VietNam Travel

Friday, January 28, 2011

New appointment at Victoria Hotels & Resorts

Hanno Stamm

Indochina’s luxury hotel group, Victoria Hotels & Resorts (under EEM group), has announced a key appointment for their head office based in HCMC.

Hanno Stamm has taken over the position of managing director previously held by Eric Simard since 2002. At the same time, Stamm will keep his current position as General Manager of the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa.

With almost 20 years experience in hotel groups such as Accor and Radisson, the German national joined Victoria Hotels & Resorts in July 2002 as Rooms Division Manager of Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa. In 2003, he held the position of General Manager of Victoria Chau Doc Hotel followed by Victoria Can Tho Resort in 2004 and Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa in 2007. Hanno Stamm has been Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa’s General Manager since May 2009. He is also a graduate of the Swiss hotel management school, Les Roches.

The group operates six luxury Indochina retreats embracing off–the-beaten-track mountain and beach spa resorts in Vietnam, two colonial-style hotels in the Mekong Delta, and an elegant spa resort at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The agreement with Thien Minh Travel Joint Stock Company under which EEM was to sell its five hotel properties in Vietnam has been cancelled early January.

Can Tho gardener with golden thumb

Tran Thanh Liem tends to one of his golden watermelons that will be harvested on Friday

Farmer Tran Thanh Liem in Binh Thuy District in Can Tho City has a special talent growing gold in his garden. Liem has used his gardener’s green thumb to grow 100 pairs of yellow watermelons in the shape of gold ingots.

A pair of watermelons which weigh 2 to 2.5 kg each is priced from VND5 million to VND5.5 million. This is a new product for ancestral altar worshipping during Tet.

Liem told the Daily, “To shape the watermelons, I put them into a special mold 20 days prior to the harvest time.”

The talented farmer has also molded nearly 20 pairs of watermelons in cube shapes priced from VND2.5 million to VND3 million a pair. They have

A pair of watermelons molded into the shape of gold ingots is priced from VND5 million to VND5.5 million - Photos: Le Hoang Vu

already sold out so next year Liem will double the number of melons carved with “Van su nhu y” (everything to your liking), “Phuc Loc Tho” (happiness, prosperity and longevity) and “Chuc mung nam moi) (Happy new year) in the shape of gold ingots.

A moment to welcome Lunar New Year

Flower Markets

Three Tet flower markets are taking over the city’s three major parks: September 23 Park, Gia Dinh Park and Le Van Tam Park. The September 23 Park, across the roundabout from Ben Thanh Market, will be the city’s main flower market from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2.

Other flower markets in the city are in Dist. 5 (two spots), Dist. 6 (two spots), Dist. 7 (three spots; specially in Dist. 7’s Phu My Hung area, flower market & festival is at Crescent Lake), in District 8 (10 spots), Dist. 10 (two spots), Dist. 11 (three spots), Go Vap Dist. (two spots), Tan Phu Dist. (one spot), Thu Duc Dist. (five spots), Binh Tan Dist. (three spots), Cu Chi Dist. (four spots).

Fairs for Tet Holidays

- From Jan. 21-26 at Phu Tho Indoor Stadium, 1 Lu Gia St., Tan Binh Dist., HCM City.

- From Jan. 25-30 at Van Ho Exhibition Centre, 2 Hoa Lu St., Hanoi.

- From Jan. 26-31 at My Dinh National Exhibtion Palace, Pham Hung St., Hanoi.

Firework Shows

Firework shows will take place at five of high range and two other of lower range during the 15 first minutes of the Lunar New Year’s Eve on Feb. 3 at 0-0:15 a.m.

Caric Shipyard in Thu Thiem Ward, District 2, Administrative Centre project in District 7, Go Vap Cultural Park project in Go Vap District, Nga Ba Giong Memorial area of Heroic Martyrs in Hoc Mon District, Ben Duoc Temple of Heroic Martyrs in Cu Chi District, Ethnic Culture historical park in District 9 and Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11.

Ong Do Street

Annually, on Pham Ngoc Thach (in front of the Youth Cultural House) and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets (in front of the Labour Cultural House), dozens of young and old calligraphers (ong do) in traditional Vietnamese dress are displaying their calligraphy skills and selling Vietnamese or Chinese calligraphy written in black and yellow ink on red paper. They are New Year greetings wishing people happiness, wealth or longevity.

A calligraphy market will open on Pham Ngoc Thach Street from Jan. 21 to Feb. 2. Artists from the cultural house’s calligraphy club and neighbouring provinces will show off skills at the market.

