VietNam Travel: Saigon

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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Majestic wins 2nd Class Labor Medal

An outside view of the Majestic Hotel Saigon in HCMC’s District 1 - Photo: My Tran

The Majestic Hotel Saigon will receive the Second Class Labor Medal awarded by the State President on Thursday. It will also be awarded the prize “Golden cup for excellent profits and products 2010” by the online booking site Rakuten.com.

From 2005 to 2010, despite the economic slowdown the hotel met its targets with high average growth of 24% in annual turnover. The pre-tax profit in 2010 was more than four times the figure in 2005.

The hotel also has good environmental credentials with environmentally friendly products and green tourism development.

Nguyen Anh Vu, director of the hotel, said during 2011 the hotel will expand its operation into the third phase; building a twin tower with 24 floors, 336 rooms, a new ballroom and 12 conference rooms. The hotel will continue upgrading rooms into five-star standard and expand its business into Northeastern Asia to promote the brand name in the region.

The Majestic Hotel Saigon, under management of Saigontourist, was built in 1925. At 1 Dong Khoi Street in HCMC’s District 1, it has 175 rooms designed with French décor with Saigon River views.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Where to celebrate the day of love

A couple write their names on a heart-shaped cookie at the Valentines buffet at the Windsor Plaza Hotel Saigon’s last year - Photo: Courtesy of the Windsor Plaza Hotel Saigon

For Valentine’s Day, impress your partner with romantic dining, accommodation and gifts.

Caravelle Hotel (19 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3823 4999)

All afternoon on Valentine’s Day, the hotel’s Lobby Lounge will brew sweet nothings and a remarkable high tea. When the day wanes, both Nineteen and Reflections restaurants are set to prepare meals once enjoyed by Aphrodite herself. Each dinner comes complete with a flute of Mumm Champagne. Dinner at each of the restaurants costs nearly VND1.3 million++ while the high tea costs VND398,000++ per person.

Lobby Lounge & Restaurant Nineteen – Ground Floor – Caravelle Hotel

Reflections Restaurant – Third Floor – Caravelle Hotel

Duxton Hotel Saigon (93 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3822 2999)

Wine and dine your Valentine at the hotel’s The Grill Restaurant with romantic music by the Stroller Band, candlelit tables, heart-shape chocolates and flowers for the ladies. Valentine’s dinner buffet is priced at US$30++/person.

Mövenpick Hotel Saigon (253 Nguyen Van Troi St., Phu Nhuan Dist., tel: 3844 9222)

There will be romantic dinner menus at all the hotel’s restaurants.

The first 15 couples to book a table on this special day will receive a complimentary stay at the hotel’s brand new deluxe rooms. The price is at VND620,000++ per person including free flowing house wines, beer, soft drinks, coffee and tea. Valentine’s dinner is available from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Legend Hotel Saigon (2A-4A Ton Duc Thang St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3823 3333)

For this cupid celebration, the hotel’s executive chef Romeo Bantiling and his team will prepare a sumptuous international buffet serving an array of fresh seafood and a lavish spread of gourmet dishes at the Atrium Café. Ladies will be surprised with a special gift attractively arranged by the chefs for the night. The Valentine’s Buffet is priced at VND500,000++ for lunch and VND960,000++ for dinner. Children from 6 to 12 are half price.

Deli Corner from Feb. 12-14 offers a range of delicious chocolates and heart-shaped cakes for you to take away.

Park Hyatt Hotel (2 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3824 1234)

Create precious memories over a private dinner at Opera Restaurant with Italian dishes prepared by Chef Michele Gulizzi, including a bottle of champagne and a special Valentines Day chocolate. The price is VND3.7 million++ per couple. A distinctive evening for two at Square One Restaurant is another choice at the hotel.

Renaissance Riverside Saigon Hotel (8-15 Ton Duc Thang St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3822 0033)

The hotel’s Kabin Chinese Restaurant offers Valentine’s Day dinner with an eight-course “couple menu” and a bottle of sparkling wine while Poolside Terrace and Riverside Café have their own ways to delight couples. Also includes roses and chocolates during dining.

Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers (88 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, tel: 3827.2828)

The hotel’s Signature Restaurant offers a delectable seven-course degustation in truly intimate ambiance while Libai Chinese Restaurant offers a romantic dinner with a traditional flair. Saigon Café and Mojo coffee shop have something special for guests.

Sofitel Saigon Plaza (17 Le Duan Blvd., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3824 1555)

Until Feb. 28, the hotel has the “Magnifique Romance” offer - a touch of French elegance to mark Valentine’s Day including a Valentine’s accommodation promotion, with double A/CLUB points, a bottle of champagne on ice and a romantic gift.

Windsor Plaza Hotel Saigon (18 An Duong Vuong St., Dist. 5, HCMC, tel: 3833 6688)

Sit down together to a magnificent Valentine’s buffet dinner with over 170 Western dishes at Café Central An Dong plus a gift from an angel and delectable heart-shaped cookies to decorate and declare your love for each other. The buffet price is only VND350,000++ per person. Ngan Dinh Chinese Restaurant’s chefs will prepare special dishes for one evening only on Valentine’s Day, including two glasses of wine and live music for around VND1.2 million++ per couple. TTOT Bar & Restaurant on level 25 also offers a lavish multi-course set menu for only VND550,000++ per person.

Vinpearl Nha Trang Resort & Spa (Hon Tre Island, Vinh Nguyen Ward, Nha Trang City, tel: 058 3590 611)

There will be a special program named “A moment of love – Speak for love” on Valentine’s Day featuring special buffets from Asian to Western cuisines for guests at Vinpearl Nha Trang Resort & Spa. The resort will be transformed into a paradise of multicolored flowers from the bedroom to dining table. Guests will receive a chocolate box from the resort to make their Valentine’s Day sweeter.

Saigon Domaine Luxury Residences (1057 Binh Quoi, Ward 28, Binh Thanh Dist., tel: 3556 6163)

This Valentine’s weekend, Saigon Domaine, a luxury serviced residence complex on the banks of the Saigon River on Thanh Da Island offers a special package. Guests who book a four-night stay (Feb. 11 -15) will get a special low rate of US$169 per night, with the fourth night for free. The package also includes a bottle of chilled champagne and fresh flowers in the room upon arrival.

