HANOI & HUE, Vietnam — The leading hotels in each of Vietnam’s most culturally profound destinations have come up with ‘A Capital Idea,’ a five-day, four-night exploration of cities that each reigned for a spell as the country’s capital. Hanoi was capital of Vietnam from 1010 to 1802, and has been since 1945. Hue was...
HUE, Vietnam — As plans gear up for the biennial Hue Festival April 29 to May 4, La Residence Hotel & Spa is holding the line against outsized pricing with a Memorable Hue Festival package at 3.5 million VND (US$160) per night. Memorable Hue includes two nights accommodation, daily breakfast for two, a one-way airport...
HANOI — Global golf icon Gary Player hailed Vietnam as one of the leading lights in the development of golf in Asia during a stop in Hanoi last week. The nine-time major champion and acclaimed course architect was in country to visit with the chairman of Vingroup, whose golf division, Vinpearl Golf, has engaged with...
HALONG BAY, Vietnam — Paradise Hotels & Cruises, the No. 1 cruise provider on Halong Bay, is dropping an anchor in the 4-star sector by assuming management of La Vela Cruises. In operation since 2008, La Vela Cruises tours the bay with two steel boats of similar size but different style — the 28-cabin La...
HANOI — A collection of 30 photographs that illuminate Hanoi and Hue at night will go on display at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi April 14 – 24 and at the MGallery La Residence Hue Hotel & Spa in Hue April 29 – May 4. Conceived, executed and produced by Sebastien Laval, a Poitiers, France-based...
At the Waldorf-Astoria last year, an elegant woman of Eastern European extraction was crossing the hotel lobby in Chicago. It was near midnight. She wore a tight-fitting grey cotton dress. Red heels. Her eyes swerved for a look at a man coming her way in a dark sport jacket with a sheaf of papers under arm. This...
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – In 1845 an errant cannonball hit a Dutch villa that is today the Galle Face Hotel. Earlier this year the heritage hotel finally found out who fired the 30-pound ball that inspired an annual cannonball run, a 100 meter dash set for March 18th this year. “There was a famous story...
HANOI — It’s been twenty-five years since the hotel emerged from the doldrums of post-war privation; twenty years since the Opera Wing opened; and just seven years since Sofitel branded its Hanoi luxury property as its first Legend hotel. But there seems to be no end to the renewed enthusiasm for Vietnam’s Grand Dame. In...
TOKYO — In Forbes Travel Guide’s second annual review of Tokyo hotels, Palace Hotel Tokyo has emerged as the first independent Japanese hotel to secure the coveted Five Star rating. The world’s most prestigious arbiters of luxury travel, Forbes Travel Guide (formerly Mobil Travel Guide) has been providing comprehensive, anonymous reviews of the hospitality industry...
