Tet celebrations at Rex and Majestic
With two weeks left before Tet, and also Valentine’s Day on February 14, hotels and restaurants are preparing attractive food and entertainment programs. Here are the celebrations at the Rex and Majestic hotels.
Rex Hotel (141 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, District 1, HCMC, tel: 3822 8380)
At the hotel’s Roof Garden, there will be a party from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve (February 13). Diners can experience merry entertainment programs, an animated lion dance, the Flamenco band and an ethnic instrument show. Notably, revelers can join in picking lucky buds for the New Year, one of the traditional Tet activities. Tickets are US$89++ per adult and US$45++ per child, inclusive of buffet, wine and drinks. The bar is also an ideal place to see the annual fireworks display.
At the hotel’s Paradise Coffee Lounge, tourists can observe the locals enjoying the holidays via the café’s windows. From 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, this establishment will be filled with sweet songs welcoming the New Year.
A grill and beer party from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve will take place at the hotel’s Rose Garden, along with a music show. Tickets are US$45++ per adult, inclusive of beer and wine, and US$25++ per child.
Guests also can enjoy Tet at Hoa Mai Restaurant at a price of US$40 per adult, inclusive of wine and cappuccino.
The Nhon Nghia Duong lion troupe will perform from 11 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on February 13 and there will be a door show program from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on February 14 and 15.
Majestic Hotel Saigon (1 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, HCMC, tel: 3829 5517)
A gala welcoming the New Year will be held at the hotel’s Prima Ballroom & Breeze Sky Bar from 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The program will introduce outstanding dishes and recreational programs. Tickets are US$89 per adult and US$45 per child.
Guests can also celebrate New Year’s Eve at the hotel’s Serenade Restaurant from 8 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. with many attractive food and artistic programs. Tickets are from US$79 per adult and US$40 per child.
M. Bar will treat diners to an unforgettable New Year’s Eve with diverse cuisine and funny games from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tickets are US$89 per adult and US$45 per child.
Entertainment at the hotels include lion dances, showmanship, jugglery, Kung fu, fashion shows, a Philippine band, folk music, a flower lantern festival, dancing and fireworks.
Tickets include buffet, wine and mineral water. (By Dat Tien - The Saigon Times - January 29, 2010)
Celebrating Tet holiday on Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc Island, the peaceful tropical paradise in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand, is well known for its stunning beaches, untouched natural environment, splendid surroundings and fantastic scuba diving, snorkeling and beach massage services. This island district of Kien Giang Province is a favorite tourist destination for the Tet holidays. To meet the demand, Vietnam Airlines has increased its flight frequency and tour operators are offering many attractive programs promising a wonderful vacation.
The Saigon Phu Quoc Resort and Spa will host enjoyable and significant programs from February 13 to 16.
On February 13, or New Year’s Eve, tourists can show their talent for wrapping banh tet, banh chung or banh day (glutinous rice cake filled with green bean paste, pork fat and onion slices traditionally made at Tet) with
materials provided by the resort under the instruction of the resort’s chef. The price is VND999,000 per couple, inclusive of ingredients, a chef guide, a certificate and memory photos.
On that special night, tourists can also celebrate at an old house in a fishing village. Here, tourists can wrap and boil banh tet, prepare a fruit tray worshipping ancestors and pick lucky buds for the new year. Tickets are VND2.5 million per person, inclusive of bus transfer, tour guide and mineral water.
On the first day of the new year (February 14), tourists can take a boat or canoe trip to Dinh Cau Temple, a symbol of Phu Quoc Island, to find out about the legend and burn incense to pray for good luck and happiness. Tourists will then be taken out to sea for some fishing. Fishermen believe that if you are successful on the first day of the year, you will be successful throughout the year. The program is VND3 million per person.
On February 14, 15 and 16, tourists can visit Sung Hung Co Tu Pagoda, Su Muon Pagoda and Dinh Cau Temple to explore the ancient architecture, discover traditional Vietnamese customs and pray for good things for the year.
After that, tourists can buy souvenirs and specialties at Duong Dong Market. Tickets are VND999,000 per person, inclusive of car transfer, tour guide and mineral water.
