Posted by admin on August 25, 2011 under Vietnam hotels | 
If Linton Borthwick gets his wish, on your next visit to Vietnam, you’ll be unlocking your room door via mobile phone, signing an iPad for dinner, and expending but a single sheet of paper for an entire week’s stay.
Considering that Borthwick has already gotten several of his other recent wishes, that scenario may be just around the corner.
In June of 2011, the Caravelle Hotel Saigon in downtown Ho Chi Minh City joined a handful of leading hotels worldwide that have converted from magnetized room keys to advanced RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. The new keys only need to be in the proximity of the door to unlock it.
Making service more convenient, efficient and personal is an overplayed mantra in the hospitality industry. Yet a surprising trend is emerging in far-flung Vietnam, where iconic heritage properties are striding to the front of the lineup by offering guests the most innovative high-tech gadgets and software on the market.
The 52-year-old Caravelle Hotel, best known for its role as a journalist haven during the Vietnam War, followed its room key upgrade by installing GPS tracking in all its Mercedes vehicles, enabling perfectly-timed welcome rollouts for VIPs.
Borthwick’s real pet project, a remote check-in service that allows arriving guests to bypass the front desk altogether, only made its debut this month. Two Wii-pads, remote handheld tablets, enable check-ins to take place anywhere on the property. At present, the Caravelle is conducting its mobile check-in from the seating area of the lobby, but the hotel expects to extend this option to other areas: the rooftop bar, in the elevator, even by the pool.
What’s cutting edge on Wall Street, where a hotel was just hailed by one of the leading travel magazines in the world, is also making a mark on Dong Khoi Street.
While the Caravelle presses forward in bustling Ho Chi Minh City, in the cool capital city of Hanoi, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, the undisputed grand dame of Vietnamese hospitality, is undergoing a digital makeover.
In contrast to the old-world ambience and elegant, French-inspired decor, an array of slick, modern devices have found their way into every corner of the historic hotel. Suites come with state-of-the-art Beosound 8 docking sound systems, plus the use of a personal iPad, just in case you opted not to pack your laptop.
Meanwhile, guests on the hunt for tour information at the concierge desk are offered iPads for online searches, as diners in the Italian restaurant, Angelina, peruse the wine list on another of the trendy e-tablets. Free WiFi will debut in all the Metropole’s rooms by October.
Behind the scenes, the hotel is swapping breakthrough industry software with its current guest request tracking system, concierge databases and front office operations.
Of these, the popular Go Concierge program is set to do away with a host of guest frustrations. Soon the concierge on duty will respond to requests for ticket reservations or restaurant recommendations by printing information from a pre-loaded database. Ideally, guests could have confirmation letters, itineraries and even directions in their hands within minutes.
“The biggest changes we’re making are invisible, most of our guests will probably never be aware of them,” says Kai Speth, general manager of the 110-year-old property. “What they will experience are shorter wait times, and smoother, more efficient service when putting up at the Metropole Hotel.”
For one heritage property however, acquiring the newest technology has more to do with ensuring peace of mind than with ironing the seams out of service.
Gliding serenely through dramatic limestone karsts and turquoise waters, Emeraude Classic Cruises on Halong Bay entices guests with a vessel designed to evoke a lost age of glamour and discovery, drifting in one of the most stunning natural settings in the world.
For Jacques Le Fur, the French captain of the Emeraude, there is no pageantry to shelling out for gadgets and instruments like Fingerprinted Clock-In/Clock-Out, 3D radar and advanced GPS tracking. Though not required by Vietnamese regulations, these tools could one day spell a critical difference for the Emeraude and its passengers.
Finely-tuned GPS tracking automatically sounds an alarm any time the anchor drifts, or the vessel lists to an unusual degree. Le Fur is able to ascertain that engineers and sailors complete hourly rounds by examining the clock-in fingerprint log the Emeraude obtained from a manufacturer in Taiwan.
By bucking the obstacles to transplant modern technology into the country, these hotels are sending out a digital sign that when it comes to innovation, Vietnam is keen to perform on par with the best in the industry.
(Source: ftnnews.com)
Posted by admin on June 28, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels |
Windsor Plaza Saigon hotel (18 An Duong Vuong Street, District 5, HCMC)
The Royal Wedding Fair at the Windsor Plaza Hotel will take place from July 8-10 with exhibitors that are available for free to the public. Every evening, a fashion show features stunning attire for brides, grooms and the entire wedding party with lucky draw prizes including diamond rings, wedding gowns and much more. Besides, hundreds of vouchers for various products and services will be given away to attendees. And
every guest who books their weddings there will enjoy 10% off.
