EXOTISSIMO CRUISING TO A SUCCESSFUL 2002

The Arion at Saigon Port

Vietnam is becoming an increasingly popular destination for cruise lines and January 2002 saw Exotissimo handling the ground arrangements for cruise ships arriving from Singapore and Hong Kong. The 250 European passengers on each ship were on a multi-destination Asian cruise. The ship from Singapore docked first in Ho Chi Minh City where the passengers were greeted on arrival by Exotissimo staff who arranged an express VIP clearance bypassing the usual immigration and customs formalities. Onshore excursions in Ho Chi Minh City included sightseeing tours to Saigon Old Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Binh Tay Market, a lacquerware factory and Thien Hau Pagoda in the city bustling Chinatown. From Ho Chi Minh City the cruise ship sailed for Vietnam’s best-known beach resort, Nha Trang. After docking in Nha Trang sightseeing was organized to the 7^th century Po Nagar Cham Towers, Long Son Pagoda, the famous Pasteur Institute and a fishing village. The next port of call was Danang from where some of the passengers visited the historic trading port of Hoi An and Danang while others visited the former imperial capital, Hue. Continuing up the coastline the ship arrived in Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where 3,000 spectacular limestone island rise dramatically from the bay. The cruise from Hong Kong followed the same itinerary but in reverse order. At the end of the cruise passengers commented that they were constantly surprised by the beauty of Vietnam, the peaceful relaxed atmosphere and the friendliness of the Vietnamese people.

These two cruise ships mark an important stage in the continuing development of tourism to Vietnam and also in the development of the range of services offered by Exotissimo Vietnam.

Exotissimo took care of all the onshore travel arrangements for these cruises in Vietnam including visa formalities, sightseeing excursions, transportation and meals. For more information on organizing onshore arrangements for cruise ships in Vietnam contact vietnam@exotissimo.com.

Vietnam's central city of Hue is finalizing preparations for the second Festival Hue arts festival in May. This year’s event is expected to attract around 6,000 overseas visitors and 80,000 local visitors. The festival will offer a spectacular programme of shows, performances, exhibitions, banquets, celebrations and special tours to central Vietnam’s World Heritage Sites. Art troupes from ten countries, including Cambodia, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, the Philippines and Thailand will join Vietnamese troupes for the event. Shows will be take place on 14 different stages at Ngo Mon Square, Dai Noi and An Dinh Palace. For more information on Festival Hue 2002 please contact Exotissimo Vietnam at vietnam@exotissimo.com

ANA MANDARA EXTENDS SIX SENSES MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

The operators of Nha Trang’s luxury Ana Mandara Resort, Hai Duong Tourist Company (HDTC), have announced that they are extending Six Senses Hotel & Resorts’ management contract of the property for a further ten years. The state-owned Trading & Investment Company (TIC) recently bought out foreign joint-venture partner, VF-CGZ-TIC (Vietnam Fund & Compagnie Generale des Zincs Limited & Trading & Investment Company), and Hai Duong Tourist Company is now wholly owned by TIC. HDTC will continue to operate the Ana Mandara Resort with the management services provided by Six Senses.

As part of a recent renovation, the Six Senses Spa at Ana Mandara has been upgraded and its range of treatments extended to include indulgent body wraps and scrubs. The most popular of these is the ‘Body Glow’, in which mineral rich sea salt, dried seaweed and fruit enzymes are combined to smooth and silken the entire body. Treatments are performed in straw pavilions whilst guests enjoy the beautiful landscaped waterfall rock garden, calming music and relaxing atmosphere.

Imperial Angkor Palace under construction

The Imperial Hotel Group, has started construction of the new Imperial Angkor Palace in Siem Reap. The Bt650 million project is due to be completed by the end of 2003. The only other major hotel chain in Siem Reap is Accor, which owns the five-star Sofitel Royal Angkor. The Imperial Angkor Palace will initially have 220 guestrooms with another 60 rooms being added in the second phase of construction. The Imperial Group currently owns 10 hotels in Thailand and the Hotel Plaza Athenee in New York.

New resort to open at Ngapali in October 2002

Ngapali Beach, Myanmar’s best-known beach, will have a new international standard resort in October. The Bay of Bengal Ngapali Resort will be situated right on the beach and will consist of luxurious air-conditioned tents with attached bathrooms. The main building and restaurant will be constructed in traditional Burmese architectural style. Intially 125 deluxe tents and 10 superior tents are planned.