Gatekeepers of the Spectacular
Publication: Financial TimesDate: August 5, 2011
Author: Sophy Roberts
Titled 'study leaders' or 'specialised heritage presenters', Navina Jafa represents one of a number of private guides who offer private city explorations. Carrying vast amounts of regional knowledge, Sophy was amazed to see the 'Prophet's Hair', a two-inch, red-tinged strand, inspired from Salman Rushdie's short story. Observing this sight is unique, a privilege 'ordinary' guides won't necessarily provide.
Each client's discovery is personalised with Jafa requesting a brief biography of each client before each tour. From this information, Sophy was escorted to Old Delhi's greatest mosque, a visit which involved negotiating through narrow streets. The Jama Masjid was also seen despite being closed to the public and being the only non-Muslim. The service provided overall is second-to-none with local guides helping to transform ordinary sights into attractions that become quite magical.
Additionally, booking through cazenove+loyd meant that the Nguyen Huy Hoang in Hanoi; a food specialist, was able to be seen. This entailed exploring the Old Quarter's food markets along with appreciating the workings of a Vietnamese home and its traditional cuisines.
Read the full article on cazenove+loyd providing personalised tour experiences in Vietnam.
To discuss a private guided tour in Vietnam, please call one of our destination experts on +44(0) 20 7384 2332 or enquire online by email.