The chef’s special Western set menu in the intimate al fresco setting of the River Garden is just US$19++ per person, and don’t miss the 25% discount off a romantic moonlight Thanh Da island boat tour.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Peanut gets residence at Palace

Veteran rockers, Peanut, perform at the Palace Hotel Saigon - Photo: Courtesy of Saigontourist

Calibre Charner restaurant at the Palace Saigon Hotel has signed veteran local rockers, Peanut, as the nightly resident band.

The band that started more than 40 years ago in 1967 has made a recent comeback playing its own brand of classic rock. The four members, Bernard Tam (solo guitarist, singer and who can play guitar by teeth), Francois Thien (drummer), Michel Chi (Guitar bass, singer) and Patrick Trung (keyboard, singer), are brothers.

Covers from the 60s, 70s and 80s include Come together, Don’t let me down (Beatles), How deep is your love, I started a joke (Bee Gees), The house of the rising sun, We gotta get out of this place (The Animals), I can’t get no satisfaction (The Rolling Stones), Smoke on the water (Deep Purple) and Hotel California (Eagles).

The band is accompanied by a singer from the Philippines and four Vietnamese singers. They will perform from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

On February 1, the band will perform from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in front of the hotel in a Tet performance on Nguyen Hue Flower Street.

Calibre Charner is part of a relaxation, healthcare and beauty complex featuring restaurant, café, bar, karaoke, spa, gym and hair salon. Located in downtown Nguyen Hue Boulevard and surrounded by trade centers, buildings, banks and fashion shops, cafés, Calibre Charner, open 7a.m. to midnight, is an ideal venue for businessmen and tourists to take the view of Saigon life.

The menu includes breakfast with noodle soup with ox tails, Hue style noodle soup with beef, Nam Vang noodle soup and broken rice.

It has two set dinner menus for Tet on Lunar New Year’s Eve priced at US$59 per person.

On the fifth floor of the hotel will be a seafood buffet from February 2 to February 6. Tickets are priced at VND550,000 per adult on Lunar New Year’s Eve and VND350,000 per adult on February 3 to 6.

The Palace Hotel Saigon, 55-66 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, HCMC’s District 1. Tel: 3829 2860.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Traditional French king cakes at Sofitel Saigon

The Sofitel Saigon Plaza has added a touch of France to the New Year with a traditional French cake “La Galette des Rois”, also known as King Cake.

“La Galette des Rois” has been a French tradition, since 1870. Each member of the family attending New Year party takes a piece of the cake hoping to find a hidden token inside. The recipient is then crowned King or Queen for the day and appointed the host for next year’s party.

For gastronomes in Saigon who would like to experience this special tradition – frangipane filled tart – “La Galette des Rois” will be prepared this year by the hotel’s award-winning pastry team, and available at the hotel’s Gourmand Shop from January 2 to 23. Prices range from VND120,000+ for individual portions to whole cakes for VND450,000+ to serve 8-10.

The biggest “Galette des Rois” in Vietnam will be showcased at the Special King Cake Buffet Brunch on Sunday January 9 at Café Rivoli. The full buffet will be themed around King Cakes with various flavors to surprise you and enchant your children. The unique brunch priced at VND 790,000++ per guest includes free flowing fruit juices.

Sofitel Saigon Plaza is at 17 Le Duan Blvd., District 1, HCMC. For bookings, call 08 3824 1555 or email fb@sofitelsaigon.com.vn.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Where to celebrate Christmas and New Year?

Christmas decoration at the Atrium Cafe of the Legend Hotel Saigon - Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

The festive season is a time to celebrate and make merry with family and friends. This year, the two important holidays, Christmas and New Year fall on the weekend so people have more time to relax and enjoy entertainment and dining with family and friends. In the Daily’s issues on Dec. 10 & 17, TravelLiving features Chritsmas and New Year programs of hotels and tourist areas under the management of Saigontourist. Here are some more interesting venues for you to choose for your holidays.

ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES

*September 23 Park in HCMC’s District 1:

The fifth “Tastes of the World” festival will take place from Dec. 26 until Jan. 2 in the park with 60 booths from 24 countries. Apart from honoring local and international cuisines, the festival features a bartender contest, a ceremony to set Vietnam’s record for the biggest banh xeo (pancake), and a cooking contest with celebrities. Delegations from the Republic of Korea, Russia, Germany and Vietnam will perform traditional dances and folk songs in their national costumes. Youth Advertising Company.

*Dai Nam tourist area in Binh Duong Province:

The tourist area will launch a 20-minute science movie projected onto a dome screen. The dome movie theater is a combination of film making technologies, an 18m diameter dome a surround stereo system with 18 speakers and six projectors. The theater which seats 200 will screen a nature movie. The tourist area will organize a fireworks display on New Years Day Jan. 1.

*Suoi Tien Theme Park in HCMC’s District 9:

The children choir at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Caravelle Hotel Saigon - Photo: Courtesy of the Caravelle Hotel Saigon

For Christmas, Suoi Tien will be transformed into snowy mountains and forests with Santa Claus riding his reindeer sleigh as angels and a snow princess give gifts to children.

An ornament festival will be held from today until Jan. 1 featuring 60 booths from cities and provinces nationwide. Some contests on bonsai, orchids, ornamental fish and dogs will be held.

*Dam Sen Cultural Park in HCMC’s District 11:

The park will launch a special “Sweet Noel & New Year” program from Dec. 24 until Jan. 2. A new drama for children named “Vi than may man’ (A lucky genie) produced by Idécaf will stage for four days Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. A hip-hop battle called “Red Lotus 2011” featuring break-dance, Deejay, Rap, Graffiti, Beatbox by Vietnamese dance groups and a judging panel from Thailand will be organized all day Jan. 1 at the musical fountain stage from 7am to 6pm. An ice sculpture show featuring images of the world wonders including Vietnam’s One-Pillar Pagoda, Thailand’s Golden Pagoda, Lao Pagoda, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Champs-Élysées and the Leaning Tower of Pisa is on display until next September.

*Saigon Zoo & Botanical Garden (2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, HCMC)

On Dec 24 and 25, the central Youth Union in conjunction with Yeah1 TV will hold the Yeah1 Wonderland festival. The festival lineup includes a Hip Hop Supernova contest for hip hop and break dance groups, a cosplay show, a carnival, a street parade with performance art, musicians and dancers and a swapping festival.

