Posted by admin on December 24, 2010 under Vietnam Food and Drink | 
Last fall, I was in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Cambodia, but my heart belonged to Vietnam, especially its food. (Hong Kong’s food is pretty well represented in Vancouver and as for Cambodia … well, it’s not known for its gustatory delights.)
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| Inflated rice balls make a big impression. |
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| A market in Hanoi. |
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| Vietnam’s Can Tho market offers an amazing array of fruits and vegetables. |
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| A woman in Hanoi hawks pho from gigantic cooking pots. |
I’ve always yearned for more exciting Vietnamese food in Vancouver, but knew I’d have to follow it to its source for the thrills.
Vietnam confirmed my belief that Vietnamese food is a lot like its people — lively, light-hearted, lovely. And good-humoured. (How else would you describe a giant, golden, inflated rice balloon with a rice pattycake hiding inside?) Somehow, that buoyant nature has survived in the people and the food through the bloodiest of wars. A grandmother toothily laughs. A translator tells us she’s asking if we understand her babbling baby grandson in English because he’s sure not speaking Vietnamese.
I was smitten. Even the city traffic, which seems more like a national suicide pact (motorbikes, bicycles, cars, people, tuk-tuks darting in every conceivable direction without the logic of lanes, traffic lights, or rules of the road) won’t deter me from going back.
Going from Hanoi in the north to Central Vietnam and down to Ho Chi Minh City (still referred to as Saigon by most locals) and the Mekong Delta, the food changed with the geography and climate which morphs from temperate to tropical.
Vancouver’s Vietnamese restaurants only skim the surface of regional variations of food in that country. We don’t see the amazing produce or taste the intensity of herbs or variations of the nuoc nam , the fermented fish sauce, a signature taste in so many Vietnamese dishes.
In Hanoi, we had to try the one-dish restaurant, Cha Ca La Vong. The dish? It’s called cha cha — monkfish fried with dill, turmeric, rice noodles and peanuts. They bring a charcoal hibachi to the table and you cook the fish and a pile o’ greens yourself. The restaurant has been there for several generations and the staff is said to be gruff (unusual in Vietnam, but the matriarch took a shine to us and came and cooked ours for us in between counting out dongs (Vietnamese currency) at the next table, their evening’s take. It’s grungy (Molly Maids would have heart attacks), but it’s so famous that copycat restaurants have sprung up, messing with your mind. The cha cha was delicious.
It would be unforgivable to wimp out on trying street food for fear of gut-wrenching illness. We searched for ones that came recommended (my neighbour, who’d been to Vietnam a year earlier, recommended a pho seller, for instance).
One night, we went to a place that sold great pork patties and shrimp spring rolls. Gratefully, we sat at a table, not on the plastic toddler stools that Westerners look ridiculous on, at some of these places. The food was good and my stomach inflated like that rice balloon.
My husband, however, didn’t want to miss out one chance to try the street pho that our neighbour, Karen, had recommended. I watched in amazement as he went in search of it, sat down with the locals and slurped back a heaping bowl of pho. Mom and son threw enormous cuts of meat to each other, sliced off thin slices and threw slices into steaming bowls. Locals looked astonished when they thought a stranger reached out for my husband’s pho (it was me) and took a big, noisy slurp. It was, despite the optics, delicious.
Wild Lotus, in Hanoi, is in a gorgeous French colonial building. (The French left behind beautiful buildings and A something of their food culture, unlike the Americans, who left bomb craters.) We followed a marble staircase and passed by a fountain en route to the second-floor restaurant with a modern tropical feel. Slender female servers (they’re all small and pretty) wore ao dai (those silky, side-slit tops) and males wore suits. Astonishingly, main dishes were an average $6 Cdn. Deep-fried prawns bundled in vermicelli, served with plum sauce; grilled sea bass; morning glory leaves, sauteed in garlic; pork loin with cashews, mushrooms, dried chili, spring rolls in shredded rice noodles — and the bill came to about $60 with wine.
You should use a guidebook because you’ll run into horrid food just like anywhere. We ducked into a nice-looking place for breakfast one morning and “shirred eggs” turned out to be an eggy sauce with a lid of goopy cheese and bits of ham. Yech!
In Central Vietnam, at Hoi An (where my husband had the equivalent of a Zegna suit tailored for $350), we ate at a string of food stalls along the Thu Bon River, returning to “Mr. Dong’s” a few times for the “white rose,” a regional specialty of shrimp dumplings in clear rice dough. But the banana pancakes and noodles were just as good. (Dong is also the word for Vietnamese currency, a challenge to say for an inhibited North American.) Breakfast was included at the hotels we stayed in and at Hoi An, we could have had a sumptuous Vietnamese buffet every morning with dim sum-like dishes that changed daily.
