Recently opened for operations, the new boutique hotel Lavender Hotel is a gem of a place. Located right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the Lavender is highly recommended for travellers who want a comfortable stay without missing out on the sightseeing, shopping and bustling life of the city. Offering 71 rooms stylishly decorated in hues of purple, there is also a Saigon View Restaurant & Bar that serves Western and Asian cuisine amidst an elegant ambience. The Lavender is also an ideal spot to explore the historical Ben Thanh market just a stone’s throw away.

The latest edition to Hanoi’s growing boutique hotel scene, the 42-room Serenade Hotel is set to enchant. Centrally located in Hang Dao Street, the most established and bustling business center in the Old Quarter area, the Serenade is comprised of 42 rooms luxuriously designed and fitted with modern amenities. You can look forward to savoring the different gastronomic styles of Vietnam in the Romance Restaurant or enjoy an overview of the city from Panorama Cafe. Its convenient location also makes it a perfect base to explore the neighboring Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Thang Long Puppet Theatre, a distinctive Vietnamese art form.

Acclaimed French chef Didier Corlou, owner of La Verticale in Hanoi and On The Six Restaurant in Saigon has now launched a cooking school. Two programs are on offer – a market visit and cooking demonstration or a workshop on Vietnamese spices. Both courses are in Hanoi with the celebrated chef himself, and we are sure that foodies will love them.

Starting on 30th March 2008, Siem Reap Airways will re-open their daily Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City route. This creates new options for interesting combination itineraries between Saigon, Siem Reap and beyond. The late morning/early afternoon departure times will certainly make connections convenient and relatively stress free.

Conveniently located in the heart of Saigon, on stylish Dong Khoi Street (aka La Rue Catinat), the Ordinary Bed & Breakfast makes for a cozy home away from home in the big city. Just upstairs from a chic clothing store, the Ordinary B&B is truly boutique. There are only 12 rooms to this property decorated in a contemporary and almost “funky” Indochinese style. Bright colors are paired with antique replicas to create a decidedly new take on Vietnamese culture. The Ordinary B&B is certainly recommended for FITs looking for a little property with a lot of personality.

At the beginning of February, the Nam Kha and Nam Phan restaurants have closed. Both have been providing luxury dining experiences in downtown Saigon for years. However the Vietnamese government has re-purposed the locations of these two properties, forcing their closure. Please contact Vietnam@exotissimo.com for further information.

This year marks Movenpick’s entry into Vietnam. The brand will renovate and manage the Omni Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and the Guoman Hotel in Hanoi. The 350-room Movenpick Hotel Saigon (Omni) will be located in Phu Nhuan district, minutes away from Tan Son Nhat airport, while the 150-room Movenpick Hotel Hanoi (Guoman) is right in the heart of downtown Hanoi. Both properties are popular with business travelers and incentives, and we expect this to continue underneath the Movenpick brand.