*The Canal Area of Phu My Hung Urban Zone in HCMC’s District 7:

The Canal Area will be decorated in the Christmas theme with images of Santa Claus and the reindeer sleigh, the Snow Queen, dwarfs and penguins until Dec. 26.

DINING OUT

*Caravelle Hotel (17 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3823 4999)

On Dec. 24, 25, 31 & Jan. 1, the hotel’s Nineteen Restaurant and Reflection Restaurant will serve buffet lunch and buffet dinner with a live jazz quartet. Price is VND998,000++ to VND2.1 million++. At the Saigon Saigon Bar, there’s a countdown dance party with live entertainment featuring Cuban band Luna Negra for VND800,000++.

*Duxton Hotel Saigon (93 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3822 2999)

Celebrate this festive season at The Grill and earn a Duxton Cash Voucher from our Festive Point Program. Christmas & New Year Eve Buffet Dinner: US$59++/person (Dec. 24 & Dec. 31), Christmas & New Year Day Buffet Lunch: US$25++/person (Dec. 25 & Jan. 1) and Christmas & New Year Day Buffet Dinner: US$38++/person (Dec. 25 & Jan. 1).

*Legend Hotel Saigon (2A-4A Ton Duc Thang St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3823 3333)

Enjoy Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve with a gala dinner buffet, novelties, variety entertainment, and live performance by the Essence Band at the hotel’s Pool Side. At the Atrium Café, Santa will give gifts to your kids. A midnight toast with a glass of sparkling at the New Year’s Eve countdown with a balloon drop and guitar & violin duo will make the start of 2011 memorable.

*Hotel Equatorial (242 Tran Binh Trong St., Dist. 5, HCMC, tel: 3839 7777)

Festive activities include carol singing, a Christmas bazaar and festive dishes at the Orientica and Chit Chat at the Café restaurants. The two restaurants present glorious menus of festive cuisines. Party on New Year’s Eve with sizzling menus, exciting entertainment, a lucky draw and the official countdown.

*InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel (corner of Le Duan Blvd. and Hai Ba Trung St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3520 9999)

The Christmas Royal Afternoon Tea at The Library lounge, some Italian home-style delights at Basilico, and a lunch or dinner at Market 39 with special Christmas treats are some highlights. At the Spa InterContinental, a “Get Your Glow Back” package has been created.

*Mövenpick Hotel Saigon and Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi:

At both hotels in HCM City and Hanoi are launching special brunches and buffets to celebrate the holidays. In HCM City, Santa Claus will be hading out Christmas gifts to the kids in the lobby. In Hanoi, special Christmas activities will be available to children in the playroom. Gift Hampers are also available at the two hotels.

*Park Hyatt Hotel Saigon (2 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3824 1234)

A variety of menus have been created by the hotel’s celebrated chefs at the two award-winning restaurants, Opera and Square One, especially for Christmas and the New Year from VND1.5 million++ to VND2.7 million++. To welcome in 2011 and party in style, customers can revel at 2 Lam Son bar with the savvy Saigon crowd and guest DJ till 2 a.m.

*Ramana Hotel Saigon (323 Le Van Sy St., Dist. 3, HCMC, tel: 3843 9999)

Be entertained by live dance and choir music, a lucky draw, gifts for kids from Santa Claus and a Gala Buffet Dinner at The Café with more than 90 mouthwatering dishes for US$30++ for adults, half price for kids under 10. New Year’s Eve will have live music, lucky draw and a free glass of champagne for the countdown - only US$35 for adults, half price for kids under 10. The hotel offers its Year-End party package for only USD$16++ per person. Customers are offered a choice of menus, standard festive decorations with lighting and sound system, dance floor and one festive banner.

*Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon (8-15 Ton Duc Thang St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3822 0033)

Festive specialties prepared hot at live cooking stations are served at Riverside Café while Kabin Chinese Restaurant offers promotions at its private dining rooms during the season. At the 21st Poolside Terrace, there is a festive BBQ and live music. Kid corners are available to keep your kids entertained while gifts from Santa Claus will complete the little guests’ wishes for the night. For the New Year countdown, thousands of balloons drop at the crack of the New Year. You can pop the balloons to discover your prizes.

*Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers (88 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3827.2828)

The Gingerbread House is offering a wide range of gifts for guests to buy from a chocolate Santa Claus to a gingerbread snow man and Christmas yule logs. Christmas at Saigon Café has carol singers and gifts from Santa Claus for the children besides festive dishes. At New Years Eve, there is the countdown party at the Night Spot bar.

*Sofitel Saigon Plaza (17 Le Duan Blvd., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3824 1555)

On Dec 24, Café Rivoli serves a delightful Christmas Eve buffet dinner with a traditional five-course set menu and a glass of Taittinger Champaign and unlimited Bordeaux wines at VND1.6 million++ per person. An enticing New Year’s Eve dinner buffet awaits you at Café Rivoli to feast for this festive night with a selection of fine French wines on free flow at VND 1,800,000++ per person. Then, indulge yourself with a “Magnifique” lobster brunch, for Jan. 1, with a wide range of desserts at VND900,000++ per person.

*Windsor Plaza Hotel (18 An Duong Vuong St., Dist. 5, HCMC, tel: 3833 6688)

The Windsor Plaza Hotel is also serving up special holiday fare at the three award-winning in-house dining establishments. Café Central An Dong will host special Holiday brunch and dinner buffets on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Dinner buffets feature two free glasses of wine or beer.

For a more traditional Eastern take on the Holidays, Ngan Dinh Restaurant, on the hotel’s fifth floor will serve a classic eight-course menu with a bottle of imported red wine on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. While the TOTT Bar & Restaurant, located on the 25th floor, is where to enjoy the scenery and the sumptuous cuisine with two glasses of wine or beer on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1.

*Lion Restaurant (11-13 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3823 8514)

Buffet parties will take place at the restaurant from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the nights of Dec 24 & 31, with more than 40 dishes. The parties will rock along with Filipino singers, a Christmas choir, circus and magic performances, games, dances and comedy performances for the New Year’s Eve. Participants will get gifts from Santa Claus and take part in a lucky draw. Ticket prices are VND579,000 for adults and VND379,000 for children.

*Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa (Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province): There will be a traditional Christmas food program for guests, accompanied with a music performance by the hotel staff choir.

