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
