Unlike most hotels and resorts that roll out new menus seasonally, the new restaurant at the Princess d’Annam Resort & Spa debuts a new card every single day.
Whether guests voice a hankering for pan-fried snapper, grilled cobia on a lemongrass skewer, bouillabaisse or any of dozens of other dishes in Chef La Thuan An’s repertoire, the experience of dining each evening is as fresh as that day’s catch from the South China Sea. An presides over an 80-seat restaurant where the preferred seats occupy an expansive terrace that takes in views of the bay and its iconic lighthouse. An air-conditioned interior, the pool deck and tables on the beach complement the anchoring terrace as dining venues.
The Princess d’Annam’s kitchen specializes in both Vietnamese and French cuisine. Each evening’s menu includes choices from either tradition. One recent menu included pan fried prawns marinated with lemongrass and seafood risotto as the Eastern option and roasted lamb tenderloin as the Western option. That was on a Tuesday night. On the Monday, the two entrée options were a seafood paella with coconut milk and a roasted duck breast marinated with spices. And on Wednesday, it was stuffed pigeon with mashed potatoes and pan-fried mahi mahi, sautéed artichoke and tomatoes.
Accor, the largest international hotel operator in Vietnam, announced today the debut of the Mercure hotel brand to Vietnam, with two new hotel openings in Hanoi and Hue. Both hotels will open in September 2009.
Mercure Hanoi La Gare, opening on 1st September 2009, is the first newly built international 4-star hotel in the capital city of Hanoi. This modern mid-scale hotel reflects Hanoi’s history and culture, and is characterized by its contemporary design. It is conveniently situated in the heart of the city centre on Ly Thuong Kiet, within the commercial precinct, foreign embassies, State companies, Government Ministries, opposite of the historic central railway station and within walking distance of Hanoi’s historic Old Quarter and the Hanoi International Exhibition Centre. Other tourist attractions such as the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), Hoan Kiem lake, and Hanoi Opera House are less than 15 minutes walk from the hotel.
The 110-room Mercure Huế Gerbera will benefit from its prime location on Le Loi Street where breathtaking views of Perfume River can be enjoyed from most of the guest rooms. Opening on 9th September 2009, the hotel’s facilities will include Calamus Restaurant serving Western and local specialties of Huế, a lobby lounge and deli, a bar, a day spa, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre. Huế, a UNESCO heritage site, is located in central Vietnam on the banks of the Perfume River and is approximately 1 hour flying time from Hanoi. Main attractions include the Citadel and Forbidden City, the old Imperial complex, the pagodas, and many emperors’ tombs in walled compounds containing palaces, temples and lakes.
Special introductory rates for both hotels are available: Mercure Hanoi La Gare is available at a rate of US$75 for a Standard Room per night, valid until 30th September 2009; a stay at the Mercure Hue Gerbera will start from US$55 for a Standard Room per room per night, valid until 30th November 2009.
Halong Cruise’s new Halong Violet junk will be launched next month. With just 6 immaculately decorated cabins, including 4 suites, with king sized beds, Jacuzzis, private balconies and personal butler service, the Halong Violet will provide a unique experience on Halong Bay. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994, Halong Bay’s karst islands rise up out of emerald waters covered in vegetation. Only a few are habitable; many have been sculpted into strange shapes by the wind and weather. This floating boutique hotel will be able to cruise to untouched areas of the Bay whilst providing all the services you would expect from a 5 star hotel; fine dining, a cozy lounge and spacious library, sun deck, spa and gym.
Founded in 2008, Heritage Lines will launch their luxury boutique cruise boat, the Jayavarman next month. Inspired by the golden age of cruise liners, the Jayavarman marries avant-garde French colonial design with enchanting Indochinese architecture to perfection. There are 27 expansive staterooms and junior suites spread over the 4 decks with floor to ceiling panoramic sliding glass doors opening onto private balconies. The boat cruises between Saigon in Vietnam and Angkor in Cambodia, providing explorative journeys of the Mekong River of between 3 and 7 nights.