*Golden Sand Resort and Spa Hoi An (Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province, tel: (0510) 3927 555): The Christmas celebration will start from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on December 24 with a party, Filipino band and lucky draw. Tickets are US$48 per adult and US$28 per child, free for kids under six.

*Furama Resort Danang (68 Ho Xuan Huong Street, Bac My AN, Danang City, tel: (0511) 3847 333): Enjoy music and dance performances and admire the flower with light displays. The resort also offers tours to heritages sites, martial arts on the beach and sport coaching for children such as tennis, flying kites and dragon dances.

*Silver Shores Hotel and Resort (8 Son Tra Dien Ngoc Street, Ngu Hanh Son District, Danang City, tel: (0511) 3818 888): The hotel will prepare a buffet with Asian dishes such as sashimi, Vietnamese soup, steamed shrimp with chili sauce, Thai duck curry and salads.

Other Christmas promotions include rooms for US$185-US$245 per night, including buffet breakfast, Xmas and New Year parties, and half price for the fourth night.

For New Year celebrations in Hoi An, visitors can enjoy the New Year’s Eve countdown at Hoai River with activities such as a dan tranh (16-chord zither) solo performance, dragon dances, rock and Aspara dance shows. The program starts 7 p.m. on December 31 to 2 a.m. January 1.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Three New Luxury Hotels For HCM City

An artist's impression of the live-star Pullman Saigon Center Hotel

On November 29, 2010, Saigontourist will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its five-star Pullman Saigon Center Hotel, complete the foundation for its four-star Novotel Saigon Center Hotel and inaugurate its four-star Liberty Central Hotel.

The total investment capital for the three hotels is about US$113 million. These three hotels belong to Que Huong Liberty Joint Stock Co., under the umbrella of Saigontourist Holding Company.

Nguyen Huu Tho, general director of Saigontourist, said: “Regarding the development strategy for the period 2010-2015 and the vision for 2010, Saigontourist aims to become the biggest tourism corporation in Vietnam and the region in the fields of accommodation, tourism, gastronomy and other services. The company strives for a total turnover of over US$1 billion in 2015, making tourism a key industry of HCM City and Vietnam. The three hotels, Pullman Saigon Center, Novotel Saigon Center and Liberty Central of Que Huong Liberty Joint Stock Co., are among the tens of key investment projects of Saigontourist in HCM City.”

Pullman Saigon Center Hotel

The five-star Pullman Saigon Center Hotel, on the site of the former three-star Metropole (at 148 Tran Hung Dao St., Dist. 1), will be built with a three-level underground car park, 24 floors, with 300 bedrooms, restaurants, meeting rooms and fitness clubs. It has an investment capital of US$60 million and is due to be completed in 2013.
Pullman — a prestigious upscale five-star hotel brand of Accor group — will manage the Pullman Saigon Center Hotel. Currently, the Pullman network has 46 hotels around the world, and in the future Accor plans to develop 150 hotels under this brand.

Novotel Saigon Center Hotel

Work on Novotel Saigon Center Hotel, on the site of the former QueHuong 1 Hotel (at 165-167 Hai Ba Trung St., Dist. 1), started in April, and to date the foundation has been completed. The four-star hotel is due to commence operation in 2012, with three-level underground parking, 18 floors of hotel space, 250 bedrooms, restaurants, meeting rooms, leisure and entertainment rooms. The project’s investment capital is about US$38 million.

Liberty Central Hotel

Que Huong Liberty Co. started building Liberty Central Hotel (formerly Que Huong Liberty 6 at 177-179 Le Thanh Ton St., Dist. 1), with the design by Ong & Ong Company (Singapore) and construction by CotecCons.
In February 2010, the company put part of Liberty Central Hotel into operation, consisting of one-level underground parking, 12 floors of hotel space, 139 bedrooms and other international four-star standard services, capitalized at US$15 million.

Central Restaurant can host up to 150 guests, serving breakfast and Vietnamese specialties in a Fusion style. LIO Coffee Lounge on the ground floor is a relaxing area for welcoming guests.

To meet the demand for meetings and parties, there are the luxurious Apollo conference room hosting up to 150 people, with modern equipment and two small meeting rooms, holding from 20-40 guests.
There are two private dining rooms on the second floor and the Executive Lounge on the 11th floor serving business guests.

In addition, staff at the Business Center and Concierge are ready to answer any questions. Guests can relax with services such as spa, massage, an outdoor swimming pool on the 12th floor and a gym on the top floor.
Liberty Central Hotel is managed by Saigontourist. Pullman Saigon Center and Novotel Saigon Center hotels will be under Accor’s management.

“The combination of Saigontourist and Accor will help increase international tourists, diversify and upgrade product and service quality as well as professionalism. The cooperation between Saigontourist and Accor will also contribute to perfecting management techniques of Saigontourist in line with international standards,” Nguyen Huu Tho said.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Xmas and New Year at Majestic and Grand

The Majestic Saigon Hotel is having parties for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at two of its venues. You can enjoy both big nights at gala parties at Prima Ballroom – Breeze Sky Bar on the fifth floor. Feast on the Asian and Western buffet, while being entertained by music shows for children with Christmas carols, bartender performances, a dancing contest and a live flamenco band.

Tickets cost VND1.5 million per adult and VND745,000 per child, inclusive of wine and beer.

M.Bar on the eighth floor will also hold Christmas and New Year parties with BBQ buffets, bartender performances and carols on Christmas Eve. Cost is VND1.08 million per adult and VND540,000 per child, inclusive of drinks.

At the Grand Saigon Hotel, Chez-nous Restaurant will welcome Christmas and 2011with great food and entertainment.

The Saigon Christmas Gala event will serve hotel specialties - abalone soup, clam soup, grilled jambon with honey, grilled shrimps and steamed rabbit with wine while diners are entertained by flamenco dancers and live music from Cocoband.

At the New Year’s Eve party eat sumptuous turkey, shrimp, salmon, veal and clam while some of Saigon’s best music acts keep your toes tapping.

Tickets are US$50 per adult and US$30 per child with the buy 10 tickets get one free deal for purchases before December 22.

At the Bar Des – Amis on the hotel’s first floor, there will be a poolside BBQ buffet both nights with music by a Philippines cover band.

Tickets are priced at US$35 per adult and US$20 per child. Guests who buy 10 tickets will get one free.

The Majestic Saigon Hotel is at 1 Dong Khoi Street, HCMC’s District 1, tel: 3829 5517, email: banquet@majesticsaigon.com.vn.