Cafe des Amis came recommended in guide books and was a heck of a deal with seven courses for about $12, but it was most memorable for the owner, a Mr. Kim, decked out in black leather pants and jacket, a smoking bon vivant, strutting among guests, telling stories he must have told a thousand times.
A young couple we met from London led us through the dark alleys of Hoi An and to their discovery, a restaurant called Secret Garden, not in guide books. We ended up taking group photos with the friendly staff after a meal of star anise soup, pork and fish tamarind hotpot and pork skewers.
In Ho Chi Minh City, I’d stand, each morning, at the fourth-floor window of our hotel, looking down at a woman who made rounds on her bicycle, draped with bags and bags of produce, eggs, fish, meat. Women from shops would saunter out, leisurely check out the fare and buy a little bit of this and a little bit of that. (And no, it wasn’t refrigerated.) Then she’d move on, plastic bags rustling.
Vietnamese supermarkets don’t exist. Food is bought at markets or vendors on the street. The floating markets are very cool. We put-put-putted around the boats early one morning before taking off down the Mekong on a “Heart of Darkness” journey to an eco-lodge.
At Ho Chi Minh City, my all-time favourite spot was Quan An Ng, a brilliant idea. Cooking stations circle the perimeter of an elegant French colonial-style restaurant; each one is a stall with cooks making street foods from all over Vietnam. You can walk around, check out all the regional specialties at the stations and point and order or order off the menu. Can they please open one in Vancouver?
The most modern Vietnamese meal was at the sleekly modern Xu restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. A four-course tasting menu was about $27; an eight-course went for $44. The menu features dishes like tuna spring roll and black sesame seared tuna; steamed rice flour roll with fish, bean shoots and roasted shallots; tamarind-braised beef cheeks with pumpkin mash and pumpkin flower; crab soup with boiled quail egg, peanut and chili; scallops with green mango noodle salad and lemongrass dressing. Desserts? Durian cream puff and chocolate caramel tart.
I had a dramatically memorable dish from along the Mekong Delta. On a bike trip, we had a lunch of elephant ear fish which was deep-fried whole and mounted like a trophy on a wooden stand, dramatic as heck.
What I won’t dwell on here is the part of Vietnamese cuisine I can’t bear. Even the thought of a snake farm at one of the towns we biked was enough to send me on a detour. At an outdoor coconut candy factory, I bought some of the taffy-like confections, trying not to look into the eyes of the coiled vipers, trapped in bottles of rice wine, said to invigourate libidos.
In the same shop, lots of alligator purses, perhaps siblings of the ones we saw in a muddy pond?
But getting back to the good stuff, another unforgettable Vietnamese culinary tradition is their insanely good coffee. It’s intense and delicious, dripped slowly into condensed milk if you don’t want it neat. We brought a few bags home, but I think you have to be Vietnamese to make it so good.
And dare I say, I think that to be true of the food, too.
Posted by admin on under Vietnam travel News, vietnam hotel |
When you are looking for a romantic getaway with that special person, the setting for seduction has to be just right. Online boutique travel brand Mr & Mrs Smith (www.mrandmrssmith.com) selects 10 boutique hotels with seductive settings in some of the world’s most gorgeous locations. Reuters has not endorsed this list:
Coastal cool: Saffire, Freycinet Peninsula, Australia
Hugging Tasmania’s pure eastern shores, boutique hotel Saffire on the Freycinet Peninsula is a natural gem, with beach views from its 20 sleek suites and a spa. At first sight it resembles a shiny UFO, but this stingray-shaped sanctuary embraces the curving Coles Bay coastline, encouraging you to be at one with nature. Chef Hugh Whitehouse presides over Palate, Saffire’s top-notch contemporary restaurant where tasting menus of local seafood are a specialty, alongside quality regional produce. Activities include visits to vineyards and a marine oyster farm, trekking and island-hopping.
Cathedral couture: Hotel Notre Dame, Paris, France
Elegantly eccentric Hotel Notre Dame in Paris takes its inspiration from mighty Notre Dame Cathedral which sits before it. Redesigned by French fashion legend Christian Lacroix, the hotel’s 400-year-old building has been transformed into a dazzling homage to its illustrious neighbor, with vibrant decor mixing historic, religious and architectural motifs. Even the carpets masquerade as mediaeval paving stones, and the monumental cathedral can be seen from almost every window. Individually styled rooms blend exposed beams, bold textiles and quirky Lacroix-designed wallpaper.
Lakeside luxury: Matakauri Lodge, Queenstown, New Zealand
Matakauri Lodge in Queenstown offers Alpine elegance on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, the watery heart of New Zealand’s South Island adventure capital. With 11 luxurious rooms – all with majestic lake and mountain vistas – this boutique beauty is blessed with flawless natural assets. Stylish suites feature fireplace-warmed sitting areas, walk-in wardrobes, oversized tubs and private decks. Immaculate service, uncontrived dining and light-filled interiors add to the wow factor. Rev up with a spot of cycling, trekking, skiing in winter or bungee jumping year-round. Then unwind at Matakauri’s spa.
