This hidden gem is a small island located off Vietnam’s southern coast. Pristine marine life surrounds Con Dao and there is no hustle and bustle here except the fisherman’s market first thing in the morning. This island paradise is a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City and at present the accommodation offered on the island is First Class (3-star). The end of 2010 should see the opening of the luxurious Six Senses Hideaway Con Dao which is sure to put a spotlight on this ideal holiday destination

Discover the historic monuments and architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the Perfume River in Central Vietnam. On this tour travelers will cycle through the backstreets of Hue and explore the rich traditions and culture of this region. Meet friendly locals, have lunch with a Vietnamese family in the ancient village of Phuoc Tich in a 200 year old house. Note that the route takes place over flat terrain and is not too strenuous and can be enjoyed by those of all fitness levels.

The rural villages around Vietnam’s capital Hanoi offer a glimpse into country life largely untouched by commercial development. Our new half day tour takes you to an area which is cradled in the Red River Delta – here visit an ancient temple with superb architecture, a country style market where an abundance of produce can be seen and meet a local family in their 150-year old home for lunch.

One of the most hotly anticipated hotel openings of the year debuted last month with The Starwood Hotels and Resort group opening their 3rd property under the luxury Sheraton brand in Vietnam. The first international upscale hotel chain to open on the beach features six food-and-beverage outlets, nine multi-purpose function rooms, a full-service spa, an infinity-edge swimming pool overlooking the sea and stunning ocean views from all 284 rooms.
With Nha Trang airport recently opening their airport to international chartered arrivals, The Sheraton brand will bring more focus to this emerging destination famed not only for its’ long stretch of beach and coastal islands, but dramatic backdrop of mountain ranges too.
Contact vietnam@exotissimo.com full further details or click here.

Spend more time on the beach with the launch of Vietnam Airlines Ho Chi Minh- Can Tho route.

At the end of March Vietnam Airlines launched five weekly flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta, as well Can Tho to the tropical island of Phu Quoc (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday).The Can Tho flights offer an excellent alternative to the normal 5-hour drive to and from Ho Chi Minh City. To showcase this new route Exotissimo has launched a new module 6-Night package ‘Mekong to the Beach’.

Witness Tai Chi in the park, visit busy morning markets and slup pho with the locals

Designed to show travelers the ‘real’ Ho Chi Minh City, this morning tour makes the perfect introduction to Vietnamese life. Setting off at 7AM, the tour first goes to the park where the locals gather to exercise. Take a short stroll around to see Tai Chi, aerobics, badminton and other activities. Continue to a morning market to visit the vendors and stalls. This market is busiest in the early morning hours with fresh produce, seafood, flowers and a variety of other items arrive from the countryside to be sold and traded. Then continue to Pho 24 restaurant, a local institution, for a bowl of pho noodle soup- one of Vietnam’s best known dishes. Before returning to the hotel, a stop will be made at a streetside café for traditional Vietnamese coffee and people watching.

An added touch, the program uses a unique form of local transportation. Suitable for FITs or Groups, we recommend this as an introductory tour or for travelers with limited time in the city.

The full details can be found here: http://traveltrade.exotissimo.com/product/good-morning-saigon-ho-chi-minh-city-day-trip/
For booking or inquiries, please contact vietnam@exotissimo.com

One of our most popular multi-country programs, the 12 Days / 11 Nights Essential Cambodia and Vietnam Tour, is currently featuring discounts of more than 20% on first class hotel stays. This promotion now makes a great way for travelers to learn about these two neighboring countries at an incredible price!

A day is first spent in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, before flying to Siem Reap to spend the next two days exploring the Angkor temples and Tonle Sap Lake. On the fourth day, a short flight takes guests across borders into Vietnam. A couple of days will be spent discovering the colonial architecture and bustling markets of Ho Chi Minh City, and includes a cruise in the fertile Mekong Delta. Next heading to the central provinces, guests will visit the heritage port town of Hoi An, the Cham museums of Danang and the imperial history and architecture of Hue. The program’s final leg heads to Hanoi where guests can enjoy cultural excursions to lakefront pagodas and the Old Quarter in the Vietnamese capital before ending with a cruise on Halong Bay. For more program details, click here.