The Grand Saigon Hotel is at 8 Dong Khoi Street in HCMC’s District 1, tel: 3824 5771, email: banquetsales@grandhotel.vn.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

A humorous look at Saigon traffic

I was joking the other day that I only use my brain 10% of the time - only for the most important things. In Saigon that would mean I’d have to reserve my day’s quota of brain power to survive the mayhem on the roads on my motorbike. There’s no end to the miasma of bizarre driving acts that happen out there, but I’ve tried to jot down a few of the common ones that test my reflexes and emotions.

The Vertical Merge: This is my favorite, but it horrified me when I first caught a xe om in Saigon. Instead of waiting for a gap to turn left (and lets face it – there aren’t any gaps) you just head straight at the swathe of oncoming traffic, veering slightly for the center line.

The Moving Gap: This is a roundabout maneuver that I can do slowly with some aplomb, but I have seen some maniacs and a few straight-backed Vespa- Zen girls do it at top speed without even blinking. Roundabouts present streams of traffic going at different angles, some at right angles to ourselves. To get through you have to judge the moving gap precisely. Most riders take it easy, but when you see someone do it at top speed, it’s quite impressive.

The Shepherd: Turning left at traffic lights when the oncoming motorbikes are 20 thick and 200 deep, somebody has to lead the way across. This takes some courage or stupidity as you must trust that the motorist heading at you knows that you’re coming. As soon as the leader breaks the stream of traffic, motorbikes follow in his shadow and he shepherds them across.

The “Daddy Doesn’t Know Where his Little Girl is”: The young truant with a tight fitting cowboy shirt embroidered with a skull on the back has his teenage girlfriend in red denim shorts clinging tightly around his waist, with her head on his shoulder screaming joyfully in his ear. He does the “Saigon Racer Wobble” to signal to everybody that he is going to throw himself recklessly into the wrong lane to pass.

The “I Guess You Think This is my Fault”: It normally happens near service stations on busy roads. After filling up their motorbikes people can’t be bothered doing the “Vertical Merge” so they just head up the wrong side of the road beside the curb. That’s all fine until you surprise them by coming round the next corner doing the “Blind Right” and run headfirst into them.

The Blind Right: Turning right in Saigon is a breeze, you don’t have to look. Just turn right, go as wide as you like and it’s up to anyone who is coming, to go around you.

The Double Squeeze: You are riding along ready for almost anything, but a pushcart slowly comes out on your right, pushing you towards the center line. At the same time a masked woman scooterist heads blindly out of a street on the left narrowing the gap in the center of the road like a closing elevator door.

Those are just a few but remember - with Saigon traffic the key is never to take your life or limbs for granted. It’s a jungle on the roads, and if you know the moves you can avoid an accident. It’s a type of meditation with a mantra made from swear words – totally in the moment. It brings you closer to God.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

New dining promotions at Renaissance

The Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon has these food and beverage specials in November: “Peking Duck returns @ Kabin” by resident chef from Hong Kong, Yeung Loi Ming, till December 30; “Thanksgiving Dinner @ Riverside Café” on Nov. 25 featuring mouthwatering traditional Thanksgiving turkey with many other delicacies complimented with a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau; “Beer Buckets Galore @ Poolside Terrace”; “Seafood Extravaganza @ Riverside Café”; “Sunday Brunch @ Riverside Café” and “The Art of Dim Sum @ Kabin”.

For more information, contact the hotel at 3822 0033.

French cuisine at Square One

Until November 20, Chef Benjamin Attwater from Square One Restaurant of the Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel will introduce a “Culinary Journey through South West France”. Chef Attwater has designed a six course degustation dinner menu, consisting of dishes and produce from the South West of France, matching each dish with wines from the same region.

Dinner set menu at USD110++ per person with wine.

For more information, call +84 8 3824 1234 or email saigon.park@hyatt.com

Traditional English High Tea at InterContinental

The InterContinental Asiana Saigon introduces nostalgic - English High Tea this month at the hotel’s library.

Visit the hotel library from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to have a pot of traditional English loose tea accompanied with fresh-cut sandwiches, scones with strawberry jam and whipped cream and sophisticated sweet bites. The price is VND300,000++ for two persons.

The Library also offers a sophisticated all-day snack menu devised by the hotel’s Executive Chef Rolando Manesco. The wide selection of tempting treats is paired with a “royal selection” of the world’s finest teas, coffees, wines and spirits served in an elegant setting.

For more information or reservations, call 08 3520 9099 or email dine@icasianasaigon.com.

The hotel is at corner of Le Duan Boulevard and Hai Ba Trung Street.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Halloween At Rex, Majestic And Saigon Boat

Halloween, a western festival that is held annually at the end of October, is approaching. Some members of Saigontourist Holding Company will celebrate it for fun’s sake.

Halloween will be celebrated at Rex Hotel Saigon, Majestic Hotel and Saigon Boat Restaurant.

Rex Hotel Saigon

The five-star Rex Hotel Saigon in downtown HCM City will celebrate Halloween Festival at its Rooftop Garden, one of the most beautiful bars in the city, on the night of October 30.

Joining the festival, guests will have many delicious dishes and a great deal of wine to enjoy. They will also be able to participate in interesting entertainment activities with professional disc jockeys, see a masquerade of the hotel employees or have themselves masqueraded free. Couples with the most impressive, most terrifying and funniest costumes will be given prizes.

The ticket for joining the festival costs an adult US$40++ and a child US$26++. The 15% and 10% discounts are given to guests staying at the hotel and masqueraded guests, respectively.

The Rooftop Garden, which was a favorite rendezvous of American military officers and foreign journalists in the 1960s and was selected to be one of the best bars in Southeast Asia in 1996 by Newsweek, is located on the fifth floor of Rex Hotel Saigon. It is an ideal place for groups or couples to relax in a fresh, airy space and observe Saigon’s night life.

Majestic Hotel

Majestic Hotel will celebrate Halloween Night at its M-Bar on the eighth floor from 6:30 p.m.-11 p.m. on October 31. The party offering special food and drinks, coupled with games and artistic performances, promises plenty of fun. Guests can have themselves masqueraded free to attend the festival. Those with the exclusive and the most impressive performances will get prizes.

The ticket prices for the Halloween party are US$26 for an adult and US$13 for a child.