New World Hotel Saigon (76 Le Lai Street, District 1, HCMC)
The fourth wedding fair that takes place on June 25 and 26 consists of a wedding exhibition in Ben Thanh Hall banquet room and the catwalk fashion show on June 26 in Mekong Ballroom. During the two-day wedding fair, the hotel offers special promotions for all weddings held before October this year besides joining a lucky draw with prizes such as a jewelry set, room and dinner vouchers, and more.
Life Heritage Resort Halong Bay
The resort in Ha Long Bay is offering brides and grooms-to-be a private wedding photo cruise in Ha Long Bay, including three hours aboard a heritage sailing junk manned by a personal crew, drinks and a light snack meal for four.
While on the cruise, couples will have their pick of prime photo opportunities within the bay, from the scenery at the Tuan Chau marina to panoramic sunset views from the upper deck. They will participate in a quarterly lucky draw, with the chance to win a 50% discount on a two-night honeymoon at the resort.
Posted by admin on June 21, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels |
Family festival at the Majestic Hotel Saigon
To celebrate Vietnam Family Day on June 28, the five-star Majestic Hotel Saigon will host ‘Family festival’ at the Cyclo Restaurant from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on June 24 and 25. There will be stacks of games for kids who will also receive gifts. The whole family can enjoy a buffet party with traditional Vietnamese dishes and drinks. Tickets are priced at VND399,000 per adult and VND199,000 per child.
Local and foreign beer promotions at Bier Garden
Located in downtown HCMC on Dong Khoi Street, the open-air Bier Garden is an ideal rendezvous for revelers to relax and feast on Western and Asian food. The fried tartar clam and battered fish is done British style and there are other dishes like salmon salad, pumpkin soup with crouton cake or grilled beef with banini cake.
The restaurant is offering a Local Beer Package priced at VND155,000++ for five bottles of beer, Sapporo priced at VND210,000++ per five bottles or happy hour-buffet draught beer from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. priced at VND120,000++.
This month the restaurant has introduced a new menu with American beef dishes such as beef salad with teriyaki sauce and beef wrapped with bamboo and mushroom.
The Majestic Hotel Saigon is located at 1 Dong Khoi Street, HCMC’s District 1.
The Bier Garden is at 125 Dong Khoi Street in HCMC’s District 1.
Tags: ho chi minh city hotel, hotel saigon, Majestic Hotel saigon, Majestic Saigon Hotel, saigon hotel, travel in vietnam, travel to vietnam, travel Vietnam, vietnam hotel deals, vietnam travel, vietnam travel deals
Posted by admin on May 13, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels |
Anantara has announced that it will be opening its first property in Vietnam in July this year.
The Anantara Mui Ne Resort and Spa will be located next to the town of Phan Thiet in Binh Thuan Province, along a shoreline spot on a former coconut plantation.
Following a traditional Vietnamese architectural design, the resort offers 89 rooms, suites and pool villas, as well as a variety of banqueting, event and meeting facilities, including five conference rooms for up to 250 participants.
Other facilities at the resort include an open-air seafood restaurant on the beach and the signature Anantara Spa.
Collected by Vietnam hotels
Posted by admin on May 5, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels |
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) is going to lodge a proposal to the government, asking for investment incentives for the enterprises that develop hotels and tourism accommodations.
Do Thi Hong Xoan, Chair of the Hotel Association, thinks that the current tax policy applied on tourism accommodations is unreasonable.
“A resort area covers 20 hectares, but the investor only uses 35-40 percent of the total area for the construction works. However, in this case, the investor has to pay the same high tax rate for the whole area of 20 hectares, which I believe an unreasonable taxation,” Xoan said.
She went on to say that only devoted people dare to make investment in hotels at this moment, because it is very difficult to borrow capital, while the bank loan interest rates are sky high and hotel room occupancy ratio is low.
Also according to Xoan, a lot of hotels and resorts have been build in recent years, but Vietnam still lacks high quality accommodations for tourists. Therefore, it is still necessary to encourage the investment in hotel development, especially high grade hotels, in order to well prepare to serve tourists when the number of travelers to Vietnam increases sharply.
Meanwhile, investors are now facing big difficulties due to the high land tax and high electricity and water prices.
Hotel and resort developers have voiced the same complaints that the corporate income tax and the peak hour electricity pricing mechanism applied to tourism accommodations are overly high.
