S for sustainability – A luxury travel blog: a luxury travel blog /

We all play an important role in making travel sustainable, now and in the future, by taking ultimate responsibility for our actions and decisions. As travelers, we must research and support hotels and resorts that take sustainability seriously, while hotels and resorts must continue to review and improve their sustainability initiatives. Together we, conscious travelers who make informed choices and hotels and resorts who see reducing their environmental impact as a core value, can all make a difference.

S for Sustainability includes Six Senses Ninh Van Bay in Vietnam, Soneva Kiri in Thailand and Song Saa in Cambodia. These three luxury resorts in Southeast Asia are committed to ensuring that their approach to sustainability is not just one of their core values, but an essential part of today’s tourism.

Sustainable luxury resort in Vietnam

The first stop on our sustainability journey through Southeast Asia is Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, located on a pristine peninsula in central Vietnam. Due to its unique location on a peninsula, this resort is only accessible by boat, giving you the feeling of a deserted tropical island.

It also means that the surroundings are a nature lover’s dream. With jungle and ocean merging seamlessly, your stay will give you a glimpse of natural beauty that remains free of development, allowing nature to thrive without the harmful effects of mass tourism.

The fact that Six Senses Ninh Van Bay hosted visiting chefs from all over the world during our stay for a ‘Culinary Sensation’ week, which focused on ‘celebrating food with a sustainable twist’, shows that sustainability is something they take seriously. to take. Add to that the fact that the week’s opening gala event featured a multi-chef and multi-course plant-based meal, you can really see that every element of more sustainable thinking has been considered. Everywhere you look at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, their environmental and sustainability initiatives are evident.

From the 800-panel solar park that already supplies 20% of the resort’s energy to the educational and informative ‘Earth Lab’ where guests are invited to learn about and participate in a range of environmental activities; you can’t ignore the efforts that are made to make a difference. Discussing these efforts (including the innovative tablets to replace the need for single-use plastic toothpaste tubes) with Amy, the inspirational and passionate regional sustainability director, she said, “sustainability is not just what we do, it should be who we are.” This is so true for the team at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay who truly believe they can make a difference and leave no stone unturned to achieve this.

Vegan eating and sustainable travel both aim to reduce the negative impact of modern life on the environment while promoting a more responsible and ethical way of living. For us, any discussion of sustainable travel should include the availability of vegan items on the menu.

So when we stayed at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, we were quite impressed to find a huge selection of plant based foods throughout the resort. Whether it’s the plant-powered bowl of pasta or the homemade vegan cheese pizza we enjoyed at ‘Dining by the Pool’ or the fact that they’ve just opened a farm-to-table plant-based dining experience in their sprawling organic gardens, there is an abundance of vegan food at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay and we loved it!

Sustainable luxury resort in Thailand

Next up is the peerless Soneva Kiri, located on the pristine island of Koh Kood in Thailand. Unlike many Thai islands where development and tourism have led to massive deforestation and negative impact on the environment, Koh Kood, despite being one of the largest Thai islands, has remained relatively untouched.

This makes it the perfect location for Soneva Kiri to call home. This multi-award-winning luxury eco-resort blends perfectly into the jungles of Koh Kood, where they coexist harmoniously in this pristine environment, offering discerning travelers the chance to enjoy bespoke experiences and the finest responsible luxury travel.

Since 1995, when Soneva opened their first resort in the Maldives, they have continued to lead from the front in their commitment to responsible and sustainable luxury travel. Understanding that “luxury and sustainability can be interrelated concepts” is a core belief of Soneva, a belief they have adopted from the very beginning and is why they are considered by many to be pioneers of sustainable travel.

The 2% environmental tax on all stays supports the Soneva Foundation which delivers and develops multiple projects that continue to make a difference. From clean water projects and multi-site mangrove forest restoration to carbon reduction initiatives that have provided villages in Myanmar and Sudan with fuel-efficient stoves, efforts are widespread. Closer to home, Eco Centro is taking resort recycling to the next level, while a successful hornbill reintroduction program on Koh Kood and reforestation projects in northern Thailand have brought environmental benefits to local communities.