Spanish Steps shopping: Portrait Suites, Rome, Italy
Boutique hotels in Rome don’t come better located than 14-room Portrait Suites, a stylish Italian townhouse off designer-store-strewn Via Condotti, a handbag’s throw from the Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps. An offshoot of the Ferragamo fashion empire above its flagship store, this one-time atelier is festooned with shoe-related artwork and photos of the shoemaker’s star-studded heyday. Deluxe Studio 53 is a top tip, boasting a balcony for breakfast with city views. Portrait Suites is within walking distance of Rome’s highlights, including chic boutiques for retail therapy.
Islands: Six Senses Yao Noi, Phuket & Khao Lak, Thailand
For a rustic escape in a sublime location, treat yourself to a soothing stay in Six Senses Yao Noi, a boutique retreat set on castaway Yao Noi island near Phuket. Perched on a cliffside, with beautiful views over Phang Nga Bay’s limestone pinnacles, the resort’s 56 palm-leaf roofed teak villas feel like plush log cabins or treehouses, but come with pampering personal butlers. Drink in the verdant vistas from the infinity pool or sip a mojito in the sultry Den lounge. Later retire to the Six Senses Spa in a traditional long house for holistic Thai treatments.
Peak viewing: Jade Mountain, St Lucia, Caribbean
You’ll feel like a James Bond villain in unbelievably luxurious island lair Jade Mountain in St Lucia. Architecturally astonishing and blessed with breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea and balmy bayside, it teams zigzagging stone walkways with adventurous alfresco spaces and cascading koi pools. Each of its 29 colossal suites has an open fourth wall so you can admire the island’s landmark Piton Mountains (24 also flaunt private infinity pools with vibey fiber-optic lighting). Throw in a glam main pool, a lofty terrace bar and a seafood restaurant.
Beachside bliss: The Nam Hai resort, Hoi An, Vietnam
Beside legendary China Beach, The Nam Hai resort is a seaside shrine to design in central Vietnam. Its 100 opulent-yet-zen ocean-view villas will seduce you with net-canopied platform beds and freestanding eggshell-lacquered baths opening onto private gardens and outdoor rain showers. Beachfront Villas are particularly alluring, offering instant beach access. Dive in or just watch the waves from the resort’s three sleek pools. For more aquatic relaxation, the spa’s overwater pavilions extend above a peaceful lotus pond.
Fairytale endings: Amberley Castle, West Sussex, UK
Indulge your inner prince (or princess) by booking into moated mediaeval manor Amberley Castle in West Sussex. You’ll feel suitably period-drama as you glide up the drive of this British castle and arrive at the main gates and portcullis. Once you’ve taken in the manicured grounds, ogle the historic furnishings indoors. Ideally stay in the main body of the 19-room castle: Amberley offers sumptuous beds, his ‘n’ hers bathrooms and a window-seat overlooking the courtyard or intimate Pevensey has its own door to the battlements.
Glam ocean views: Soho Beach House, Miami, USA
Lording it over its Miami Beach location, retro-quirky Soho Beach House’s bright white 16-storey building boasts a Cowshed Spa, A-list restaurant Cecconi’s and a rooftop pool. This is the hotly anticipated new Florida incarnation of original members-club Soho House in London, beloved of the in-crowd. Mingle with the beautiful people at no less than three bars: the Cuban-style Club Bar, inspired by 1940s Havana; Tiki Bar, between the beach and sun-lounger-flanked garden pool; and the adults-only 8th-floor bar with dreamy Atlantic views.
Rooftop romance: The Fullerton Bay Hotel, Singapore.
Rooftop bars are all the rage, and Lantern, lighting up the top of The Fullerton Bay Hotel on Singapore’s super-central Marina Bay waterfront is one of the best. Perched poolside on the 7th-floor with dreamy day-beds, Jacuzzis and loungers, it’s a sexy spot to sink a cocktail while soaking up striking sci-fi views of the three-towered casino complex opposite and the city’s seductive skyline. With swish public areas designed by rising talent Andre Fu and 98 bedrooms that doff their caps to the Lion City’s colonial and pan-Asian roots.
(Editing by Paul Casciato – Reuters)
Posted by admin on December 23, 2010 under Vietnam travel News |
Findings on ancient Cham bricks and mortar have contributed to the restoration and conservation of My Son World Heritage.
At a press briefing held in Hanoi on December 21, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Enzo Angeloni said the result of the second phase of the “Safeguarding of My Son World Heritage” project was attributable to the joint efforts of the Vietnamese and Italian scientists and the assistance of the Italian Government and the UNESCO representative office in Vietnam.
The Italian diplomat said the project is on the Italian Government’s priority list for development cooperation in Vietnam. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Italian Government will continue assisting Vietnam to implement the third phase of the project.