M-Bar is a right place for relaxing with music performances by a Filipino band. It is also suitable for meetings with customers or friends. From here, guests can take a panoramic view of the Saigon River and HCM City’s busy life. This is also one of the first choices when people want to see firework displays on the occasion of special holidays and festivals.

Saigon Boat Restaurant

Saigon Boat Restaurant will serve and entertain guests with a Halloween dinner buffet on the nights of October 30 and 31. In the hilarious atmosphere of the festival, guests will be served by merry, lovely “ghosts.” Drinks include Australian wine, Russian Fifth Ocean beer and cocktail. The buffet goes with more than 40 dishes, including pumpkin soup, grilled shrimps with lemon sauce and grilled sheep ribs with garlic.

The performances of the Latin Eyes band and Philippine singers together with Hawaiian and Gypsy dances and photo taking with Halloween Dracula are features of the festival.

The boat will receive guests and serves cocktail from 6 p.m. It will start the one-hour journey between Bach Dang Quay and Ben Nghe Port from 8:30-9:30 p.m. After the ship stops at its berth at Bach Dang Quay, the dancing night program will begin and last one hour. The ticket costs VND500,000 for an adult and VND300,000 for a child.
The Saigon Boat Restaurant is 55 meters long, 10 meters wide and 6 meters high. The well-designed boat with three decks can carry 600 people beside its crew. Each deck has a different style to meet customers’ diverse demands. The boat is much known for seafood dishes, namely tiger shrimps steamed with coconut milk, duck meat fried with taro and seafood hotpot.

Rex Hotel Saigon:
141 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 08.38293185, email: rexhotel@rex.com.vn
Majestic Hotel:
1 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 08.38295517, email: banquet@majesticsaigon.com.vn
Saigon Boat Restaurant: Bach Dang Quay, Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 08.38230393, email: tausaigon@vnn.vn

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Hanoi meets Saigon for coffee

A guest takes a drink at the Cacophony café designed to resemble Hanoi street café culture - Photo: Tuong Vi

Saigon is the melting pot of Vietnam… It’s a mixture of cultures, customs, foods and peoples from every province and around the globe. There’s a place for everyone here to enjoy the tastes of home.

For the Hanoians in Saigon who miss their city, Cacophony café at 57H, Tu Xuong Street in District 3 is a nice reminder of their favorite street hangouts.

Cacophony coffee shop is built in an old French three story villa. Each floor has its own style. The ground floor is a place for those love it modern, with live acoustic music every night from Wednesday to Sunday including pop, rock, and country 9 to 10.45p.m.

The first floor is decorated to be a street corner of Saigon with red bricks and power poles and old black and white photos of the city.

The second floor is the pride of the Hanoian owners. Every detail invokes memories of the old town - the brickwork, the street signs and the old wooden doors. There are oil lamps hanging outside every house, low set tables with cushions and cuckoo cages on the roofs. Phung Thanh Hoa, the owner of the cafe that opened on the occasion of 1,000 years of Hanoi-Thang Long said photos can’t walk you down memory lane as well as the three dimensional experience of Cacophony café. It was designed with help from architecture and arts students.

Tran Khanh Hoang, manager of the cafe said cacophony means a discordant and meaningless mixture of sounds. They gave this name to the newly opened shop because of the mixture of sounds on the streets.

Friday, October 29, 2010

CNN names Rooftop Garden in best bars

Diners at the Rooftop Garden Bar on the fifth floor of the five-star Rex Hotel Saigon in HCMC - Photo: Courtesy of Saigontourist

The Rooftop Garden Bar at the five-star Rex Hotel Saigon has been recognized as one of the thirty most beautiful bars in the world by journalist Michelle Woo on CNN.com. The bar had already been voted as one of the most beautiful bars in Asia by Newsweek magazine and selected as one of 1,000 venues that diners should try before they die by renowned U.S. travel journalist Patricia Schultz.

For eight years until 1973, the
hotel’s conference room was the venue of the “Five O’clock Follies”, a phrase coined by war reporters in HCMC for the 5 p.m. official press briefing by the U.S. military. The bar was the scene of many memorable drinks between journalists.

The Rooftop Garden Bar is on the fifth floor of the hotel and is ideal for diners to take in the Saigon panorama, over food, drinks and entertainment.

The hotel still has a lot of its old charm. The bar has capacity of 400 guests.

According to CNN.com, “With neon lights, bird cages, bonsai trees, flowers and giant ceramic elephants, the garden bar serving 24/24 at the Rex Hotel Saigon is really attractive as it is. Located in the center of the bustling Saigon City, this is the ideal place for diners to sip cocktails and listen to motorbike horns down the road. You should try a sunset pastis.”

The hotel has reinstated the “Five O’clock Follies” with a promotion offering 15% discount on drinks.

The hotel is at 141 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, HCMC’s District 1, tel: 3829 2185, email: rexhotel@rex.com.vn.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

A Home For Visitors To Halong

Saigon-Halong Hotel, based in the northern province of Quang Ninh’s Halong City, has diverse services for visitors to the area

A member of HCM City-based Saigontourist Holding Company, Saigon-Halong Hotel is among the biggest tourist services providers in Halong, where there is Halong Bay, one of Vietnam’s world natural heritage sites.
The four-star hotel is located in downtown Halong. It has a panoramic view of Halong Bay and is in the proximity of boat quays, beaches and night markets.

Full services

Saigon-Halong Hotel consists of a 15-floor building and five villas on a pine hill. It has a total of 222 rooms, including 17 rooms at the villas. The rooms are divided into six different categories: Villa Superior, Villa Family, Superior, Deluxe, Executive Suite and Presidential Suite. They all face the pine hill and Halong Bay.

Saigon-Halong Hotel has five restaurants. Two of them—Elegant and Panorama—are located inside the hotel. The rest—Rung Thong (Pine Forest), Ga Thoc (Chicken with Paddy) and Saigon-Halong Restaurant Ship—are outside the hotel and specialize in serving European-Asian cuisine and Halong specialties.

The Elegant Restaurant, located on the ground floor of the hotel, serves European-Asian cuisine and breakfast buffet every day to a maximum of 150 guests. The Panorama Restaurant, on the 14th floor and as the only restaurant in the town to have a full view of Halong Bay, has 250 seats and is suitable for parties, receptions and conferences. It serves breakfast buffet every day and is also an ideal spot for travelers to watch the sunrise and sunset on the world-famous bay.

