Opened last December, Medallion Hanoi Hotel is recommended for mid-budget FITs. Centrally located in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the Medallion boasts easy accessibility to other attractions in the city. The 64 rooms and suites feature an intimate, cozy atmosphere with darkwood furnishings, parquet flooring and white linens. All guestrooms are equipped with multi-channel satellite LCD televisions, DVDs, shower/bathtub combinations and free Wi-Fi internet access. Click here to view the hotel details.

Introduced into Vietnam by the Americans in the 1960s and 70s, these funky jeeps can be rented for city touring or for a night out on the town. Up to 12 jeeps can be hired at any one time for touring within Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Each vehicle comes with a private driver and seats 3 passengers. For further information, email vietnam@exotissimo.com.

There are many ways to explore the bustling city of Saigon, however, none is as exhilarating as on a chauffer-driven Vespa scooter! Joining the city’s iconic mass of motorcyclists on the road, the program will lead clients through the beautiful streets to visit the city’s best landmarks: Notre Dame Cathedral, Municipal Post Office, Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. We will also take the client off the beaten track to the oldest quarter in the city. A driver & helmets will be provided. Contact vietnam@exotissimo.com for more details.

Vietnam’s first traditional medicine museum, the FITO Museum, displays an amazing collection of 3,000 items relevant to the development of traditional Vietnamese medicine (which dates as far back as the Stone Age). Implements used to prepare indigenous herbs, objects commonly found in traditional pharmacies as well as ancient books and documents on traditional Vietnamese medicine can be seen in the galleries. Located in District 10 close to Cholon (Chinatown), this new museum makes a great addition to a city tour. For touring ideas in HCMC, contact vietnam@exotissimo.com.

A private home-cooked dinner or cooking class in the home of a local Vietnamese is the perfect way for travelers to gain deeper insights into the country’s culture and cuisine. A host family, residing in the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) suburbs, will whip up delicious dishes and sit down to enjoy the meal with their foreign guests. As for the half-day cooking class, the client will first visit a local market well off the tourist trail escorted by a local university student, before proceeding to the host family’s house for the cooking class. An opportunity to learn how the locals really live and eat, such intimate interaction is sure to leave lasting memories for your clients! Note: the half-day private cooking class in family home is inclusive of lunch. For inquiries, contact vietnam@exotissimo.com.

Having led adventure biking tours throughout Vietnam for more than 5 years, we have now come up with some easier routes in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In the north, we have a new half day Hanoi biking tour (guaranteed to be away from the traffic) as well as longer day trips from Hoa Lu to Tam Coc and the craft village of Dong Ho via But Thap Pagoda. In the south, Cu Chi’s surroundings can be cycled for the day. In the Mekong Delta, why not explore the quaint villages, single track roads and floating markets in Cai Be District on a bicycle? For more touring information, contact vietnam@exotissimo.com.

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.

Pandaw recently announced the availability of three weekly two-night cruises between Saigon in Vietnam and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, in addition to the seven and ten-night cruises from Saigon to Siem Reap. These products can be integrated into Vietnam and Cambodia land tours to offer a relaxing and picturesque interlude in clients’ vacations.

Set to be launched in September 2009, the RV La Marguerite is an eight-day historic voyage aboard the spacious colonial vessel replica. It sails between Saigon and Cambodia with port calls at Cai Be – Sa Dec, Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham & area, Tonle River, Tonle Lake and Siem Reap.

In Vietnam, diners can indulge in local delicacies and contribute to meaningful causes at the same time. In Saigon, the Huong Lai Restaurant is staffed by former street kids or disadvantaged youth who have received training in English and hospitality skills. Tucked in a traditional Vietnamese house, the Huong Lai specialises in Southern Vietnamese cuisine. In Hoi An, the Blue Dragon Restaurant serves good Vietnamese food by the waterfront with profits going towards the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, a local children’s charity. Further up north, KOTO Hanoi Restaurant is a not-for-profit restaurant dedicated to training former street youth in a culinary and hospitality career. KOTO stands for Know One, Teach One. These eateries will make good recommendations to clients interested in aiding local communities during their travels.

The Hoa Tuc Restaurant is a charming new venue for Vietnamese dining in Saigon. Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, it is opposite the Park Hyatt and a two-minute walk from the historic Opera House. Housed in the back courtyard of a former Opium Refinery, Hoa Tuc means “opium flower” in Vietnamese. The hues of green and purple lend an elegant ambience to the chic interiors, making it a popular dining choice among FITs.