Vu The Binh, Chair of the Travel Association, said that travel firms have complained about the land tax over the last many years, but there has been no change in the tax policy so far.
According to Phung Quang Thang, a senior executive of Hanoitourist, in the tourism sector, there are two business fields that need big investments, but it will take investors a long time to take back investment capital: hotel development and means of transport development. “The State should offer investment incentives to help develop the two business fields,” he said.
In fact, the investment incentives offered to tourism accommodation developers have been stipulated in the Tourism Law already. The law says that the State offers preferences in land allocation, finance and credit to institutions and individuals who make investments to develop material facilities for tourism, especially in remote areas. The law also stipulates that Vietnam allows importing of modern specialized equipment to be used at high grade tourism establishments.
However, according to Le Mai Khanh, Deputy Director of Hotel Department under VNAT, to date, only the tax incentives applied to the import of equipment for the first time have been clarified.
When asked why VNAT still has not promulgated legal documents clarifying the investment incentives stipulated in the tourism law, Vu The Binh, who was the Director of the Travel Department under VNAT, said it always takes a long time to compile and issue legal documents. Therefore, in many cases, legal documents do not have the topicality right after they come out.
VNAT’s leaders said they have proposed to put the amendment of the Tourism Law into the upcoming National Assembly’s session’s agenda. While waiting for the law amendment, in order to help ease the problems on enterprises, VNAT will ask the government to apply some preferences in tax, land allocation, electricity and water prices.
Meanwhile, the representative from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said that the proposals for investment incentives need to come in line with the tourism law, the tourism development program up through 2020, which has been submitted for the government’s approval.
Regarding the proposal to reconsider the tax rate imposed on the resort land area where there is no construction work, he said, that clients who want to stay in the resorts, have to pay money for the whole campus, environment and the whole area, not only for the rooms. Therefore, it would be unreasonable to impose tax on the land area with construction works only.
Source: DTCK
Tags: book hotel in Vietnam, booking hotel in Vietnam, cheap hotels Vietnam, Cheap Vietnam hotel, discount hotels Vietnam, hotel in Vietnam, hotel viet nam, hotel vietnam, resort Vietnam, resorts vietnam, vietnam hotel deals, vietnam hotels and resorts, Vietnam resort, Vietnam resorts
Posted by admin on April 28, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels |
Amidst a landscape of swaying coconut palms, in a paradise where the sea meets the sand dunes, Anantara is entering truly exotic new territory with the opening of its first Vietnamese property in the autumn of 2011.
Creating a luxurious new gateway to the distinctive cultural charms of southeastern Vietnam, as well as a breathtaking first glimpse of refined coastal life in a much celebrated beach destination, Anantara Mui ne Resort & Spa will welcome discerning travelers by harnessing the very spirit of this exciting locale. This will be combined with Anantara’s revered Asian hospitality and a range of signature spa, dining and discovery journeys.
Located 198 kilometers northeast of Ho Chi Minh City on the South East Coast of Vietnam, next to the town of Phan Thiet in the province of Binh Thuan, Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa is named after Mui Ne fishing village, in which it occupies an enviable central shoreline position and is surrounded by the village’s famously long and beautiful beaches, stunning mountains and desert-like sand dunes.
Mui Ne’s natural charms are enhanced by an ideal beach climate, being attractively warm and dry for the most part of the year with an average temperature of 29 degress Celsius and promising the lowest annual rainfall of the entire country. Accompanying winds coming in from the ocean transform the heat into a pleasant breeze and generate optimum conditions for kite surfing and windsurfing, as well as refreshing beach time.
Immersed in this alluring tropical scene, guests of Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa will take further inspiration from a fresh water lagoon and tropical gardens which will highlight an expansive swimming pool, while the resort’s traditional Vietnamese architecture will proudly embrace 89 rooms, suites and pool villas designed in contemporary harmony with local culture.
Guests will have a choice of a wide range of rooms and suites ranging from 42 square metres to the Presidential Suite of 178 square metres which offers different lagoon, pool and beach perspectives. In addition, 20 Pool Villas, ranging from 92 to 128 square metres, will boast a private lounge, open-air bathroom, private swimming pool, and spectacular outlook of the gardens, lagoon, pool or beachfront.
Food and beverage outlets marry the resort’s magnificent views and tropical setting with local delicacies and international flair.
