Life Resorts Signs Joint Venture for Vietnam Resort

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. October 14, 2008

SEPTEMBER 13, 2007. The Life Resorts Management Company has signed a joint venture agreement to build a 110-unit Life Heritage Resort in Sapa, a picturesque market town nestled high in the mountains of northwestern Vietnam.

The Sept. 11 signing event formalized the partnership between the Life Resorts Company, the Son Kim Development Company and the Vietnam Investment and Project Development Group (VIPD).

"Our resort is going to mirror the appeal of Sapa itself - a cultural and ethnic rarity that has incredible appeal for local and international visitors," said Chris Duffy, general director of Life Resorts Management. "This will be the first resort of its kind here, and will be a place where guests can enjoy the incredible natural beauty of this mountain village in a singular Life Resorts environment."

Scheduled to open in early 2009, the resort's design will marry the aesthetics of colonial French villas with elements of the highlanders's traditional stone buildings. The unique traditions of Sapa history and culture will inspire the accommodation, the spa, heated pool and restaurant, all of which will be built on the resort's 15 hectares of hills, valleys and plateaus.

"Like each of our resorts, the Sapa property will be one-of-a-kind," said Duffy. "We're not interested in cookie-cutter properties but in an individualized approach that pays homage to a particular region without sacrificing the creature comforts of a hotel with international standing."

The resort will feature 110 rooms and suites located in a mix of free-standing bungalows and two-storey lodges. Each of the resort's French villa suites will encompass 45 square meters, as well as a six square-meter terrace that provides stunning valley views. In the deluxe hillside chalets, the rooms take in 60 square meters, including living area, with a 10 square-meter terrace. The four two-storey mountain lodges are 90 square meters each, with fireplaces, panoramic views and private terraces.

At the center of the resort, the Life Spa will be set amid a garden of rhododendrons, overlooking the valley below.

"Like our resort in Quy Nhon, the Life Spa in Sapa will provide incredible visuals to guests in the midst of a treatment," said Duffy. "And because we celebrate a local touch whenever and wherever possible, we'll be using the rhododendrons in our tea, our oils and massage treatments."

Beyond the immediate appeal of the landscape, the region's cultural attractions are myriad. Twenty-seven of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities live in the environs of Sapa, in traditional mountain villages where stilt homes are not built as tourist attractions but for everyday living.

Moreover, Sapa is renowned for its elaborately costumed denizens and its unique cottage handicrafts. The market town of Sapa is one of a half-dozen one-time colonial French hill-stations and a vibrant commercial center for the region's highland people.

The area's unusual beauty is a primary draw for visitors. The cloud-bathed mountains, luxuriant greenery and the regal splendor of Mount Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak, all make this one of the country's premier destinations.

"Sapa is one of the most romantic spots in Vietnam," said Duffy. "With its mountains, valleys and distinctive terraced rice fields, Sapa has an atmosphere of serenity and purity found nowhere else in the country. Our resort is going to incorporate the incredible views into its design, and bring that natural beauty indoors."

The resort's amenities will include a full complement of technologies and services, including high-speed internet access, business centre services, foreign exchange, postal services, newspapers and magazines, same-day laundry service, a tour desk, transportation arrangements and child-minding services.

Perched on the hilltop overlooking the valley, Senses Restaurant will serve the Life Resort's signature Life Cuisine. Fresh, local ingredients will be integrated into the restaurant's fusion dishes, and the view will add spice to any meal.