The Saigon-Phu Quoc Resort and Spa is a four-star facility with 90 villas, rooms and bungalows, all with a sea-view and modern facilities. The resort provides free of charge in-house doctor, wheelchairs, wifi, airport transfer, tennis court, golf course, gym, discotheque, kayaks, bicycles, canoes and beach umbrellas. (By Dat Tien - The Saigon Times - January 22, 2010)
Saigon Phu Quoc Resort is at 1 Tran Hung Dao Street, Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province, tel: 0773 3846 999, email: sgphuquocresort@hcm.vnn.vn
Michelin Star’s exclusive dishes at Caravelle
Reflections Restaurant of the Caravelle Hotel is offering a special menu prepared by Michelin Star Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali until Saturday.
The Masterclass menu focuses on seasonal dishes. Highlights are scallop and duck liver with sea urchin and fennel juice, spiny lobster cannelloni and reduced flavored shellfish broth.
Guests will have chance to taste a beautiful union of gastronomic creations tailored by Natali and enjoy an extraordinarily bouquet of fruits, flowers and spices that leave a rich, unforgettable aftertaste.
Dishes are priced from VND144,000 to VND388,000, subject to 10% VAT and 10% service charge. (The Saigon Times - January 28, 2010)
For more information, call 08 3823 4999 ext 27100 or email: fbd@caravellehotel.vnn.vn
Laissez-faire dining
There are no gastronomic limits at the Caravelle: all-you-can-eat buffet, fine French food and more…
Located in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City’s business, shopping and entertainment district, Caravelle Hotel is one of the southern metropolis’ most famous hotels.
Fully modern and comfortable, the hotel has also worked hard to preserve its decades of history as a focal point in Vietnam’s largest city.
Caravelle’s Nineteen Restaurant and Reflections Restaurant are not only known for their wide array of cuisines from across the globe, but also for their impeccable service.
Nineteen Restaurant is located just to the right of the main lobby, overlooking the main entrance on the ground floor level.
The restaurant offers a unique culinary experience with emphasis on high value and top quality products unique to the HCMC market.
A vast selection on the menu offers enthusiastic diners the perfect range of choices for a flawless meal, served with a sense of grace and hospitality unique to the Caravelle.
Nineteen Restaurant offers buffets all day long, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Breakfast costs US$19++, lunch $21.5++ and dinner $38.5++.
The restaurant’s most popular meal is its Sunday buffet lunches, featuring dishes from every corner of the planet.
For $48++, the Sunday lunch is always an eye-opener, with beautiful and delicately decorated fresh sushi rolls, imported sashimi and a full soft and hard cheese station. Nothing here is light on taste.
Fresh and fat oysters make the mouth water with a variety of dips, sauces and condiments provided.
The Sunday lunch buffet also boasts grilled sea bass with smoked bacon and rosemary leaves, Indian style marinated chicken feet and Japanese style grilled salmon.
Each person can choose their buffet items to suit their own taste. Pick out your meat and then chefs follow your request to prepare the dish exactly as you like it.
The buffet is also chock-full of appetizers, cakes, ice-cream, fruit, champagne, Margaritas, and Martinis. The buffet is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Reflections Restaurant also offers food piled high.
The epitome of fine contemporary dining in HCMC, the restaurant features chef Timo Reuss introducing a French-inspired menu, with each dish offering its own unique and distinct flavor.
The third floor eatery includes cold dishes such as pan-fried duck liver with sugared pear; spice marinated beef served with grilled tomatoes; smoked salmon with cucumber, red radish and dill; and Fine de Claire oysters served with Tabasco sauce.
The hot dishes include grilled seafood, cappuccino-styled pumpkin soup, grilled bread served with stir-fried duck liver with mushroom, and salmon with chardonnay butter sauce.
Spanish-styled chocolate soup served with Sangria wine, soft white chocolate and low fat pistachio ice-cream are just a few of the venue’s deserts.
Each dish costs from VND54,000 ($2.9) to VND108,000 ($5.8) or groups of customers can have access to the full menu for VND756,000 ($40.9) per person. (Reported by Nguyet Anh - ThanhNienNews.com - January 24, 2010)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
19 Lam Son Square, District 1, HCMC
Tel: (08) 3 823 4999
Email: fbd@caravellehotel.vnn.vn
Maine Lobster Festival 2010 at New World
The New World Hotel Saigon will celebrate its first Maine Lobster Festival at its Parkview Restaurant from January 28 until February 3.
Shipped live to Saigon from the cold waters of the North Atlantic, Maine Lobsters are a genuine culinary experience that should not be missed.
Maine Lobsters are cooked in various ways so guests can choose between the Boston Lobster with herbs and garlic butter, the Grilled Lobster with basil or the Steamed Lobster with mustard and lemon butter sauce.