Banqueting, event and meeting facilities include five conference rooms for up to 250 participants, as well as exceptional al fresco reception locations. Leisure time unfolds in a host of relaxing and rejuvenating pastimes, with amenities including a spa offering a wealth of health, beauty and wellness treatments, a stunning beach swimming pool, a fitness centre with modern gym equipment in a picturesque garden setting, a reading lounge providing books, magazines, CDs and DVDs.
Guests can look forward to experiencing an invigorating range of water sport activities or improving their swing at a nearby golf course, as well as delving into local culture and history with local points of interest including Mui Ne’s fishing village, port and sand dunes, Hon Rom Red Canyon, Lotus Lake, Dragon Fruit Farm, the Poshanu Cham Tower, Ta Ku Mountain, the Fairy Stream, and Water Tower, and Ke Ga Lighthouse.
Further information about mui ne resort, please visit the website http://Vietnamhotels.net!
(Source: luxurytravelmagazine)
Posted by admin on under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels |
Luxury hotel group Centara Hotels & Resorts have opened the Chen Sea Resort & Spa Phu Quoc, the first Boutique Collection resort in Vietnam of its kind. Room prices start from US$139 per night.
Located on the beach of the Phu Quoc Island, the resort’s 12 pools and spa villas are all constructed from the timber of houses from the Vietnamese port city of Hoi An. The building blocks of the former houses were shipped to the island of Phu Quoc and rebuilt as luxury holiday accommodation.
With 36 villas, the resort is intimate and features a spa, ocean-facing swimming pool and tennis courts. Each villa has its own private terrace and views of the ocean.
Guests have two dining and drinking options. Il Ristorante, right at the seafront, serves Mediterranean cuisine and reflects Phu Quoc’s fishing heritage with a selection of fresh seafood dishes. For drinking the Ghe Lounge Bar offers a wide variety of international cocktails and beverages.
Celebrating its proximity to the coastline, the resort offers a number of water sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, snorkelling and diving. The resort also has a 22ft sailing boat and speedboats available for exploring the coastline.
Phu Quoc is home to the Phu Quoc National Park, which covers 70% of the island and is well known for its outstanding natural beauty and bio-diversity. The park has a variety of species of plants and coral reefs as well as streams. Other natural attractions of Phu Quoc include a pearl farm, Cau temple and a number of white sandy beaches.
See the best phu quoc hotels, please check out the website http://Vietnamhotels.net!
(Source: CNN traveller)
Tags: Chen Sea Resort & Spa Phu Quoc, Chen Sea Resort Phu Quoc, hotel in phu quoc, hotels in phu quoc, Phu quoc hotel, Phu quoc hotels, Phu Quoc Island, Phu quoc Vietnam, resort in Vietnam, resort phu quoc, vietnam hotel
Posted by admin on April 25, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam beauty, Vietnam hotels |
By Kinh Luan in HCMC
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| The adventurous route to Mui Ne along Nui Chua National Park in Ninh Thuan Province |
Beach lovers, who want to go to Mui Ne in Phan Thiet City, might not fancy being cramped in a bus from five to seven hours in horrendous traffic.
So it’s time to choose the coastal route with the trip along Long Hai-Ho Tram-Nui Chua-Lagi a must for this idyllic destination.
From Vung Tau T-junction on National Highway 1A, about 25 kilometers from HCMC, travelers will head on National Road 51 to Ba Ria Town.
From there, you face two roads, one heading to Long Hai Town and the famous Anoasis Beach Resort and Long Hai Beach Resort and Spa and the other head to Ho Tram Beach and Loc An Tourist Area. The second option will see you facing a 250 kilometer detour a whole lot longer than the normal 50 kilometer journey, but it is worth it due to the enchanting landscapes you will see on the way.
You will pass the luxurious Ho Tram Beach Resort and Spa and Loc An Ecological Tourist Area. Located along the coastal road of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Ho Tram Resort is the ideal get-away from the hustle and bustle of HCMC, showcasing authentic Vietnamese architecture, set against a backdrop of blue seas, clear skies and rich garden landscapes.
The journey gets even more exciting when it runs through Chua Mountain in Ninh Thuan Province. The mountain, covering about 30,000 hectares, is famous for its biodiversity and a popular destination for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts alike.
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| A view of the splendid Ba Dien Beach in Vinh Hy Bay Photos: Kinh Luan |
Leaving Chua Mountain, you should stop by at Vinh Hy Bay nestled between two popular tourist destinations of Nha Trang City in the north and Phan Thiet-Mui Ne in the south. The bay attracts a lot of tourists but it still reserves its rural beauty with white sand beach, steep rocky mountain ranges, caves and spectacular waterfalls.