Take a look at this fantastic 14-day luxury cruise with Holland America’s MS Volendam, exploring over thirty centuries of history and culture in the exotic lands of China and Vietnam.
An all-villa luxury boutique resort called The Princess d’Annam Resort and Spa has been launched Ke Ga, close to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, two months later than previously planned. The 57-villa and two-bedroom beachfront home resort is to offer four swimming pools and 21 plunge pools, along with a five-star restaurant fusing Vietnamese and French cuisine. A special feature is the Princess Spa, which has separate wings for men and women.
Kevin May is editor of Travolution, an industry-focussed magazine for online travel and division of Reed Business Information. It consists of a blog, e-news service and a physical magazine, and is a leader in its field with an advisory board that comprises some of the biggest names in the travel industry.
What is it that you do exactly?
I am responsible for all editorial content on Travolution, including our magazine, website and blog. I also produce our fortnightly podcast, The Purple Pod, and organise our conferences and other events as well as oversee the Travolution Awards. It’s a busy job!
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
The most rewarding aspect of editing Travolution is being able to track and analyse such a wonderfully diverse and innovative industry as travel and its use of the web. Equally, as a journalist at heart, when we set the record straight or uncover a scoop still gives me an incredible buzz. I’m very lucky to work with some fantastic writers and reporters.
What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?
Hanoi: easily the most fascinating city I have ever visited. My wife and I stayed there during a seven-month jaunt around Asia in 2000. We were mesmerised by the colour and smells, the French and traditional Vietnamese quarters, and – whether it exists in reality or not is another question – a sense of proud nationhood. A remarkable capital in a remarkable country.
Varanasi (Benares): This central Indian city is an assault on the senses and consciousness. Despite it being a place where many people come to die (simply because of its proximity to the holy Ganges river), life abounds everywhere. The customs associated with death, while perhaps alien and odd to some westerners, are seen as life affirming to Hindus, giving it the feeling of being a place where people actually come to celebrate life. My wife was also taken very ill here so I have the utmost respect for Indian medical staff forced to work in, er, challenging conditions.
Lake Toba, Sumatra: The most beautiful place I have had the pleasure of visiting. Once a sunken caldera (super-volcano), currently a giant lake, Toba has incredible feature, plant life and a real feeling of isolation. There are few places on earth that have had such a dramatic physical history and the laid-back attitude of the people is in absolute tune with the environment around them. An almost perfect location on many levels.
What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?
I spent four days practically marooned on a slow boat travelling across the Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia. I ate rice every meal as – being a strict vegetarian – the boiled ’something’ didn’t appeal and there was absolutely nothing else to eat. After finally arriving in Siem Reap, I ate almost everything I could on the menu at the guesthouse – mounds of vegetables, a huge omelette, slice after slice of bread, any fruit I could get my hands on, cereal, yoghurt… everything. It might not sound like a feast for a king, but it tasted so good.
Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?
I have been fortunate to meet many wonderful and talented people through work or when travelling, although I have a tendency to steer away from so-called celebrities, even when given the opportunity. In fact, most of the “richest” people I’ve met are probably those that have created a fantastic business and subsequently reaped the rewards for their innovation and passion for travel and the Web.
What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?
I am currently at that stage, with a young family, where I am yearning to return to places I have visited previously, primarily – though not guaranteed at all (!!) – in the vain hope of sharing the experiences I had. I hope to return to Angkor Wat in Cambodia one day and also trek the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal (a three-week hike). Egypt, Mexico, Peru and New Zealand would also make my current wishlist.
Unfortunately the overseas trips of a business magazine editor these days consist primarily of enjoying the inside of some very nice hotel conference suites. A shame really…
Thank you, Kevin. And keep up the good work at Travolution!
IHG has signed an agreement to manage a new Crowne Plaza in Nha Trang, the Vietnamese coastal city which will host Miss Universe 2008. Crowne Plaza Nha Trang will have 305 rooms and suites, and 113 serviced residences, and will feature contemporary tropical design by renowned Singapore-based architect Tan Hock Beng. It is scheduled to open in early 2010. The hotel will be situated along the renowned Tran Phu Boulevard and will offer direct access to one of Vietnam’s most popular city beaches. Recreational facilities will include an elevated pool deck with ocean views, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, yoga area and a Tea Tree Spa.