Another calligraphy market on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1 features artists including members of the Workers Cultural House’s Vietnamese Calligraphy Club and students from city universities.

Nguyen Hue Flower Street

Nguyen Hue Street will be decorated with flowers and ornamental trees, with this year’s theme being New Heights.

The core activity of the festival is the Nguyen Hue Flower Street on Nguyen Hue Boulevard, which will open for seven days from Jan. 31 (7 p.m.) to Feb. 6 (10 p.m.).

Lightings & Door-shows

Lighting up two main streets of Dong Khoi, Le Loi and Chi Lang Park from Jan. 26 to Feb. 14 to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Families living in these streets will be encouraged to decorate the front of their houses and participate in the Door-shows program from Jan. 31 to Feb 6.

Banh Tet Festival

The city’s 24 districts will organize the banh tet (cylindric glutinous rice cake) making contest to select the best cakes as token offerings to the Hung Kings and to produce 10,000 banh tet cakes for poor people to enjoy Tet on Jan. 28-Jan. 31.

Banh tet offerings will be made at the Temple for Hung Kings, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the Ton Duc Thang Museum.

Tet Flowers Festival

Exhibitors and artisans will arrange and showcase flowers, decorative fish and birds, besides miniature models of well-known architecture works including Nha Rong Wharf made from flowers and foliages created by Japanese artists. Taiwanese exhibitors will also join the festival on Jan. 28 at 5 p.m.-Feb. 8 at 6 p.m.

The event will kick off in Tao Dan Park (55C Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St., Dist.t 1, HCM City) on Jan. 28, or five days ahead of the Lunar New Year. Apart from Tao Dan Park as the main venue, the organizer will also launch a minor flowers festival at Quoc Te Square, or Ho Con Rua as it is commonly referred to.

Homeland Spring

A special program with the performance of Vietnamese artists at home and abroad will take place at the southern gate of Doan Mon of the Thang Long Royal Citadel in Hanoi on Jan. 28 to welcome Vietnamese expatriates who return home for 2011 Lunar New Year festival.

This year’s program is to celebrate the successful hosting of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 11th National Party Congress. It is also to mark 100 years since Ho Chi Minh left Nha Rong Wharf on board a French ship to seek ways to liberate the country and 60 years since he returned homeland.

The program, jointly held by SCOV under the Foreign Ministry and other related agencies, will start with a incense burning ceremony at the Kinh Thien palace in the royal citadel.

Sheraton Nha Trang celebrates Tet in style

The Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa, is gearing up for its first Tet celebration with an exciting line-up of events and activities. On Jan. 29, the hotel will host a dinner for 30 children from the local Nhan Ai Orphanage and distribute li xi (lucky money).

On Feb. 2, the last day of the Year of the Tiger, guests are invited to enjoy a special buffet dinner priced at VND500,000++ per adult and VND250,000++ per child aged 3-11. Later that evening, Nha Trang lights up with a spectacular fireworks display, best viewed from Sheraton Nha Trang’s 28th-floor sky bar, Altitude. The entrance fee is VND500,000 nett per person, inclusive of two drinks of your choice (wine, beer, soft drinks). On the first morning of the New Year, the hotel will organize a calligraphy session in the hotel lobby and a traditional lion dance show.

Between Jan. 28 and Feb. 15, Sheraton Nha Trang is offering a special Tet package of VND2.3 million++ per room per night, inclusive of accommodation in a Deluxe Ocean View Room, buffet breakfast for two adults, free breakfast for children under 12 years sharing the room with parents (maximum two children per room), 15% discount on food and beverage and Shine Spa body treatments (except for packages), and 20% discount on laundry services. The festive package is applicable to Vietnamese nationals, overseas Vietnamese and expats working in Vietnam that book two nights or more.

For more information and reservations, call 058 388 0000 or email to reservations.nhatrang@sheraton.com

Saigontourist Tet celebrations

Lemongrass Restaurant on level 14 of the Palace Hotel Saigon has great city views and delicious meals - Photo: Courtesy of Lemon Grass Restaurant

Hotels and tourist sites under Saigontourist in HCMC are preparing food programs for the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year.

Rex Hotel Saigon (141 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, District 1, tel : 3829 2185)

The hotel will host a Tet welcoming buffet party on Lunar New Year’s Eve on February 2, accompanied with entertainment, lion dance, music performances and fashion shows.

Rex hotel is an ideal place for tourists to see the fireworks. Tickets are US$89 per adult and US$44 per child.

Continental Hotel Saigon (132 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, tel: 3829 9201)

The hotel will offer a set menu with typical Tet dishes priced from VND500,000 per person and VND800,000 for two. The program runs from January 30 to February 6.

