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HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — Travel is the theme of Louis Vuitton’s collection for fall/winter ’07. And while artistic director Marc Jacobs may have been to rehab, the luxury house remains alive and well with their latest offerings shown to the Asian-Pacific press last week.

For the women’s collection, Jacobs took references from a research trip to the Netherlands, while the menswear was inspired by 1920s Latin America.

For the first time ever, Louis Vuitton has opted to use the same image two seasons in a row for their ad campaign.

Once again, it’s Scarlett Johansson of the period movie Girl With a Pearl Earring, a speculative account of an intimate affair between a young housemaid and the Dutch master Jan Vermeer.

In fact, Jacobs, who has a great sense of humor, called the women’s collection “Girl With a Monogram Handbag.”

This season, Jacobs and his team worked with the rich textures of silk, cashmere, taffeta, leather, ostrich feathers, knit crochet, and fur.

Key pieces for women are oversized berets, some with “watermarks” created from resin, painterly white tops and silken artist smocks, waists cinched with signature gold-buckled belts, and knee-length skirts paired with tall, sturdy pumps or ankle shoe-boots.

Coloring was based on a Vermeer palette with a diffused technique called dégradé.  Powder pink turns to burgundy, baby blue turns to petrol blue, and beige turns to ochre and yellow as seen in experimental drapy pieces in off-shoulder tops, long dresses and puffy skirts.

But the standouts are clearly his bold and modern pieces in black, gray and navy, as shown in motorcycle jackets and his artsy take on the Little Black Dress.

Strong men’s collection

Even though Marc Jacobs said he hates doing menswear, a lot of people thought this season’s men’s collection is much stronger than the women’s.

I’m getting a heart attack just looking at the press photos, and I can’t even wear them. The menswear is simply divine, with unexpected minimalist crombie jackets to very charming looks depicting the glamour of 1920s Latin America.

Here are the men you would love to have on your arm, with key pieces of blazers, tailored suits, and waistcoats interpreted in luxe materials of smocked lambskin, double-faced cashmere and silk velvet.

Gray is the color of the season, as seen in dégradé fabric finishes and two-tone effects. Not to be missed are the youthful Pop Art tees and techno colors seen in bright orange shoes, and bold red or green trousers.