Philanthropist Agnes Gund, Nike designer John Hoke, accessory designer of the year Richard Lambertson, Neue Galerie New York director Renée Price, fashion designer Yeohlee Teng , and architects Hani Rashid and David Rockwell (phew!) have joined forces to select the winners of the T+L Design Awards 2008. Awards span 15 categories and include The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam (Best Resort) designed by Jaya Ibrahim, Town House Galleria in Milan, Italy (Best Small Hotel) designed by Ettore Mocchetti, The New Museum of Contemporary Art in NYC (Best Museum) designed by Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa/Sanaa, and Katsuya Hollywood in Los Angeles (Best Restaurant) designed by Philippe Starck. For the full list of winners and commendations, see the T+L slideshow.
The Sofitel Metropole Hanoi has been voted the city’s best business hotel in 2007 by the readers of the Business Traveller Asia Pacific magazine. Each year readers selected the premium hotel of each city in Asia, and base their votes on criteria such as location, room facilities, customer service, food and drink, and technology. The hotel has also been designated as one of the ‘500 Greatest Hotels in the World’ and ‘Best 50 Hotels in Asia’ according to the criteria of Travel+Leisure magazine.
Middle Eastern companies from Saudia Arabia and UAE are said to be investing in Vietnam’s luxury hotel sector. Saudi’s Jehan Holding Group is expected to invest US$1 billion in a high-end resort in Da Lat, whilst Dubai’s Kingdom Hotels Investments has made an agreement with the central Da Nang government to develop a $60-million resort in My Khe.
Suite name: Presidential Villa Resort:Evason Hideaway & Six Senses Spa at Ana Mandara, Nha Trang, Vietnam Size of accommodation: 271 sq m Cost per night: 36,000,000 VND (approx. $2183) Who’s stayed there? A Duke from the UK What makes it special? Housed in individual pavilions is the living area with en suite bathroom, a dining sala, the Spa treatment room and the master bedroom adjacent to an en suite bathroom offering handmade bathtub and steam shower.
Built at the waters edge on the rock formations of a private bay, this stunning cluster of Pavilions face west to the setting sun and represent the last frontier in pampered luxury. Your privacy is assured as access to the Villa is via a series of wooden walkways set into the mountainside, a scenically breathtaking twenty minute walk from our main restaurant and bar. This area is only accessible to the presidential villa residents. Beside the in-Villa spa treatment room, the private infinity plunge pool blends naturally with the horizon and surrounding boulders.
Housed in individual pavilions is the living area with en-suite bathroom, a dining sala, the Spa treatment room and the master bedroom adjacent to an en-suite bathroom offering handmade bathtub and steam shower. A dedicated butler is on call 24 hours a day to cater to your every need, residing in the adjoining butler unit.
Located at the base of legendary Ba Vi Mountain, and just 50 km from the capital city of Hanoi, Tan Da Spa Resort is a hidden gem among Vietnam’s luxury resorts.
Anantara Resorts appears to be expanding rapidly. New resorts for Dubai, Bali, Vietnam, Thailand and Sri Lanka are all anticipated in 2008. This will see the number of Anantara Resorts rise from 4 to 11. The unique essence and individual lifestyle of the Anantara brand, as demonstrated by the resorts that already exist in Thailand and the Maldives is clearly something they believe strongly in.
According to a news report from Channel NewsAsia, Banyan Tree Holdings is to build a new luxury resort on a 200-hectare plot in the Thua Thien Hue province of Vietnam. It is estimated that the project will cost $200 million. Another report suggests that the resort will include as many as 2,400 hotel rooms and is part of “an aggressive expansion plan”.
Unlike most hotels and resorts that roll out new menus seasonally, the new restaurant at the Princess d’Annam Resort & Spa debuts a new card every single day.
Halong Cruise
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