The Rung Thong Restaurant stands near the swimming pool and bears the architecture of a house on stilts. It can serve fastfood and drinks to 40 guests. The Ga Thoc Restaurant, located in front of the hotel, can serve up to 70 people with chicken specialties.

Saigon-Halong Hotel’s bars serve spirits, soft drinks, fastfood, cocktails, cigarettes and first-class cigars. Impression Lobby Bar on the ground floor of the hotel has 200 seats and is appropriate for rendezvous and relaxation. Saigon Bar, on the first floor and near the grand conference room, has 150 seats and is for guests to take a small party during a meeting break. Camellia Massage Bar, on the second floor, can serve up to 132 guests with massage and karaoke services. Poolside Bar has 30 seats and serves food and drinks for guests at the swimming pool.

The hotel has seven meeting rooms, which are named after Vietnam’s localities—Danang, Sapa, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Saigon and Halong. All the rooms are furnished with modern equipment such as screens, projectors, computers, sound and lighting systems and interpretation cabins. The biggest room can seat nearly 1,000 people.
In addition, entertainment services are also available at the hotel. They include a swimming pool, fitness center, sauna, massage, jacuzzi, karaoke and billiards. There, guests can also find other kinds of services such as child care, package tours, car rent, ship rent and currency exchange.

Discovering Halong Bay from the restaurant ship

The Saigon-Halong Restaurant Ship, owned and put into operation late last year by the Saigon-Halong Hotel, has three decks and 100 seats. The first and second decks are for serving food while the third deck is for tourists to take drinks and enjoy the night scene of Halong City.

This restaurant ship is the unique in town to serve dinner buffet every day. Tourists on board the ship can have dinner while enjoying traditional music performances and watching Halong Bay. In addition, the ship can organize a seminar or conference in conjunction with a tour of Halong Bay in the daytime upon request.

In the daytime, the Saigon-Halong Restaurant Ship serves tourists wanting to discover the beauty of Halong Bay. It starts the tour from Halong Boat Quay, bringing guests around the bay and part of Bai Tu Long Bay nearby. From the ship, tourists can see islands in existence for millions of years, which look like a dragon, an old man who sits fishing, two cocks fighting with each other, two sails, and so forth.

During the voyage, tourists are brought to Canh Doc Islet to visit Thien Cung and Dau Go caves. These two caves are 100 meters apart and are accessed by twisted ways with rock steps. The high, upright walls of Thien Cung Cave are covered with stalactites that create diverse images such as humans, animals and flowers.

On board the ship, guests also enjoy European, Asian and Vietnamese dishes, especially fresh and delicious seafood specialties of Halong.

Night boat trips to discover the beauty of Halong City and Bai Chay Bridge in the sea breeze are a distinctive strength of the Saigon-Halong Restaurant Ship, which other tourist boats in the town do not have. The first deck serves buffets, the second serves dishes from set menus and à-la-carte dishes, and the third is where tourists take a drink together with their friends or relatives.

Saigon-Halong Hotel

Add: Halong St., Bai Chay Ward, Halong Town, Quang Ninh Province
Tel: 033.3845845, fax: 033.3845849, email: sahahotel@hn.vnn.vn

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Saigontourist has Women’s Day buffets

For Vietnam Women’s Day on October 20, hotels under Saigontourist in HCMC will host buffet parties, promising women fine food for an unforgettable day.

The four-star Grand Hotel Saigon’s Chez-Nous Restaurant will hold a “Day of Women” buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The buffet will include dishes made of snail and clam with different salads, spring rolls and sweet soups. Tickets are priced at VND149,000 per adult and VND99,000 per child, inclusive of drinks. Women will receive a 20% discount.

The four-star Oscar Saigon Hotel’s Starlight Restaurant will hold a buffet lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with selected dishes in sections with seven appetizers, eight salads, five fried and barbecued dishes and a vast array of fruit, sweet soups and ice-creams. A range of hot pots made of seafood, pork or beef will be also available. Drinks are free.

The Cyclo Restaurant at the five-star Majestic Hotel Saigon will bring Vietnam’s best dishes to gourmets. Tickets are priced at VND25,000 per a dish or VND228,000 for the selection inclusive of tea or coffee. Diners can enjoy food from the nation’s three regions such as salads mixed with shrimps and lotus buds, or with beef, banana flowers and chicken, grilled chicken with lemon leaves, loc fish steamed in earthen pot, sour soup made in Mekong Delta style with fish, pineapple, tomato, bean sprout or thac lac fish steamed with bitter melon and many kinds of seafood, fruits and drinks. Meals are accompanied with ethnic music performances.

The Majestic Hotel Saigon is at 1 Dong Khoi Street, tel: 3829 5517, email: banquet@majesticsaigon.com.vn.

The Grand Hotel Saigon is located at 8 Dong Khoi Street, HCMC’s District 1, tel: 3829 4046, email: banquet@grandhotel.vn.

The Oscar Saigon Hotel is at 68A Nguyen Hue Boulevard, HCMC’s District 1, tel: 3829 2959, email: oscarsaigonhotel@oscar-saigonhotel.com.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

New Cuisine And Wedding Party Promotions

Some places in HCM City to enjoy northern Vietnam’s Hanoi cuisine during the Thang Long-Hanoi Millennium (October 1-10) or hold the wedding party with incentives offered by hotels

The year 2010 is coming to an end and this is the time for several hotels and resorts of Saigontourist Holding Company in HCM City to launch new gastronomic programs and wedding party service promotions.

Celebrating Thang Long-Hanoi Millennium

Van Thanh Tourist Park, located in Binh Thanh District by the Saigon River, will launch the buffet Mon ngon Thang Long (Delicious dishes of Thang Long) on the nights of October 9 and 10. The buffet with more than 50 dishes of ancient and present-day Hanoi such as cha ca Ha Noi (Hanoi fish paste) and oc nau chuoi dau (Snails cooked with green bananas and beans) takes place in the cozy ambience of a garden and is accompanied with northern Vietnamese folk songs. It costs an adult VND190,000 (US$9.7) and a child VND120,000 (US$6.2).