He introduced a draft manual on the restoration of heritages based on experience gained during the implementation of the project. This publication, in English and Vietnamese, will soon be available at national and international level.
The project, financed by Italy through UNESCO, was carried out with non-refundable aid of US$642,000 in the first phase from 2003 to 2005 and US$453,000 in the second phase from 2006-2010.
Under the project, Italian, UNESCO and Vietnamese experts have conducted research activities and materials analysis and tested building techniques and provided vocational training for officials and management officers of the My Son’s archeological area.
The My Son archeological area, one of the most important relics in Vietnam, was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999.
Source: VOVNEWS.VN
Posted by admin on under Vietnam travel News, vietnam hotel |
Four Vietnam hotels won coveted spots in a listing of the world’s top 500 hotels by Travel + Leisure magazine.
In its Jan.2011 issue, the New York City-based magazine called out the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Caravelle Hotel, Park Hyatt Saigon and Hilton Opera in its ninth annual world’s best survey, known as the T+L 500.
Caravelle Hotel Saigon
The magazine polled its 973,000 subscribers, soliciting votes for the best hotels around the world. Three hotels in Cambodia made the grade. There was one from Laos, and 12 from Thailand.
This year’s inclusion was a first for the Caravelle. Indeed, T+L readers gave higher marks to the Caravelle than to its cross-square rival, the Park Hyatt. While the Metropole ranked first at 90.87, the Caravelle won a second place finish with 88.40 points. The Park Hyatt scored 87.72.
“Over the past two years, as fine new hotels have come into the Ho Chi Minh City market, we’ve distinguished ourselves in a number of directions,” said John Gardner, general manager of the Caravelle. “We’ve stopped charging for access to the Internet. We’ve implemented a number of ‘green initiatives that promote sustainability and put a stop to needless consumption. And we’ve worked on loyalty programs that earn repeat visit from incentivized guests.
Later this year, the Caravelle hotel starts work on a top-to-toe refurbishment of the entire hotel.
In Hanoi, the Travel + Leisure award caps a landmark year for the Metropole, which took home prestigious hospitality honors from Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, PATA, Cigar Aficionado and a number of other publications and organisations.
Posted by admin on December 22, 2010 under Vietnam travel News, vietnam hotel |
VietNamNet Bridge – The sharp increase in the number of tourists visiting Vietnam is good news for Vietnam hotel developers. Real estate developers, anticipating the new wave of tourism development, have been rushing to build more hotels.
In the third quarter of 2010, the “gold inlaid” five-star hotel Grand Plaza with 400 rooms was put into operation. Two other three star hotels Oasis and Asean have also become operational, thus raising the total number of new hotel rooms to 560. The newly operational hotels increase the total number of rooms ready to serve tourists by seven percent in comparison with the same period last year and by 10 percent in comparison with the second quarter of 2010.
According to Savills Vietnam, a real estate service provider, to date, Hanoi has had 41 3-and-higher-star hotels with 6000 rooms, including 5-star hotels, seven 4-star and 24 3-star hotels.
Also according to Savills Vietnam, Hanoi expects to have 33 more hotels to be put into operation in the time to come. In the immediate time, three hotels will officially join the market, including Oriental Pearl Hotel on Phan Chu Trinh street, Hotel de L’Opera (which was once Dan Chu Hotel) on Trang Tien street and Crowne Plaza Hanoi located in the west of the city, which will provide 550 rooms.
Vu The Binh, Director of the Travel Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said that in 2010, the number of foreign tourists to Vietnam may reach the record high of five million. These include 770,000 travelers from China, 400,000 from Japan, and 350,000 from the US. Besides, Vietnam also receives the tourists from Taiwan, Australia, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and France.
Robert Mcintosh, Managing Director of CBRE Asia Pacific, a real estate service provider, said that the increasing number of tourists to Vietnam should be seen as the good news for Vietnam hotel business. However, he said that hotel developers should draw up clear business strategies right when they decide to do business in this field. They should point out who will be their target clients, so that they can have a suitable design, thus allowing to optimize profit. Every hotel should provide the kinds of services that fit their target clients. He also said that it is necessary to have specific services for domestic travelers – the clients with great potentials.
However, according to CBRE, the turnover of 5-star hotels has decreased by 10 percent in comparison with the same period last year, while the turnover of 4-star hotels has decreased more sharply, by 31 percent. The noteworthy thing is that the turnover has decreased even though the hotel room occupancy has increased. This can be explained by the fact that the hotel room rates have been decreasing in all market segments. Especially, the room rates of five star hotels have dropped most sharply, by 13 percent in comparison with the same period last year.
Meanwhile, according to Savills Vietnam, once new hotel rooms are available, the room capacity may decrease. However, five star hotels in Vietnam, with their big advantages, will still be able to attract businessmen and the clients who book room for conferences and workshops.