First Hotel (18 Hoang Viet Street, Tan Binh District, tel: 3844 1199)

The program “Spring comes knocking” will be hosted every night of the first four days of the New Year (February from 3 to 6). Enjoy music shows, lucky draw and unicorn dances by Nhan Nghia Duong lion dance troupe.

Que Huong Liberty 4 (256 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, tel: 3836 5172)

The hotel’s Gio Noi Restaurant will prepare a buffet with more than 60 dishes on weekend nights from Fridays to Sundays. Tickets are VND198,000 per adult and VND98,000 per child.

Liberty Central Hotel (179 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, tel: 6291 7977)

The hotel introduces new dishes made of ostrich including spring rolls, stir-fry, grilled with herbs or chilly salt. The hotel also serves buffet breakfast priced at VND199,000 per guest and lunch for office workers at VND59,000.

Thien Hong Hotel (52 Tan Da Street, District 5, tel: 3855 4435)

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the hotel will prepare a buffet program with more than 30 dishes made in Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, accompanied with music show and lucky draw. Tickets are priced at VND229,000 per adult and VND149,000 per child. Buy 10 tickets, get one free.

Bong Sen Saigon Hotel (117 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, tel: 3829 1516)

The hotel’s Buffe Ganh Restaurant will hold “New Year lucky buffet” program with an ethnic music show. The buffet lunch is priced at VND220,000 per adult and VND110,000 per child and buffet dinner is priced at VND320,000 per adult and VND160,000 per child.

On the seventh and twelfth floor, there will be buffets with lucky New Year traditional Tet dishes.

Van Thanh Tourist Area (48/10 Dien Bien Phu Street, Binh Thanh District, tel: 3512 3025)

The buffet called “Back to hometown for Tet” will run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. from February 4 to 6 with traditional dishes. Guests can join folk games to win prizes and enjoy a piano performance. Tickets are priced at VND190,000 per adult and VND120,000 per child.

Binh Quoi 2 Tourist Area (At the end of Binh Quoi Street in Binh Thanh District, tel: 3556 5470)

The buffet called “Great dishes from the coast” will have over 70 seafood and barbecue dishes. Buffet lunch is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and buffet dinner is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., along with flamenco music show, juggling and circus performances. Tickets are priced from VND170,000 per adult, inclusive of a jug of Russian beer and VND100,000 per child. Guests can take a cruise around Thanh Da Peninsula for VND50,000 per adult and VND30,000 per child. Buy 10 tickets on the cruise, get one free.

Saigon Ship Restaurant (Bach Dang Wharf, District 1, tel: 3823 0393)

The buffet named “Spring cruise on Saigon River” will be on for lunch from February 4 to 6, with more than 50 Tet dishes. Enjoy live music, juggling and circus performances. Tickets are VND190,000 per adult and VND120,000 per child. At night, the cruise leaves the wharf twice - 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Tan Cang Tourist Area (A100 Ung Van Khiem, Binh Thanh District, tel: 3512 8775)

The area will host a program “Back to hometown for Tet celebrations” from February 6 to 8” and “Tan Cang grilled hotpot” with more than 80 dishes and seafood hotpots. Tickets are priced from VND250,000 per adult and VND140,000 per child, inclusive of a jug of Russian beer, fresh ice-cream and fruit juices.

Tickets will be discounted 30% on February 8.

Binh Quoi 1 Tourist Area (1147 Binh Quoi Street, Binh Thanh District, tel: 3556 5891)

From February 4 to 7, the tourist area will hold buffet lunches and dinners with more than 70 selected dishes in the garden area, along with ethnic artistic performances. Tickets are VND180,000 per adult and VND100,000 per child.

The area’s restaurant will serve Vietnamese dishes, accompanied with juggling and music show.

Saigon Hotel (41 Dong Du Street, District 1, tel: 3822 4845)

The hotel will prepare a buffet for Lunar New Year’s Eve with about 40 Western and Asian dishes on the ninth floor overlooking the Saigon River and fireworks display. Tickets are VND399,000 per adult and VND199,000 per child, inclusive of one jug of beer, and free for children under 3.

Saigon-Phu Quoc Resort and Spa (1 Tran Hung Dao Street, Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province)

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the resort will put a 6m-high yellow apricot tree on the floating sea stage. There will be a Tet party with traditional food, folk games, showmanship and a cruise along the beach. Tickets are US$69 per adult, US$35 per child.

