EDGE Philadelphia

Every now and then, a hotel goes beyond making up rooms, and goes on to make history. Pieces of Vietnam’s past are showcased for the first time in an updated edition of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, a book chronicling the Metropole’s 110-year history.

Life Resorts, a Dutch-owned boutique resort group, christened its first vessels of a 22-boat fleet for its new Life Resorts cruise on Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.

Just one month after news hit the headlines that explorers had discovered the world’s largest cave in north-central Vietnam, plans started falling into place for what might be the world’s most exquisite caving experience.

Halong Bay and its seascape of limestone karsts is usually experienced passively, from the top deck of a vessel, gin and tonic in hand. But there’ll be no excuse for indolence this month when Emeraude Classic Cruises debuts an island adventure itinerary.

Nowhere is Vietnam’s status as an emerging luxury destination more evident than in a remote corner of Ke Ga Bay. Near the resort town of Mui Ne, Ke Ga Bay is a more secluded stretch of Southeast Asian sand that made history this spring when it became home to Vietnam’s first ever privately owned luxury resort - Princess d’Annam.