Posted by admin on December 20, 2010 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the Central, vietnam beauty |
Surrounded by gentle hills and scenic areas, the highland city of Da Lat is still home to intriguing beauty in spite of the growing population, the rise in modern architecture and the number of tourists, said Nhat Ha.
I was a touch disappointed when my car first drove into Da Lat. The city doesn’t look or feel like the old European styled-mountain retreat I remember discovering 10 years ago. There are more nondescript modern buildings, and the multi-storeys which once dominated the capital city of Lam Dong province have retreated into the distance.
Da Lat is synonymous with fragrant pine-forested hills, misty-wet mornings and French colonial-period villas – but have these sides of Da Lat now been crowded out by modernism?
Oddly, it didn’t even seem that chilly. I remembered wrapping myself up in the cardigan, scarf and hat on the cool mornings and evenings 10 years ago. Had the trend of urbanisation warmed up the city? Or was global warming to blame?
I checked into Ngoc Lan Hotel overlooking the city centre and Xuan Huong lake. I then dumped my bags and strolled down to a familiar spot from my past – the Artist’s Café by Da Lat Market.
Iced coffees – compulsory in most of southern Vietnam – are less common in this mountain town. The temperature may have warmed by everyone at the Artist’s Café is sitting over a hot cup of coffee. The thick scent hung in the air and filled me with nostalgia. I ordered one and sat back remembering how I wandered the streets of Dalat stopping at the small cafes with such wonderful names – Lang Van Café (the Writers Café), Phuong Tim Café (Flamboyant Purple Café) of Pho Xuan Café (Spring Street Café).
Such cafés in Da Lat are simple and unpretentious. Locals and tourists share a long bench while savouring the coffee and the pleasant atmosphere around Xuan Huong Lake. The coffee shops are often crowded but always cosy and peaceful. It’s still the best way to start your day in Da Lat. As I sipped my coffee, I watched the customers come and go from the flower stalls where piles of beautiful roses and daisies slowly vanish.
Sometimes described as the City of Love, Da Lat is a popular spot for honeymooners – here and there you will see newly weds posing for photos. But the city also attracts artists, photographers, writers and poets, who all came to the scenic and serene town in search of inspiration. Indeed many artists have decided to stay and take up permanent residence in the town.
The hill-station is a retreat town, a place to kick back and relax far from the worries of the world and the heat of the coastal plains. The fairytale land was quite literally a breath of fresh air for the French tourists.
After my coffee I decided to rent a motorbike – VND100,000 a day – and drive to Lam Dong Museum. As I drove down Tran Hung Dao street, I noticed a number of villas which had been renovated or restored and now looked in mint condition. The brand new Da Lat Cadasa Resort is a particularly stunning structure, surrounded by vast gardens, pine trees and flowers. The resort features 23 charming French styled villas. Each has a different style, but generally they all bear the architectural hallmarks of villas from Normandy in northern France.
After that, I decided to escape the confines of the city and drive out to explore the surrounding hills and valleys. Exiting the city, I passed the stunning Evason Ana Mandara Villas Da Lat Resort & Spa on Le Lai street, another picturesque resort boasting 17 restored French colonial villas scattered around 35 acres of parkland, with 65 elegantly furnished guestrooms in total.
My rambling journey continued past thatched houses, coffee plantations and flower farms. I decided to pop into a plantation to see where my cup of coffee came from. The farmer was friendly and informative – and not because he thought I was here to buy beans wholesale!
The tree-house contains cavern-style sitting rooms, a concrete giraffe tea room, and towering fish heads with guest rooms where you can stay overnight. Down the helter-skelter hallways and up the winding stair-ways you can find various cosy nooks and crannies set up as small sitting rooms with desks, chairs, and coffee tables. It has to be one of the most off-the-wall places to lodge in Asia.
Like something conjured up by the Brothers Grimm, the garden is a weird grotto of aviaries, concrete toadstools and steel spiders webs. It is apparently Da Lat’s top tourist attraction. I stand in awe as hordes of Vietnamese and foreign tourists scramble around.
Back by Xuan Huong Lake, I finally sit down to lunch at Thanh Thuy Café. The Vietnamese menu had a decent salad with blanched beef and a tasty snake fish hot pot filled with loads of local vegetables.
I sat watching the young couples in swan boats pedal across the lake and the tourists browsing through the flower gardens around the lake. It was a pleasant spot and I realised although Da Lat has grown and lost some of its innocence and aesthetic appeal, it still serves its an original purpose as a mountain retreat far from the heat and the noise of Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.
After I sated my appetite I pondered over what to do with my afternoon. Perhaps, I would sit again with another coffee! Nothing should be rushed in Da Lat, and life seeing to run apace with the slow drip-drip of the bitter black drop.