Exotissimo Vietnam Lends a Helping Hand to Local Communities

In keeping with our responsible travel ethos, Exotissimo gives back to local charities and the disadvantaged in Vietnam in a number of ways:

Aid assistance in typhoon-struck province- A week after the devastating Typhoon Mirinae hit South-central Vietnam, the Exotissimo team arrived in Phu Yen Province to render aid to four affected villages. Altogether three tons of rice, instant noodles, cookers, blankets, personal hygiene kits were given out, totaling more than 2.000 USD in aid given.

Sponsor for a kids’ day out- Over 40 impoverished children from Mekong Delta villages in Ben Tre Province were sponsored by Exo Vietnam on a fun day out at the Water Park and the Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City. For most of the children this was their first time to the city and they were overjoyed at the opportunity. In addition, one child was given a year of scholarship sponsored by Exo Vietnam.

Sponsor for KOTO Charity Bike Ride- Proudly sponsored by Exotissimo Vietnam, the annual KOTO Charity Bike Ride was successfully held in Hanoi on 21 November 2009. Over 150 riders turned up for this event. KOTO is a not-for-profit restaurant and vocational training program for the disadvantaged youth in Vietnam.

Click here to view other causes your clients can support while on holiday in Vietnam. For more information, please contact Le Hong Lan, Project Manager for CSR and Special Projects, at honglan@exotissimo.com.

Exotissimo Cambodia Teams Up with Local Charity

Exotissimo continues to play a part in the development of sustainable tourism in Cambodia by teaming up with American aid organization Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) in their inaugural Hidden Treasures Cambodia contest. This initiative seeks to identify and promote lesser known attractions in order to increase awareness amongst potential visitors and encourage tourist spending outside established areas. The winning destinations were offered consultation with Exotissimo Cambodia and media promotion. This year’s winners are:

o Peam Krassop – Mangrove forest in Koh Kong Province
o Chi Phat Ecotourism village in the Cardamom Mountains
o Chambok Community Based Waterfall – an ecotourism site in the Cardamom Mountains
o Ta Tai Waterfall – an ecotourism site in the Cardamom Mountains
o Phare Ponleu Selpak – an arts school and circus center in Battambang
o Banteay Chhmar – a cultural tourism site
o Kampong Luong Floating Village – an ecotourism site in Pursat Province

Click here to view other causes your clients can support while on holiday in Cambodia.

New Luxury Option for Hue Dinner Cruises
La Residence Hotel and Spa in Hue is now offering dinner cruises along the Perfume River. Seating up to 25 passengers, the 2-hour cruise offers a Vietnamese set dinner and live traditional Vietnamese music and can be privatized for groups. Available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, these cruises provide a stylish way to sightsee Hue’s iconic river. Click here to view details of La Residence or contact vietnam@exotissimo.com to book the dinner cruise.

New Deluxe Cruise Option for Tonle Sap and Mekong River
The Jayavarman is the latest boat addition on the popular route between Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Saigon. It is a 60-m deluxe riverboat with 27 cabins and suites as well as 800m² of public space across its 4 decks. Operated by Heritage Line Cruise Company, the Jayavarman has various river itineraries ranging from one to seven nights. The company does not operate the Phnom Penh – Siem Reap route during the low water season from April to June.

Belonging to renowned Vietnamese painter Thanh Chuong, Thanh Chuong Palace is an elegant antique house showcasing a valuable collection of Vietnamese artifacts. Situated in the countryside, it makes a great half-day excursion from Hanoi or as a stop on the way to Noi Bai Airport or on the return from Halong Bay. It is suitable for groups as well as FITs with an interest in Vietnamese culture. Lunch and water puppet performances are available upon request. For more information, email vietnam@exotissimo.com.