Having secured some fabulous deals with our favorite hotels and villas, Exotissimo Vietnam is pleased to pass the offers and promotions on to you to facilitate a great value trip to Vietnam. Some of Vietnam’s best hotels are now featuring Pay 2 Stay 3 promotions. In particular, the luxurious Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake is offering an unbeatable stay 3 nights pay 2 nights promotion and the nights need not be consecutive! View our full list of promotions here. Reservations can be made directly with Exotissimo Vietnam at vietnam@exotissimo.com.

Since 1 December 2008, the entrance fees for many museums and historical parks in Thailand have increased significantly, sometimes more than 100% from the previous rate, e.g. National Museum: 40 to 200 Baht, Royal Barge Museum: 30 to 100 Baht, Ayutthaya Historical Park: 30 to 50 Baht. For all previously quoted tours (including series), Exotissimo has decided to absorb the price differences and keep our promise to operate the tour as they were quoted. However, our reservations team will automatically include the increase in entrance fees for all new quotations. Contact thailand@exotissimo.com for more information.

Since 4 January, Vietnam Airlines has launched seven flights per week on the new Hanoi – Can Tho route. At the same time, the low cost carrier Jetstar Pacific has also started four flights per week on the same route. The establishment of this new route will give travelers more time to explore the Mekong Delta and its vast waterways.

In November, Indochina Sails launched the operation of the Indochina Sails 3, bringing its total cruiser fleet in Halong Bay to four. The newest vessel features 15 luxurious cabins, including four deluxe suites with private balconies on the second deck. With designs inspired by the classic Oriental junks and equipped with modern amenities, the Indochina fleet is known for having the most charming and luxurious boats on Halong Bay.

Joining operations alongside Bassac I and II in Mekong River since November is Bassac III. Accommodating up to 24 passengers in the 12 air-conditioned cabins (each fitted with a private bathroom), this new boat also features a spacious restaurant, a large gallery, a front lounge and a mostly–covered upper deck. The Bassac III can take passengers on cruises up to seven days through Vietnam’s Mekong Delta as well as charter and set departure cruises from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh.

If you would like to have further product updates or information that are not seen in this e-newsletter, please email our Vietnam Product Manager, Maeve Nolan, at maeve@exotissimo.com for further

Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State, is accessible from both Shan and Karen States. From Inle Lake, it takes 5 hours by boat to Hpe Kom followed by a 2-hour car ride to Loikaw. From Heho, it is a 5-hour drive to Loikaw. Both routes take visitors through the scenic landscapes of Myanmar.

Loikaw’s attractions include the Taung Gwe Pagoda, Htee Pwint Lake, weaving workshops and a cultural museum. In the hill regions, the Padaung tribes are interesting cultural groups with their traditional costumes and unique ways of life. Native to the Kayah State, the Padaung females wear brass rings on their necks in the belief that a woman’s beauty is judged by the length of her neck.

The Kayah festivals are equally fascinating and offer cultural insights. The Kayah people celebrate Kae-Hto-Boe (or Dagundaing) to mark the New Year, Moe-Khaw-Pwe (Rain Wishing) in April, as well as the Deeku (boiled sticky rice snack) and Kay (hunting) festivals. Before undertaking important tasks such as hunting or harvesting, they will predict their own fortunes by piercing a freshly cut chicken leg with a sharp, thin layer of bamboo stick.

For more information and itineraries in Loikaw, please contact myanmar@exotissimo.com.

The Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap recently opened its new Nick Faldo-designed golf course. A special golf package is now available, including 2 nights in a superior room at the Victoria Angkor with daily buffet breakfasts, round-trip airport transfers, a 18-hole round of golf with caddy and return transfers between the hotel and golf course (or a spa package for non-golfers). The package is valid until 30 April 2009. Special offers for groups of 5 or more golfers are available on request.

The Seven Seas Resort has just opened on Koh Kradan, a secluded island off the coast of Trang Province in Southern Thailand. The new resort offers 32 villas with indoor and outdoor living areas as well as open-air bathrooms with rain showers. Each unit presents splendid views of either the Andaman Sea or the lush tropical garden scenery. Guests can pamper themselves with a massage at the Seven Seas Spa or a delectable seafood meal at the restaurant.

Opening this December in the northernmost Thai province of Chiang Rai is Katiliya Mountain Resort & Spa. Nestled amidst verdant valleys, the Katiliya is a sanctuary for relaxation, spa and meditation. The 56 suites and 2 villas feature spacious interiors with high ceilings and private balconies. The Katiliya also offers outdoor dining and distinctive Northern Thai spa treatments amid panoramic views of the lush surroundings.

Opening in December 2008, Maison D’Hanoi Hanova Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel located in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarters. It is a short walk away from the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake and other colonial buildings. Featuring 55 rooms and suites with tasteful designs and modern amenities, it is suitable for both leisure and corporate travellers. Other hotel facilities include the Minh Hai Lobby Gallery, Piano Bar and Hanova Café.

Newly opened, the Thao Dien Village is a 13,000 square metre complex in Ho Chi Minh City’s plush District 2. A mere 20 minutes drive from the city centre (or by boat charter for groups), the complex is nestled beside the Saigon River and blends tropical and Vietnamese designs into its landscaping and decoration. It features a 22-room colonial style hotel, four restaurants (Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese and Italian), a spa and health club, a riverside pool, an events hall and a puppet theatre. It is highly recommended for MICE events, families or honeymooners seeking an intimate stay or those who simply wish to get away from the city.