Source: VOVNEWS
Posted by admin on under Vietnam travel News, vietnam hotel |
The five-star Majestic Hotel in downtown HCMC is working on a plan to spur electronic transactions next year to facilitate its business expansion, the hotel’s general director said.
Nguyen Anh Vu told the Daily the hotel would be constructing a new website to facilitate e-payments and boost this sales channel.
The number of guests who make bookings and pay online has been on the rise, accounting for over 28% of guests at the hotel. Meanwhile, online sales make up around 30% of total room revenue from early this year to December 8.
These encouraging results have led the hotel to further embrace e-transactions, he said.
In addition to investing in the website, the Majestic is connecting to other websites such as Agoda and Expedia to get more customers.
The emerging trend of tourists choosing free and easy travel is another reason for the hotel to develop e-commerce. “We have had many promotion programs on those websites and will do the same next year,” Vu said.
The hotel has put its revenue in the year to December 8 at VND192 billion, up 19.3% compared to all of 2009, its gross profit at VND95.5 billion, and average room occupancy at 67.7%.
Concerning the room rate policy for next year, Vu said, the Majestic hotel will keep room rates unchanged from this year since major markets such as Europe and the U.S. have yet to reach full recovery.
The hotel is building a new 28-story building of 205 rooms and when in place after three years of construction, the number of rooms will rise to 380 rooms, plus offices and other facilities at the corner of the Dong Khoi, Ton Duc Thang and Nguyen Hue streets in the city’s commercial district.
Source: SaigonTimes Online
Posted by admin on under Vietnam travel News, vietnam hotel |
Accor, the world’s leading hotel manager and market leader in Europe, have set an ambitious goal of operating thirty additional
hotels in Vietnam by 2013
Accor already operates hotels in ninety countries and employs more than one hundred and forty five thousand people.
Should Accor achieve their goal in Vietnam, they will have almost three times as many hotels under their management in the country.
Patrick Bassett, Accor’s Vice President of operations for Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan and South Korea made the announcement at a press conference this week stating; “Our first realistic objective is to have 30 hotels and we think we shall be able to have this network of hotels already open by the end of 2013”.
Accor currently manage several different hotel brands in Vietnam including Sofitel, Pullman, Mercure, Novotel and Ibis.
Bassett told reporters Accor has just signed contracts to manage two more Pullman hotels, bringing the total to five. All five Pullman hotels will be in service by 2013 including the Pullman Haiphong Flamboyant Island Resort and Pullman Danang Beach.
The Pullman Haiphong is the most recent project from hotel brand Pullman. Situated on Flamboyant Island in Do Son District, the three hundred room hotel will cater to an increasing number of visitors to the northern industrial and seaport hubs of Vietnam.
The luxury hotel in Vietnam will feature a ballroom, meeting rooms, three restaurants, two bars, swimming pools, an entertainment centre, spa and an amphitheatre.
The Pullman Danang Beach, due to open in mid-2011, will have 207 guest rooms, four restaurants and three swimming pools.
Additional Pullman hotels are scheduled to open next year in the southern city of Vung Tau and the capital Hanoi.
The 360 room Pullman Vung Tau, which will be the first Pullman hotel to open in Vietnam, will have five hundred rooms but only limited function rooms and leisure facilities.
Currently the Pullman Hanoi Horison is under renovation; when re-opened it will be able to accommodate over one thousand guests.
“With sustained economic growth and significant investment in infrastructure leading to increased volumes for business travel and continued international and domestic leisure strength, opportunities continue for quality upscale hotel developments in Vietnam,” added Basset.
Evan Lewis, Accor vice president of communications for Asia Pacific, told reporters; “Increasing foreign investment flows into Vietnam and continued economic growth would fuel strong demand for international quality upscale hotels in this country. This is why Accor introduces the Pullman brand to this emerging market”.
Bassett concluded the press conference by predicting Ibis may outgrow the other Accor brands, as the demand for Ibis style hotels in the current economy is greater.
Source: Bignews
Posted by admin on December 17, 2010 under Vietnam travel News, vietnam hotel |
A seasoned hotelier whose management experience includes stints at the InterContinental and with Six Senses has returned to Vietnam as general manager of the Life Heritage Resort Hoi An.
A native of the United Kingdom, Anthony Gill’s appointment comes at a high-water mark for this riverside resort in Hoi An’s Old Town. In September, Conde Nast Traveler readers hailed this Life Resort as one of the top-ten resorts in Asia, a distinction it shares with internationally renowned brands that charge 15 and 20 times as much per night.
“In my short time here at Life Resorts, I’ve glimpsed enough to know that this place is, by far, the best resort value in Asia,” said Gill. “Conde Nast readers didn’t get it wrong.”
Nor was this year’s accolade a flash in the pan. Earlier in the year, the magazine’s editors put the resort on its Gold List. Last year, the same magazine’s readers again ranked the Life Heritage Resort in company with Four Seasons and Aman Resorts in their annual readers poll.