Appreciating the growing demand for plant-based foods while also understanding that this is just one piece of the sustainable travel puzzle, Soneva Kiri has continued to incorporate creative and nutritious vegan food throughout the resort.

We’ve lost count of the vegan ice cream flavors and vegan chocolates available at ‘So Chilled’ and ‘So Guilty’, the free ice cream parlor and chocolate room that will amaze even the sweetest of travelers. While every menu featured exciting vegan options, from the ‘Sonu salad’ on the breakfast menu named after Soneva co-founder Sonu Shivdasani OBE, or the delicious tofu satay we enjoyed as part of a light lunch beside the pool at ‘So Spirited’. This is next-level plant-based luxury living.

Sustainable luxury resort in Cambodia

Last but not least, on our sustainable luxury journey through Southeast Asia, we head to a pristine private island resort off the coast of Cambodia, where Song Saa’s team has been welcoming discerning guests since opening in 2012.

Those guests can choose from 24 spacious private pool villas divided into three different styles: over the water, ocean view and jungle, each with the best tropical island atmosphere and the luxury elements you would expect from one of the best resorts in the region. Surrounded by turquoise waters, white sand beaches and pristine rainforest, Song Saa Private Island is definitely one of those places to relax, recharge your batteries and enjoy every precious moment.

Connecting to and protecting the environment are deeply woven into Song Saa’s psyche; forever considering the impact of tourism and therefore ensuring that luxury travel to this unique corner of Cambodia can be truly sustainable. Song Saa Foundation delivers and develops projects in three categories, water, people and land.

Protecting sea turtles, developing a coral nursery, restoring mangroves and marine conservation are just some of the areas that ensure that the waters, flora and fauna of the region remain pristine and protected. While people and the local communities are supported through employment, health care, education and organic farming programs. On-land initiatives include rainforest reforestation, waste management, recycling and composting programs. These countless efforts allow Song Saa to live in supportive harmony with the local communities, enchanting oceans and Cambodian countryside, all of which are the perfect hosts.

With a plant-based menu available and other vegan dishes on each of the menus, we knew we were in for a culinary treat during our stay at Song Saa. A selection of traditional Khmer dishes alongside other global favourites, including fresh and healthy salads, vegan pizza (with vegan cheese) and a delicious vegan Khmer curry. Natural and healthy food was paramount, which certainly matched the overall feel of the resort.

Our creamy smashed avocado was served on nutty dark rye bread with an accompanying salt and pepper buffet that showcased the region’s world-famous condiment. Cinnamon, coriander and chilli salt, ground black and white Kampot pepper added another pinch of something special to an already well-executed dish. We loved that the fried rice with tofu and vegetables was made with organic Ibis Wildlife Friendly Rice, locally grown rice that protects endangered species and preserves fragile forests in Cambodia. We are excited to see Song Saa develop their vegan offerings by working with the team to create new and exciting dishes, while at the same time adapting existing dishes to make them vegan friendly.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

If you are reading this article anywhere other than A Luxury Travel Blog, chances are this content has been stolen without permission.

Please note the web address above and contact A Luxury Travel Blog to notify them of this issue.

Thank you for helping us fight content theft.

By selecting resorts like this amazing trio, we can feel confident that our travel choices have a reduced impact and we know we’re supporting resorts that take sustainability seriously and want to make a real difference. Besides the feel-good factor that comes from staying at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Soneva Kiri or Song Saa, the fact that they are three of the best resorts in South East Asia makes for an unforgettable trip that you will never want to end!

Paul Eyers is founder of Vegan Food Quest. Vegan Food Quest have become luxury vegan travel specialists as they continue to find, eat and write about the best vegan food in the world.

If you would like to become a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog to boost your profile, please contact us.