Palace Hotel Saigon (56-66 Nguyen Hue, Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 38292860)

The Golden Palace on level five of the four-star hotel will launch its buffet program named “Luck, Prosperity & Longevity” featuring fine seafood including abalone, oyster, shrimp, crab, caviar and salmon. The buffet will also serve Tet specialties, golden carp, royal meat roll and pork pies, golden roasted goose with a free flow of wine, beer, soft drink, fruit juice, tea and coffee.

The restaurant will be decorated with colorful fish and three deities of Luck, Prosperity and Longevity will welcome guests at the door.

It runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Lunar New Year’s Eve (Feb. 2) until the forth of the first lunar month (Feb. 6). The price on Feb. 2 is VND550,000++ per adult and VND350,000 from Feb. 3 to Feb. 6.

Lemongrass Restaurant (level 14, Palace Hotel Saigon, 56-66 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3829 1520)

On the New Year’s Eve (Feb. 2), the Lemongrass Restaurant on the 14th floor of the Palace Hotel Saigon will hold a Lunar New Year’s Eve Party featuring mouthwatering dishes made from sea food like grilled shrimp paste, grilled squid paste, shark fin & crab soup, tuna salad with Wasabi sauce, grilled tuna served with ginger sauce among others. There’s a free flow of drinks like Tiger draught beer, Heineken and soft drinks.

Enjoy folk music performance and folk dances. The hotel’s roof top on level 15 & 16 is an ideal place for watching fireworks and Nguyen Hue Flower Street. The buffet which is available from 7:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Feb 2 is priced at VND1.3 million ++ /adult, and VND830,000++/child.

Calibre Charner (level 1, Palace Hotel Saigon, 56-66 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3829 2860)

The restaurant offers two luxury set menus for New Year’s Eve. The first menu consists of Russian salad, potato soup with smoked salmon, grilled lobster, dessert and Palace flan. The second one includes salmon salad, abalone soup, American beef with baked potatoes and cakes for dessert. The buffet which is available from 7:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 2 is priced at US$59++.

Phan Thiet fun for Tet

A traditional boat race on Ca Ty River in Phan Thiet City - Photo: Khai Nguyen

Phan Thiet has announced the cultural and sports events for this year’s Lunar New Year 2011.

From Jan. 30 until Feb. 8 (the 27th of the 12th lunar month until the sixth of the first lunar month) there are numerous music performances, sports activities, folk games and lion dances at most of the province’s 18 wards.

Bien Xanh theater group will hold special music galas in the communes of Tien Thanh, Phong Nam and Thien Nghiep. Tien Loi – Tien Thanh Tourist Area will have a fireworks display on Lunar New Year’s Eve. After the 15-minute fireworks, a music performance named “Chao Xuan” (Welcoming the Spring) will be held at Nga Bay Stage and a music gala at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square.

The traditional boat race on Ca Ty River will be on the second of the first lunar month and the Mui Ne sand hill run will be on the forth of the first lunar month. At resorts and hotels in Phan Thiet, there’re banquets to welcome Lunar New Year, folk music performances, lion dances, Cham dances and traditional martial arts.

Con Dao in spring

A foreign tourist lies on Dam Trau Beach in Con Dao - Photo: Mong Binh

The white and pink peach blossoms in Con Dao signal the beginning of spring and the market in town is vibrant with floral colors.

Spring is the windy season in Con Dao, the archipelago off the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Strong winds increase the swell. The ocean is full of white caps and the crashing waves send white water high up the island’s many cliff faces. There are also havens for visitors to swim in the turquoise, calm sea.

Dam Trau Beach is one of the protected beaches on Con Dao, where locals and foreign tourists opt for relaxing strolls, rests and camping. This yellow-sand beach earned its name from an island legend about two lovers. The girl in the doomed love affair, Mai Thi Trau, committed suicide from the cliffs because she couldn’t tie the knot with the man she loved, who was revealed by her father to be her half-brother.

The love story has a sad ending, but a trip to Dam Trau Beach will certainly end in happiness for nature lovers. The small sandy bay is perfect for sunbathing, long walks and exploring the black cliffs that stretch into the water.

The cliffs divide Dam Trau Beach into two parts. The furthest beach from the road can be reached best at low tide. The tree-lined beach has a fresh water stream shadowed by a giant tropical almond tree whose leaves have turned red.

Red-leaved almond trees also line the esplanade and many of the streets in the sleepy little town on Con Dao. Most of them were planted over 100 years ago.

The best time to tour Con Dao is summertime when the sea and the weather are calm, but a visit to the archipelago in the windy season promises a lot of excitement.

VietNam Travel

Friday, January 28, 2011

New appointment at Victoria Hotels & Resorts

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