At the bay, visitors can take a boat tour on the beautiful sea, visit the forests and mountains of Nui Chua National Park, the salt production fields, or even go diving in the spectacular coral reefs and bathe in springs.
Coming to Vinh Hy Bay, tourists must stop by Ba Dien Beach, the most stunning beach in the bay.
After the wonders of life on the road, tourists will finally arrive in Mui Ne thinking that their adventure is now over, but of course it is just beginning.
Posted by admin on April 21, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels |
To many, Easter Sunday signifies the true beginning of spring and the renewal of nature and life. It is also a sacred day for the Christian faith and an occasion to celebrate with the city’s five-star hotels fighting it out for your presence on Sunday.
*Caravelle Saigon (17-19 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, tel: 38234999)
Guests are invited to try caviar, champagne, lobster and more than twenty different desserts at the Caravelle Hotel’s buffet brunch.
Seafood is always the big pull at Nineteen Restaurant, and Easter Sunday is no exception. Consume fresh lobster, tiger prawns, soft-shell crab, clams, mussels, snails and more cooked to order.
A huge salad bar, barbeque station with rack of lamb and imported beef tenderloin, choice of soups, lengthy list of appetizers and more traditional main courses like roast turkey, duck and rabbit will also help loosen a few belts.
The price is around VND1.1 million++ per person
*Park Hyatt Saigon (2 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, tel: 3824 1234)\
Easter Brunch will be offered in the Opera Restaurant from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, with a rich buffet set throughout the open kitchen. Brunch begins with a variety of starters including seafood on ice, artichoke crust, followed by savory Easter pie, fish and meat and assorted pizza from the wood-fired oven. More than ten dessert items will also be offered to finish brunch on a sweet note.
Easter eggs made of chocolate will be on sale.
Easter brunch is priced at VND1.1 million ++ per person with a free flow of Prosecco or VND1.7 million with a free flow of Champagne.
*Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon (8-15 Ton Duc Thang St., Dist. 1, tel: 3822 0033, ext. 2300)
The Renaissance is hoping to attract visitors with their alcohol choices in combination with Sunday Brunch at VND624,000++ per person or VND832,000++ per person (including a free flow of chilled vodka, wine, beer and soft drinks)
Dining Vouchers are accepted with food only. Dinning Club Members accepted. The brunch is available from noon to 3 p.m. at the Riverside Café on the hotel’s Ground Floor.
*Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers (88 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, tel: 3827 2828)
Celebrate Easter Sunday with brunch at Saigon Café with all your favorites. Enjoy freshly chilled seafood including crabs, prawns and scampi, rack of lamb, the Sheraton’s famous grill station and splendid selection of desserts including baklava with chocolate and almonds and puff pastry filled with custard and raspberry.
*Windsor Plaza saigon (18 An Duong Vuong St., Dist. 5, tel: 3833 6688)
On Easter Sunday, the Café Central An Dong on level 4 of the hotel will feature an Easter brunch with traditional activities for children such as an Easter egg hunt and egg decorating. Additionally, classic Easter dishes, such as roast lamb, will be available.
To celebrate in style take in a superb dinner at TOTT Bar & Restaurant on level 25.
(Saigon times)
Posted by admin on April 18, 2011 under Vietnam hotels |
Enjoy beauty and wellness at its best at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay. Two days of spa and beauty treatments, healthy organic food with daily Yoga and Tai Chi. Perfect for quality weekend time for yourself and your beloved one.
Inclusions:
- 2 night accommodation at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay
- Welcome drink
- Welcome fruit basket
- One sparkling wine upon arrival
- Three organic meals per day
- Three 60 minute spa/salon treatments
- Morning Yoga or Tai Chi
- Complimentary snorkeling & kayaking
- Free WIFI
- Round trip airport bus n boat transfers
| |
Single
Occupancy
(USD) |
Double
Occupancy
(USD) |
| Hill Top / Spa Suite Villa |
1185 |
1490 |
| Beach Pool Villa |
1317 |
1622 |
| Water/Rock Villa |
1941 |
2246 |
*Rates are subject to 10% tax and 5% service charge
Validity:
1st May to June 30, 2011
Terms & Conditions:
Cancellation policy: Between 14-10 days prior to arrival will incur a 30% charge; 9 days to 5 days will incur 50% charge; 4days or no show will incur a 100% charge. Early check out or delayed check in will incur a 100% charge per the confirmed booking.