Over the past few years, Van Thanh Tourist Park has been a place for holding the city’s big gastronomic festivals, namely “Saigon Dinner – the day when I am 30” held on April 30, 2005, with more than 5,000 guests taking part; “Delicious dishes of different countries” held in 2007 and 2008; and “My Homeland’s Festival” held annually from 2005-2009). It is also much known for its gastronomic events for the Victory Day (April 30), National Day (September 2), Valentine’s Day (February 14) and International Women’s Day (March 8).

Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11 has the festival “Phutho Tourist’s cuisine toward the Thang Long-Hanoi Millennium” that will run from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. on October 8-10. Diners will have a chance to enjoy over 100 exclusive Hanoi dishes together with specialties of Vam Sat (Can Gio District) and the lotus-based cuisine.

Promotions for wedding parties

To welcome its 130th anniversary (1880-2010), the four-star Hotel Continental Saigon in District 1 gives incentives to customers of its wedding party services between October 1 and December 31. These incentives are soft drinks and mineral water (within two hours of the party), the wedding night room for the bride and the groom (to a party with at least 31 tables), LCD and screen, appetizers, special gifts for guests, an occasion for six people to try dishes before the day of the party, and a 5% discount for a party which is held at noon or between Monday and Thursday.

The Hotel Continental Saigon has 83 rooms of four-star standards, three halls for holding events for 200-500 people, a deluxe European restaurant, conference rooms, bars and other service areas. It is an eco-friendly hotel as it well carries out the ISO 14001 standards for the environment.

At the threshold of its 80th anniversary, Grand Hotel Saigon expresses its gratitude to customers through the program “Grand Saigon Wedding – Meaningful and Thrifty.” Accordingly, the hotel provides support and donates gifts such as the wedding night room, wedding cake, champagne, drinks, music band, dancers to welcome the bride, a group of receptionists, the ceremony for the wedding party, and wedding cards. In particular, beer, soft drinks and mineral water are provided free until January 31, 2011, for wedding parties held at noon with at least 11 tables.

The hotel charges at least VND3 million (US$153.8, including taxes and service fee) for a table of 10 persons. It also gives consulting on the program of a wedding party as well as organizing wedding parties at home upon customers’ request.

Grand Hotel Saigon is located near the Saigon River. It was built in 1930 with French architecture and is one of the city’s oldest hotels.

• Van Thanh Tourist Park: 48/10 Dien Bien Phu St., Binh Thanh Dist., HCM City. Tel: 08.35123025
• Dam Sen Cultural Park: 3 Hoa Binh St., Dist. 11, HCM City. Tel: 08.38650921
• Hotel Continental Saigon: 132-134 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 08.38299201, fax: 08.38290936, email: continentalhotel@vnn.vn
• Grand Hotel Saigon: 8 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 08.38294046, email: sales@grandhotel.vn

New Cuisine And Wedding Party Promotions

Some places in HCM City to enjoy northern Vietnam’s Hanoi cuisine during the Thang Long-Hanoi Millennium (October 1-10) or hold the wedding party with incentives offered by hotels

Celebrating Thang Long-Hanoi Millennium

Promotions for wedding parties

Grand Hotel Saigon is located near the Saigon River. It was built in 1930 with French architecture and is one of the city’s oldest hotels.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Over 200 join Blood Donation Day

Over 200 donors take part in the Blood Donation Day at the Saigon Times Group in HCMC’s District 1 on Saturday morning

Tom Tobin, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, who is one of the first donors at the event, receives a blood-pressure check before giving blood

More than 200 people donated blood at the sixth Blood Donation Day at the Saigon Times Group at 35 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St. in HCMC’s District 1on Saturday morning to mark the birthdays of The Saigon Times Daily and The Saigon Times Weekly.

The Daily began Oct. 2, 1995 while The Weekly began Oct. 10, 1991.

The event attracted local and foreign entrepreneurs, diplomatic corps, students, reporters and staff of the

Bambang S. Tarsanto, Consul General of Indonesia in HCMC, donates blood

Vo Tran Thao Tien, a donor from Binh Thanh District, begs doctors to allow her to give blood. The doctors say she needs to put on more weight before they will accept her blood.

Saigon Times Group.

“This is such a practical way to help not only people in need but also myself. After giving blood, I feel healthier and I’m so happy to take part in a meaningful social activity like this,” Consul General of Indonesia in HCMC, Bambang S. Tarsanto, who has donated blood 25 times, said

CEO of HSBC Vietnam, Tom Tobin, said, “This is the third time I have donated blood at the Saigon Times. Not only I but many HSBC staff also want to contribute something to the

One of the Movenpick Hotel staff gets on the scales before she gives blood

society, so this blood donation day is a good chance for us to join hands with the Saigon Times and the Red Cross to care for the community.”

“Donating blood to help poor patients is a meaningful activity. I’m ready to contribute my blood to save more people,” Le Ngoc Dao, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Industry and Trade said.

The donor day collected 217 units or 55 liters of blood - Photos: Le Toan

The donation day is held annually by The Saigon Times Daily and The Saigon Times Weekly in collaboration with the Vietnam Red Cross Chapter in HCMC, and sponsored by HSBC Vietnam and Pepsi Co Vietnam.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

The Deck on Saigon River

The Deck restaurant in An Phu specializes in Pan Asian cuisine and the freshest Vietnamese produce - Photo: Khanh Van

The Deck restaurant cocktail bar with sweeping views of the Saigon River is in An Phu area of District 2, minutes from the heart of HCMC.

The main feature of the restaurant, the open deck designed by a bare-footed Australian from Perth, Lawson Johnston, has an electric retractable roof to cope with the Saigon downpours.

Johnson’s wife Anna Craven, consultant with law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, owns and runs the restaurant.

The entry is at the end of the bamboo lined Nguyen U Di Street. The Aussie deck style combines well with earthenware jars full of lotuses and views of coconut palm clad river banks.

The Deck specializes in Pan Asian cuisine and the freshest Vietnamese produce and if you just want a drink it is a great place to watch the sunset with a long bar that stretches from inside to outdoors.

Chefs at The Deck source their seafood from Phu Quoc Island and Nha Trang, and vegetables from the upland city of Dalat.

Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. And it’s open from 8:30am to midnight.

Johnson also runs an eco-resort called Mango Bay on Phu Quoc Island, a famous tourist destination off the southern province of Kien Giang.

He says the stunning and environmental friendly natural fibers available in Vietnam have inspired him to design a range of contemporary lounge furniture that has become popular with restaurateurs, resort owners and distributors.