“I am sure our guests will appreciate the unique taste of the lobster together with all the other specialties available on our daily seafood dinner buffet,” said Matthias Widor, the hotel’s food and beverage director. (By Dao Loan in HCMC - January 7, 2010)
Oxygen band heats up the Night Spot
The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers has welcomed a new band from the U.S. and Canada, Oxygen, comprising six high energy members, to perform the latest trend in music at the hotel’s Night Spot on Level 23.
The band’s skill, style, substance, energy and international experience promises exhilarating performances for audiences.
Oxygen’s band leader, Jonathan Deschenes, a bassist and singer from Montreal, Canada, brings vast experience and balance to the group. Beautiful and talented Huinga Cossey from New Zealand and LaTosha Thomas from the U.S. spearhead the front line with their great voices and captivation on stage. Swedish-born guitarist and singer Alexander Almqvist, drummer Justin Jackson and keyboardist Zachary Frampton, from the U.S. and Canada, all own mesmerizing techniques.
Oxygen will share their talent with Vietnam’s audiences at the Night Spot every night (except Mondays) from now until April 10, from 7 p.m. till late.
For reservations, call 08 3827 2828 or email sheraton.saigon@sheraton.com. (By Dao Loan in HCMC - January 7, 2010)
Hotels prepare for New Year
Celebrate New Year at the Grand Hotel
This is the time to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new with hope for good luck, health, happiness and prosperity. As with other hotels and restaurants in town, the four-star Grand Hotel Saigon is offering food and entertainment programs, promising tourists a meaningful New Year celebration.
Tonight, there will be a buffet with many selected dishes priced at VND990,000 per adult and VND540,000 per child. There will be a Steak and Seafood BBQ by the pool priced at VND720,000 per adult and VND450,000 per child.
The Grand Hotel, under the management of Saigontourist, is one of the oldest hotels in HCMC, boasting luxury Western architecture.
The hotel is a familiar venue for buffets of Asian and European cuisine, cocktails, BBQs, weddings, birthday parties and business conferences, and to ring in the New Year, it is offering a variety of discounts on parties and conferences.
Grand Hotel Saigon is located at 8 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, HCMC, tel: 3829 4046 or 3823 0163, email: sale@grandhotel.vn.
Continental Hotel (132 Dong Khoi Street, HCMC’s District 1)
Coming to the hotel, gourmets can celebrate the New Year with a garden party accompanied with a music show of Flamenco band, solo saxophone, music of the Philippines, tea making performance and other programs such as jugglery, circus, Arabic belly dance show and lucky draw. Food is offered in many options including roasted goose, turkey stuffed with mushrooms, rabbit roasted with wine and many BBQ dishes. Tickets are priced at VND750,000 per adult and VND400,000 per child.
Saigon Hotel (41-47 Dong Du Street, HCMC’s District 1)
The hotel’s Saigon Paris Restaurant will put on a New Year Party program with set menu from 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. While enjoying the party, tourists can enjoy the view of the legendary Saigon River. Tickets are priced at VND220,000 per guest, 10% discount on groups of six.
Van Thanh Park (48/10 Dien Bien Phu Street, HCMC’s, Binh Thanh District)
Tourists can welcome the New Year in a romantic and cozy space with a buffet featuring 30 dishes accompanied with a music show of Flamenco band. The program will be prepared from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on December 31 and from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on January 1 and will cost VND170,000 per adult and VND100,000 per child.
Thien Hong Hotel (52-56 Tan Da Street, HCMC’s District 5)
A New Year’s Eve Party will be prepared from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on December 31 at the hotel’s restaurant on the ninth floor. The party will feature many artistic programs, promising tourists a meaningful and joyful New Year’s Eve. Tickets are priced at VND229,000 per adult and VND149,000 per child.
Saigon-Phu Quoc Resort and Spa (1 Tran Hung Dao St., Phu Quoc Dist., Kien Giang Province, tel: 0773 384 6999)
The Saigon-Phu Quoc Resort and Spa offers a splendid view of the islands, luxury services and a New Year’s Eve party with an ethnic music show by Phu Dong band from HCMC.
There will be a buffet program featuring about 50 dishes prepared on the beach. At 8:30 p.m. there will be a cruise and dancing on the beach. Tickets are US$79 per adult and US$35 per child. (By Dat Tien - The Saigon Times - December 30,2009)
