Peter Vidotto

Founder of Sailing Club Group

“I feel honoured and very lucky that I’ve landed on my feet in Vietnam. I wouldn’t replace a minute of the last 30 years.”

Australian Peter Vidotto arrived in Vietnam back in 1992 looking for opportunities and adventure…and he certainly found what he came for! Over thirty years, he has turned a once small backpacker beach front “boozer” in Nha Trang into a national group of hospitality brands – and had fun doing so.

Talking his impressions of Vietnam as a 24-year-old, Peter recalls that he found it “exciting, raw and interesting” and says that the people were “unbelievably hospitable”, inviting him for dinner despite not having much money. He says, “I fell madly in love with Vietnam.”

Sailing Club Nha Trang opened in early 1994 in the coastal city of Nha Trang. Why ‘Sailing Club’? At the time the local government were hesitant to call it a bar, but happy to have a new ‘club’ opening in the city. A brand was born.

The growth was moderate in the early days but it then “went berserk”, following the opening of Sailing Club Mui Ne in 2001. Sailing Club Leisure Group now has resorts, bars and restaurants across Vietnam, employs 1,400 staff and has appeal way beyond the original backpacker clientele: now, around 60% of guests are Vietnamese.

Most recently, the company has expanded into management, working alongside developers to launch new hotels and resorts, such as the recently opened Signature Resort in Phu Quoc, which was developed by Vietnam’s BIM Group. The management side of the business is where he wants to focus in the future and Peter sees great opportunities: “Companies here like dealing with us, we understand Vietnam but are Australian, so we’re winning contracts over international companies. We have a resort in Halong Bay opening in 2025 and are planning another 10.”

Talking about the company’s achievements, Peter says: “I like to think that we have helped developed the tourism sector in Vietnam…in the right way. And we have helped promote the relationship: people know it’s an Australian company and they know about the great relationship between our two countries.”

He is particularly proud of his staff, especially those who have been with him for over 25 years. “They treat it like it’s their own business…I know it’s in safe hands when I’m in Australia” he says. “I’m also really proud when I see former staff taking up good roles in other businesses – it’s great to see them flourish!”

Of course, there have also been challenges, most recently COVID-19, but the business made it through. “I’m proud of our survival!” Peter concludes.