Prior to Gill’s move to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An, he was on special assignment for Six Senses in Phuket. Previously, he was director of food and beverage at the InterContinental Hotel in Doha, Qatar.
But Gill is no stranger to Vietnam. He’d worked at the Evason Ana Mandara in Nha Trang for two years as the executive assistant manager.
“Vietnam resorts, when managed properly, can provide one of the most profound resort experiences for travelers anywhere in the world,” said Chris Duffy, general director of the Life Resorts. “This takes a remarkable degree of management finesse. Anthony, because he’s spent considerable time here in Vietnam, has it.
ABOUT LIFE RESORTS
Life Resorts owns and operates two resorts in Vietnam and manages two others. On Vietnam’s central coast, the 94-room Life Heritage Resort Hoi An evokes the colonial splendor of a bygone era on a quiet stretch of the Thu Bon River within walking distance of the trading port’s world-famous Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the south-central coast, the 63-room Life Wellness Resort Quy Nhon is dedicated to the tenets of wellness, from yoga, tai chi and Pilates to an ample range of spa treatments and anti-stress and detox programs.
The 187-room Life Resort Da Nang, one of the group’s two managed properties, opened in the spring of 2010 on one of Vietnam’s most renowned stretches of beach. Its flagship restaurant Senses, and Lobby Bar offers stunning sea views, and its Nang Spa is one of the most expansive in the region. Four hours from Ho Chi Minh City, Life also manages the 84-room Blue Ocean Resort at Mui Ne, featuring a 153-meter beach, a 26-meter swimming pool and lush tropical grounds.
The Dutch resort company is also developing a property on Halong Bay, scheduled to open early in 2011.
Posted by admin on under Vietnam Food and Drink, Vietnam Travel Guide |
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 One of the best souvenirs you can bring back from a trip is some tasty dishes to share with your friends. Beats a fridge magnet, right? Here are 10 great places to visit if you want to brush up your culinary skills. |
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| 1. Luang Prabang, Laos
Tiny, land-locked Laos is often overshadowed by close neighbours Thailand and Vietnam, but Southeast Asia’s most laid-back country also has its own unique and tasty cuisine, especially in the former royal city of Luang Prabang. After rising at dawn to offer alms to saffron-robed monks, learn the secrets of local specialities like jąew bąwng, a condiment made with chillies and dried buffalo skin, and khai phųn, dried river algae fried with sesame seeds. Both are tastier than they sound, and with a cold Beer Lao, khai phųn is one of the world’s best bar snacks.
The Tamarind restaurant offers full-day cooking courses in an airy lakeside pavilion. Courses include a visit to the local market.
Streetside grill in Luang Prabang
2. Istanbul, Turkey
The geographic meeting point of Europe and Asia showcases a cuisine influenced by the Ottoman Empire’s historic spread far beyond the waters of the Bosphorus. Get inspired in local markets and restaurants crammed with Balkan flavours from the West, and Middle Eastern influences from the East beyond Asia Minor. Feast on excellent street food like midye tava (stuffed mussels), or fresh fish sandwiches from the Eminönü docks. Traditional dishes include yayla çorbasi (yoghurt soup with mint) and imam bayıldı (stuffed eggplant); the latter translates literally to ‘the Imam fainted’, an allusion to the legendary positive response the iconic dish received when it was first cooked.
Located in an elegant heritage restaurant in Sultanahmet, Cooking Alaturka runs four-hour courses culminating in a relaxed, shared lunch.
Turkish delights at the Spice Bazaar – Istanbul
3. Oaxaca, Mexico
The regional cuisine of Oaxaca is proud and passionate proof there’s more to Mexican food than nachos and burritos. The city is renowned to food lovers as ‘lugar de siete moles’ (the place of seven moles), and different spins on Oaxaca’s signature sauce tinged with chilli and chocolate are available in the city’s restaurants and markets. Visit the Abastos market for the local breakfast speciality, huevos oaxaqueños – eggs poached in a chilli-tomato soup – andafter a shot of the local mezcal firewater, graduate to chowing down on chapulines (roasted grasshoppers). Oaxaca chocolate is also pretty good if insects aren’t to your taste.
Cooking classes at Oaxaca’s Casa Crespo Bed & Breakfast, are held in the attached El Teatro Culinario restaurant.
In October of every year street vendors sell Chapulinas ( grasshoppers ) fried in chili – Oaxaca City – Oaxaca
4. Banks Peninsula, New Zealand
With hiking, swimming with dolphins, and kayaking all on offer, you could visit New Zealand’s picturesque Banks Peninsula and easily overlook the region’s growing foodie credentials. Visit raffish Lyttelton on a Saturday morning for one of New Zealand’s best farmers’ markets, or ask about cooking classes and buy Kiwi craft beers at the Ground Culinary Centre . Come back on a Sunday to attend the She Chocolate School at neighbouring Governor’s Bay.
