Following the investment of US$35 million, Salinda Phu Quoc Island Resort & Spa has opened its doors.

The first luxury resort on Phu Quoc Island, Thailand, Salinda Resort & Spa nestles on peaceful Long Beach, by the enchanting seashore and peaceful town of Duong Dong, just ten minutes from the international airport.

The ultra-contemporary architectural concept is inspired by an interplay of rustic local heritage with contemporary design and textures.

An unprecedented commitment to innovation and authentic local traditions is reflected in every feature of 121 luxury guest rooms and villas, embodying the inherent essence of luxury with understated beauty and enchanting spirit of the pearl of Asia.

Set against a backdrop of endless ocean vistas and unspoiled natural surroundings, Salinda Phu Quoc Island Resort & Spa is the first luxury resort amid the authentic peace and the gentle sights and sounds of the landscape of Phu Quoc Island. 

The resort boasts a collection of 121 deluxe rooms, villas and a special presidential suite, with nature inspired décor and contemporary design.

Every room has a private balcony with hill, garden and ocean views, embodying the essence of luxury with understated beauty, and a commitment to innovation and authentic local traditions

Guests can relax amid swaying coconut trees and the private white sand beach, or lounge by the pools edges. 

Salinda Spa is managed by Guru Spa Thailand – the spas nurturing and holistic treatments rely on centuries-old healing techniques and herbal and holistic remedies deeply rooted in Thai and Viet philosophies and rich spa heritage.

Individual treatments are housed in seven rooms with two Thai style massage beds, a shower, a bathtub and a steam room or rain shower.

The Salinda Restaurant, with open kitchen, offers an array of contemporary International cuisine infused with Vietnamese fare and authentic local flavours from the island amid a serene tropical palm fringed setting with cooling breezes from the sea.

Tim Lean from Pound Savers enjoying Insider Journeys’ immersive Fisherman for a Day experience in Hoi An - always a popular highlight for travellers in Vietnam

Specialist tour operator, Insider Journeys, has hosted a group of eight UK agents on a sales fam trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

The trip was designed to give agents first-hand experience of the operator’s destinations and immersive insider experiences, helping them to sell its escorted small group journeys and tailor-made tours with confidence.

Participating agents were the winners of Insider Journey recent sales incentive that ran from January to February 2015.

Winners were drawn at random from a hat, rewarding agents who booked a Small Group Journey, Asia river cruise or a tailor-made itinerary to Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos within the incentive booking period.

International flights were provided by Vietnam Airlines.

The group of agents travelled through Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Siem Reap and Luang Prabang - experiencing Insider Journeys’ three best-selling destinations.

This year, the operator was delighted to be able to include Laos on the sales fam, a destination few agents get to experience.

During their incentive trip, agents enjoyed a variety of specialist insider experiences bringing them closer to local life – a key trademark of Insider Journeys.

Experiences included a scenic cycling tour through the Cambodian countryside; a fun and interactive fishing experience in Hoi An; the chance to try out traditional rice-farming techniques in Laos; and a visit to Cambodia’s magnificent temples of Angkor at sunrise, entering via the lesser-used eastern entrance for an intimate experience away from the crowds.

The group consisted of Andy Roberts (Insider Journeys), Paul Dayson (Spa Travel), Tim Lean (Pound Savers), Andrea Bardsley (Althams Denton), Anita Kelsey (Delmar World Travel), Sally Hislop (Destination Anywhere), Jessica Sherriff (Triangle Travel), Kirsty Kitching (Tickets Travel Ltd), Anna Reed (Ocky White Travel).