Great beach resorts in Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand

Ana Mandara Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam

Escape the city. Hop on the nearest train, bus, boat or airplane and find your way to the Ana Mandara Resort in Nha Trang, a city known for its perfect weather nine months out of the year and miles of warm-water beaches. The resort’s 32 garden view, eight sea view, 24 deluxe and four suite villas come with king-size or twin beds, full size baths, air conditioning and ceiling fans, satellite television, room service 24 hours a day, daily newspapers and private balconies, with views that overlook Nha Trang Bay or into the gardens. When you are not enjoying the accommodations, rent a bike or motorbike to tour the streets of the city, go to the nearby islands to fish, swim, snorkel or scuba dive, or enjoy a massage at the Six Senses Spa. For your business needs, take advantage of the fax, photocopying, secretarial and Internet services, as well as the fully stocked library.

Sokha Beach Resort, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Sihanoukville, which was built by the French as a port town, is slowly being classified as a beach town where tourists can come for rest and relaxation. With the opening of the Sokha Beach Resort in mid-April 2004, the title will certainly fit. The resort, which bills itself as the 'first international class beach resort' in Cambodia, will offer guests 156 deluxe rooms, 22 suites and 10 beachfront bungalows. Sokha Beach Resort differentiates itself from other hotels and resorts by adding extra touches to each guest room, including scented candles in the marble bathrooms, cotton bed linens and towels, and a sitting couch for enjoying quiet moments. Venture outside your luxurious sleeping quarters to take trips to the nearby islands and national parks, unwind in the swimming pool, contemplate colours of the water as you fish, and enjoy the plethora of sports activities available, including scuba diving, jet skiing, sailing, and sea canoeing and kayaking.

Sandoway Resort, Ngapali Beach, Rackine State, Myanmar

In a world where many of the best beaches and resorts have been overrun by tourists, there are very few places where you can go these days to enjoy calm and personal service. In the Sandoway Resort on Ngapali Beach, shielded by hundreds of coconut trees, you will find the vacation you were searching for, including a stretch of beach free of the crush of crowds. The resort boasts 18 beach front and sea view villas and 30 very comfortable cottages. Occupants of the cottages enjoy extras, including bathroom sunroofs, private verandas, upper floor bedrooms and elegant living rooms. The International Restaurant is a great place to enjoy fresh lobsters, prawns and other seafood that have just been caught by local fishermen. Add in opportunities to play golf on the nine-hole course, fish, boat, bike, snorkel, windsurf and sail, and you have the makings of an unforgettable holiday.

Rayavadee Resort, Krabi, Thailand

Krabi is a little-known town where the local people make their living farming and fishing and the pace of life is oh so slow. This pace may take some time getting used to; a pace that the Rayavadee in Krabi can help you ease into. The resort’s 98 two-storey pavilions are equipped with bathtubs big enough for two, entertainment systems, a shaded private sitting area, and pool, garden, sea or cliff views, while the villas have extra bedrooms and entertainment facilities. It would definitely be worth your while to indulge at the Rayavadee Spa with a Thai herbal heat massage, honey facial massage, aloe and lavender wrap, and haircut, followed by a manicure and pedicure. After a day at the spa, enjoy a little adventure with complimentary water activities, including a guided canoe adventure, snorkelling and sailing. Connoisseurs will delight in an evening of live music and Thai specialities at the Raya Dining Room & Lounge and a great view of the Phra Nang Beach while dining on fresh seafood at the Krua Phranang Restaurant & Bar.

Submarine tour in Thailand

Phuket Submarine is now offering 45-minutes submarine trips around Phuket's Maiton and Dok Mai Islands. The Deep Star-48 Subbmarine, which dives to a depth of 30 metres, offers 48 seats and LCD screens between view ports. The service leaves Rassada Harbour five times a day and includes transportation to and from the hotel and harbour. Please note that no smoking, eating or drinking is allowed for the duration of the dive. please contact Exotissimo Thailand at thailand@exotissimo.com for individual and group rates and more information.   

2004 is Visit Dien Bien Phu Year

Between 13^th March and 7^th may, 1954, French forces and Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh army clashed near the village of Dien Bien Phu in what would be the last battle of the Indochina War. Fifty years later, on the day that the battle began, Vietnamese and French survivors and government officials met at a conference to remember this event. In May, a schedule of programmes are planned for visiting tourists, including visit to the area's newly upgraded Dien bien Museum, soldier memorials and bunker headquarters, cultural activities, a fashion show, a cuisine competition and the Dien Bien International Trade and Tourism Fair.

Don Muang Airport stays open

The Thai governmemt has reversed a decision to close down the Don Muang International Airport in mid -2005 after the opening of the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn Province near Bangkok. The airport will be kept open in response to a sudden increase in low-cost airlines in Asia. Certain groups, including the International Air Transport Association, oppose having two international airports in the area and call the plan unproductive and uneconomical.

Blue Panorama flies to Bangkok

On 1^st March, Italy-based airline Blue Panorama began offering flight services twice a week to Bangkok from Milan and vice versa. Friday flights will be non-stop while the Monday flights will stop once in Phuket.