Indochina

CulinaryAsia
Written By Norman Howe

The Fusion of East & West

The supernal flavours of the Asian palate are as brilliant and enticing as the landscapes in which they are savoured. Join us in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia as we explore the markets of UNESCO-protected Luang Prabang, shop with a famous Vietnamese chef and learn her secrets in Saigon, float down the Mekong River past emerald-green rice paddies and take in the panoramic sunset over the sprawling ruins of Angkor Wat.

Celebrated Chefs: Join renowned chef Mr. Chandra at the Luang Prabang market before returning to his restaurant for a traditional Laotian cooking lesson.

Details: 10 days/9 nights; available Sep - Apr; from us$5,995

Itinerary: Vientiane | Hanoi | Saigon | Siem Reap | Bangkok

 

Trip Ingredients

 
 

Favourite Hotel: Amantaka

HV-Concierge Member Benefits:

Our value proposition is simple. In return for your loyalty and membership, we will deliver tangible benefits and exclusive perks. You will have access to trip planning expertise and privileged relationships, and we will share travel intelligence and reviews. Choose from 4 different levels of membership based on your budget and your travel needs.

Norman Howe

Norman is an Oxford-educated lawyer and itinerant wordsmith who stuck with law long enough to prove that he was tough enough to handle the pressure, but not long enough to be stupid about it (about 3 years, for the record).

He then made the fatal mistake of guiding for Butterfield & Robinson (B&R), the world’s best luxury travel company, during the supposedly brief interregnum prior to taking up a career in academia. Shortly thereafter, he abandoned all pretence of responsibility and embraced the peripatetic pursuit of pleasure on behalf of B&R.

After a decade of nomadic explorations and travel innovation, having exhausted the possibilities for trying out new roles within B&R, he took a seven-year sabbatical during which time he bought, reinvented and sold Horizon & Co, one of Canada’s oldest and most storied travel companies. Along the way, he also managed to marry an awesome wife (Emily) and produce three delightful offspring – Grace, Max & Oscar.

Norman eventually returned to B&R as President & CEO, where he found the company in a downward spiral and was able to turn it around, doubling revenue and travellers and returning it to profitability. Most importantly, he did it without sacrificing the culture of creativity or the commitment to excellence (NPS increased by 20% and B&R won the coveted #1 spot on the T+L list of world’s best travel outfitters).

After a successful 8-year run, the inevitability of a founder-driven, family-business dynamic kicked in and Norman left B&R in 2019. He now spends his time advising and working with entrepreneurs and luxury travel brands to help them grow and innovate.

Previous

Pacific Northwest