While traveling with my children in Vietnam recently, I was fortunate to meet Linh Le, the fun and knowledgeable owner of Luxperia, a bespoke travel company that tailors holiday experiences to the needs of the individual.

Principal of Luxperia, Linh Le, with Kate Durack, Offspring Magazine at Villa Royale Antiques & Tea Room, Saigon.

Linh is a Vietnamese-Australian man who was raised in Canberra and has been living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for 12 years. As such, he is a rich source of local travel information who also possesses a deep understanding of what appeals to Australian tourists. His intimate knowledge of travel opportunities in Vietnam, as well cultural understanding, make him a valuable resource for local travel.

Linh’s travel company, Luxperia, creates customised travel packages to suit a range of interests and travel styles such as art, culture, culinary, entertainment, adventure, and relaxation, covering everything from tours and experiences to accommodation and transportation. They will tailor travel arrangements according to travellers’ budgets from standard to high-end luxury.

Linh has many contacts in the travel industry and his friendly, affable approach makes him so easy to communicate with when trying to work out the most suitable places to visit in Vietnam and other travel destinations including Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, and Japan.

Army tank from Vietnam War at Cu Chi Tunnels

Linh and his team’s local expertise was very helpful, enriching our travel experience in Saigon. They arranged for a fabulous guided tour of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels – the fascinating underground tunnel system created during the Vietnam War by Viet Kong. This tour was so educational and interesting for my children and me and definitely a worthwhile experience for anyone visiting Ho Chi Minh City.

We arrived by speed boat which provided breakfast and a scenic tour along the Mekong River, during which we viewed the range of housing from elite mansions through to riverside shanty homes. Leaving the arrangements in the capable hands of Luxperia also meant we arrived early in the day for our private tour, compared with later in the day when it was swarming with people later in the day. When we finished the tour, we enjoyed a delicious hot Vietnamese lunch.

Another advantage of having Linh’s team involved with our travel plans was the personalised and VIP “fast pass” airport service which was seamless and stress-free. We were collected from our hotel by a private driver who took us to the international airport where we were met by a concierge who escorted us through check-in and a fast-track immigration process.

A real delight of our travel in Vietnam, also arranged by Linh, was our stay in the Presidential Suite at the exclusive boutique resort, Mia Saigon – a luxurious embodiment of olde worlde glamour.

Luxperia will create a tailored itinerary depending on a traveler’s interests, desires, and budget, and can be involved in a small part of a travel experience or an entire tour could include:

A sample itinerary for a family traveling to Vietnam could include:
Day 1 Cu Chi tunnels tour by Speedboat
Day 2 Saigon City tour – The Reunification Palace, The Opera House, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Ngoc Hoang Temple.
Day 3 Cruising the Tan Phong islet by a local rowboat. Lunch is served on board. Visit Cao Dai temple at Sa Dec and explore local markets.
Day 4: Visit the famous Cai Rang Floating Market
Day 5: Da Nang. Visit the Golden Bridge, sightseeing Flower Garden, visit a former French wine cellar, Mythology Garden and Sakyamuni Buddha.
Day 7: Hoi An. Visit the majestic Kwan Temple, Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Old House, Japanese Cover Bridge, and the Historic and Cultural Museum. Traditional music performance and a visit to Hoi An’s handicraft workshop.
Day 8: Wooden boat tour to Cam Thanh water coconut village, learning about the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families, and their community.
Day 9: Phong Nha. Visit UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Tour Elephant Cave, swim into Ma Da Crystal Lake, and visit Tra Ang Cave.
Day 10: Halong Bay cruise. Visit World Natural Heritage site Bo Nau Cave and Sung Sot cave and Titov Island.
Day 11: Sapa. Visit Silver Waterfall, Heaven Gate and Tram Ton Pass, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam. Visit a lush farm in O Quy Ho where different kinds of vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, and medicinal plants are grown.
Day 12: Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a historic Buddhist temple One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, and a Hanoi Street Food Tour.

Villa Royale Antiques & Tea Room

Linh and his partner, David, have also created Villa Royale Antiques & Tea Room – a gorgeous High Tea establishment in the trendy ex-pat area of District 2 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The range of fine teas is remarkable and David has extensive knowledge on the health benefits of various teas. These teas can be paired with delicious homemade cakes, slices, and pies, including Red Velvet cake, decadent chocolate, lemon meringue pie, and cheesecake.

The setting is worth a visit in itself. Olde Worlde colonial furniture, ambient lighting, and atmospheric music complement the precious antiques and collectibles, which have been sourced from around the globe, and are available to purchase.