. Along with the full reopening on March 15, 2022, the tourism industry is poised for a significant rebound with a substantial increase in visitors after two years of stagnation due to Covid-19.

Before the pandemic, 2019 was a glorious year for Hoi An tourism, when the town topped the list of the 15 greatest cities in the world published by the American magazine Travel + Leisure, and was honored by Google with a Google Doodle… According to statistics from Quang Nam province, in that year, the total number of visitors and overnight stays in the province reached 7.66 million, an increase of 17.61% compared to the same period in 2018; of which international visitors were estimated at over 4.6 million, an increase of 20.50% compared to the same period.

Along with the policy of fully opening up the tourism industry, in the first six months of the year, the country welcomed 60-80 million domestic tourists and 414,000 international tourists, according to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Vietnam’s tourism industry expects to welcome 5 million foreign tourists in 2022.

Just over a week after reopening for tourism, Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort was awarded a 5-star hotel certification by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, reaffirming the viewpoint of Tran Thai Do, a “son of Hoi An,” that “tourism must be better than before the pandemic.”

The choice was to build the resort near the hardworking and kind fishermen of a fishing village, where boats return laden with shrimp and fish every morning.

As a native of Hoi An and the owner of a 5-star resort project there, how does he perceive the recovery of the tourism industry after Covid-19?

Tourism activity in the World Heritage site of Hoi An is still quite modest compared to its potential and the brand it has built over many years. But with various measures to stimulate demand, I believe in the resurgence of this already famous destination.

What attracts a businessman from the silk industry to enter the resort real estate market, especially high-end resort real estate? What does the name “Silk Sense” mean?

Hoi An was one of Vietnam’s port cities located on the “Maritime Silk Road” at the end of the 16th century. I had early exposure to and appreciation of the exquisite beauty of Vietnamese silks. I cherish the moments when each customer is satisfied wearing luxurious, fashionable silk clothing. And I also hope to create a perfect, memorable resort destination in Hoi An, contributing in some way to popularizing silk and introducing the cultural aspects of Vietnam associated with silk to international tourists.

Silk Sense is a story born from a love for silk, a convergence of the traditional culture of Quang Nam’s silk weaving craft and a high-end resort setting along the Co Co River. We, along with our colleagues, are working to fulfill customer requests that we may not be able to fully meet at present.

Perhaps Hoi An doesn’t yet have many resorts with convenient, romantic, and peaceful locations; nor many places with beautiful organic vegetable gardens or infinity saltwater pools… so Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort was created to fill that gap. The appearance of this resort contributes to making the picture of Hoi An even more vibrant and colorful.

Your hotel just received its 5-star rating from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism right as the tourism industry was about to fully reopen. How did you feel at that time?

Born and raised in Hoi An, starting with a small family investment, and wholeheartedly pursuing my dreams and passions for the Silk Sense Resort… to now receiving the 5-star hotel certification from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, it is a great joy and a source of immense pride. This feeling is difficult to describe, because it is not only a milestone in the journey so far, but also a significant attraction for the journey ahead!

In March 2022, Silk Sense Resort was awarded the 5-star hotel certification.

I love Hoi An because my childhood memories spanned the ups and downs of history; I love Hoi An because I understand that my homeland desperately needs the contributions of every person, every idea, every hand. Silk Sense Resort was created from that love and beauty, and Silk Sense Resort is always dedicated to working with Hoi An to awaken and enrich the emotions of every visitor.

We chose a plot of land that wasn’t too large, but large enough to be a relaxing space with attentive service. We chose a place not far from the city, but peaceful and quiet enough for guests to enjoy private moments. We chose a location that didn’t face the waves, but offered the tranquil, wide Co Co River in front, bordered by lush, pristine mangrove forests. We chose a quiet, peaceful area, inhabited by hardworking and kind fishermen from a fishing village, with boats returning full of shrimp and fish every morning…

Silk Sense Resort enjoys a rare and auspicious location and favorable feng shui, which is truly fortunate!

The vegetable garden at the 5-star resort and the concept of “class” in Hoi An businessmen

Vegetable gardens at 5-star resorts and the concept of “class” among Hoi An entrepreneurs.

Does this “upgrade” also mean that Silk Sense Resort has reached a new level of prestige?

More accurately, Silk Sense Resort has reached the threshold of luxury hotels. We say “reached the threshold” because being recognized as a 5-star hotel isn’t the end of the journey for us, but the beginning: a journey of showcasing class and sophistication.

We need to work even harder to live up to this title. And for us, excellence isn’t about the hotel itself, but about making Silk Sense Resort’s guests feel like they are truly distinguished guests.

Earlier you mentioned that Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort has an organic vegetable garden. Why did you build a vegetable garden at the resort?

Since 2021, Silk Sense Resort has focused on developing its herb garden, and a new highlight is Caman Village, an organic garden that provides guests with fresh, delicious, safe, and abundant green vegetables and herbs daily.

Would a vegetable garden have a “rustic” feel when placed within the grounds of a 5-star resort, sir?

The “rustic” charm of Caman Village stands out among the many other 5-star resorts in Hoi An. Here, guests can experience unique services and enjoy fresh produce from the resort’s own vegetable garden. Guests can also relax and immerse themselves in the lush greenery of nature, surrounded by verdant vegetable patches that are impossible to find in the bustling city.

He mentioned that “once the pandemic is over and tourists return, tourism products cannot be any less appealing than before; on the contrary, they must be better and more distinctive.” Specifically, how has Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort improved and become more distinctive than before?

Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort is gradually becoming a prominent resort for sustainable tourism, utilizing environmentally friendly materials. Therefore, we are progressively eliminating items made from non-eco-friendly materials and collaborating with the city of Hoi An to launch campaigns for a greener environment.

Silk Sense Resort is built with environmentally friendly autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) bricks, an integrated hot water air conditioning system to prevent heat from being released into the atmosphere, chlorine-free mineral salt swimming pools, organically grown produce from the garden, and a tranquil, secluded environment surrounded by lush greenery. Silk Sense Resort is also designed and operated according to international standards for high-end products and services, aiming to touch the emotions of every guest.

Does he plan to expand the resort in the near future? As someone who is an outsider but passionate about resort real estate, what kind of “legacy” does he want to leave behind for the resort real estate industry in particular and the tourism industry in general?

We have no plans to expand the resort yet, but instead we will focus on enhancing its value. We invest heavily, upgrade extensively, and train our staff extensively, all with the aim of providing our guests with the best amenities, the most outstanding services, and the most memorable experiences.

With a passion and dedication to resort real estate in particular and the tourism industry in general, I want to bring the service value mindset to the core; every property or tourism product must have value, creating convenience and uniqueness for customers.

Thank you, sir!

Source: https://cafebiz.vn/nha-sang-lap-silk-sense-resort-dang-cap-la-lam-sao-de-khach-hang-tro-thanh-dang-cap-20220716100159627.chn