Around nearby Akaroa Harbour, the emphasis is on self-exploration, with excellent boutique cheese and wine waiting to be discovered. Located in the former French colony of Akaroa, the Akaroa Cooking School focuses on local, organic ingredients including lots of fresh New Zealand seafood.
The Akaroa Cooking School focuses on local, organic ingredients including lots of fresh New Zealand seafood.
5. Hoi An, Vietnam
Most travellers visit Hoi An to explore the town’s colonial history – including Portuguese, French and Japanese influences – or to get a new wardrobe whizzed up by skilled tailors. The sleepy settlement is also a good place to learn to cook Vietnamese food, and local specialities include cao lau, a noodle dish influenced by Japanese soba noodles. A recommended spin is to scatter crumbled bánh da rice crackers on top like Asian-style croutons. Hoi An’s riverside night market is one of Vietnam’s best, but try to get to bed relatively early so you can explore the town’s fish market come daybreak.
Courses at the Red Bridge Restaurant and Cooking School in Hoi an include visits to local farms and markets.
Early morning activity at the pier as market produce is unpacked from boats.
6. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thailand‘s second city – the ‘Rose of the North’ – may be gradually enshrouding its ancient walled bones under a cloak of Asian modernity, but it’s still very easy to escape the bustle at relaxed cookery schools. Before you sign up, pay a visit to the city’s famed night markets for a crash course in Sampling Thai Cuisine 101. The city’s renowned night bazaar operates every night of the week, and every Sunday night Chiang Mai’s Ratchadamnoen Rd is transformed into ‘Walking St’. The gates of the wats (temples) lining Ratchadamnoen Rd are thrown open to become giant alfresco food centres.
First opened in 1993, the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School includes market visits and courses from one to five days.
7. Tuscany, Italy
‘Tuscany‘ is pretty definitive shorthand for a sun-kissed holiday surrounded by good food and wine. Italy is also the birthplace of the ‘Slow Food’ movement, and in Tuscan towns and villages, easy-going trattoria serve traditional dishes packed with olive oil, pecorino cheese, and fresh sage, rosemary and thyme. Many dishes are based on vegetables including artichokes, asparagus and wild mushrooms, and the cuisine is simple and robust. Cooking schools dot the Tuscan landscape, and the best incorporate rustic farmhouses set in relaxed country locations. Look forward to (slowly) discovering local markets and speciality food producers.
Tutti a Tavola offers one- to four-day classes with accommodation provided in Tuscan stone villas set on local vineyards.
Tutti a Tavola offers one- to four-day classes with accommodation provided in Tuscan stone villas set on local vineyards.
8. Fez, Morocco
Moroccan cuisine combines Berber, Moorish, Mediterranean and Arab influences to produce dishes including couscous, tajines and spicy merguez sausages. Highlights of Fez include North Africa’s most impressive medina (walled city), a riot of colour, sights and sounds from several centuries. For authentic local food without the tourist markup, head to the food stalls near the Jardin Public or the markets near the Bab Bou Jeloud, the main entrance to the medina. Good luck getting that terracotta tajine back home in one piece, and don’t leave town without trying a few refreshing mint teas.
Lahcen’s Moroccan Cooking combines a morning visit to the local souq (market) with classes in a restored riad (traditional Moroccan courtyard home).
A traditional tanjine with side orders of salad from Fes
9. San Sebastian, Spain
The humble Spanish tapas has taken on the world in recent years, but the planet’s best approach to snacking and drinking is still best appreciated in its homeland. In the northern city of San Sebastián, the snacks are dubbed pintxos (literally ‘spikes’), and traditionally include octopus, mushroom, morcilla (blood sausage) and anchovies. Wander from bar to bar sampling each location’s speciality, and you’ll appreciate the gradual evolution of tapas to offer more innovative and modern flavours. Anyone for foie gras in a parsley sauce?
In San Sebastián, El Txoko del Gourmet offers courses from two to five days specialising in tapas and cazuelitas (individual dishes baked in clay pots).
Basque style tapas food – San Sebastian, Pais Vasco
10. Goa, India
Good luck in getting a handle on the different cuisines of a country as large and diverse as India, but a good place to start is in the southwestern state of Goa. Shaped by the era of Portuguese colonial rule, Goan food includes chouriço
sausages tinged with a zesty masala paste, creamy bebinca rice pudding and the region’s signature dish, spicy vindalho curry (exported in a far inferior form as vindaloo across the world). Try them all on the compact balcony at the Hotel Venite looking out on old Panjim’s streets, and the next day try crafting your own versions.
Based in a heritage Portuguese house, Branca’s Cooking Classes offer courses specialising in both Goan cuisine and food from other parts of India.
Vegetable Makhani served at a local restaurant – Goa
By lonelyplanet.com
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