Our Wonderful FAM To Vietnam
A few members of our team were very lucky to experience a familiarization trip to Vietnam this month, courtesy of Emirates.
So I have recently returned from Vietnam and would like to share my experience, which I hope will inspire you to visit. What a stunning, unique and authentic country, and a great opportunity for me and my other team members to experience this Southeast Asia gem.
Getting to Vietnam
We flew to Vietnam with Emirates from London Heathrow Terminal 3 with a stopover in Dubai. Outbound we were lucky enough to receive an upgrade to Business Class. The first leg of our journey was operated by the A380 aircraft, and its Business Class cabin was very blissful! From the mini-bar to the on-board lounge, signature cocktail list and extremely spacious flatbed seat, it was a second to none flight experience and we all managed to sleep well on this night flight.
The second leg of our journey was aboard the modern B777 aircraft in Business Class. The cabin has been recently redesigned with a new sleeker design, more space and width, fully lie flat seats featuring soft leather fabric, an ergonomic headrest and a selection of gourmet meals. We all experienced a whole new level of comfort and relaxation throughout the journey; the added extras offered in Emirates’ Business Class do really make a difference and it is certainly worth upgrading!
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC, we met two of our fellow colleagues who were joining us on the trip from Brightsun’s offices in Delhi. It was evening so we went straight to check-in to the Novotel Saigon Centre where we stayed for two nights. This 4-star property is located near lots of shops and nightlife and offered an excellent buffet breakfast. Convenient, comfortable and ideal for a business traveller or explorer. The highlight feature here was the rooftop bar offering a selection of dishes and signature cocktails, as well as awesome city views.
Our first day in Vietnam was spent exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, which I would definitely recommend. This is a different kind of tourist experience which allows you to learn about the history of the Vietnam War. I am not so much of a history enthusiast but I was truly fascinated and intrigued when exploring these tunnels. You learn all about how the locals recycled weaponry, made camouflages and traps and generally how they got by during this traumatic period. Very enlightening.
In the afternoon we went for some hotel site inspections around the city, and one property that really stood out for us was the Le Meridien Hotel. This 5-star accommodation is set by the Saigon River, with a range of contemporary guest rooms and suites with either river or city views, as well as a luxury spa offering signature treatments and an indoor infinity pool. Watch this space for 2019 as we are very interested in offering packages with this hotel!
Mekong Delta Region & Can Tho
Our second day in Vietnam started off with a visit to a beautiful Buddhist temple called the Vinh Trang Pagoda in the Mekong Delta region. This was my first visit to a religious temple, and it was a very spiritual experience. The stunning architectural building is surrounded by pretty gardens and ancient bonsai trees; it’s very serene. Inside the building is the scent of incense and locals performing their prayers. Also within the grounds was a giant white happy Buddha and sleeping Buddha.
Afterwards we headed for a tour of the Mekong Delta and this was the highlight of our trip. What an epic cultural experience! We boarded a boat and took a ride to a village where we were served some delicious honey tea, and some of my colleagues even held a honey bees nest (not me I ran a mile!) I love the way they serve tea in Vietnam, in little shot size glasses from a cute patterned tea pot. We also visited a coconut candy factory on our tour.
We headed back on the boat for our final stop where we sat on a traditional table with stools, were served a delicious platter of fruit and tea and watched a wonderful traditional performance with singing and dancing. Afterwards we took a horse cart back to the river and boarded a sampan, where we were taken for a leisurely ride through the Mekong Delta. An absolutely immense experience which really made us feel like locals, especially wearing the cool Vietnamese conical hats!
After our amazing tour, we checked-in to the 5-star Vinpearl Can Tho which was a pleasure to stay in. This luxury property overlooks the Hau River and Can Tho city, and the views offered from my room were pretty spectacular. The hotel has an al fresco style lounge bar on the 6th floor with a stunning outdoor pool, as well as a deluxe spa, contemporary Chinese restaurant and an international buffet restaurant which also features a la carte dishes.
After a delicious buffet breakfast at our hotel, we headed to the airport for a domestic flight to Da Nang. This glorious coastal town is home to plenty of shopping and historical places of interest, as well as beaches with lush palms and pristine white sands. We passed the scenic sights of Da Nang and went straight to Hoi An, which took around a 40 minute drive. This town is very charming with lots of tailoring shops, boutiques, authentic restaurants and well-preserved ancient architecture.
We visited some hotels for site inspections and the Anantara Hoi An was particularly special. This luxury boutique hotel is set right next to Hoi An’s old quarter, and features stunning gardens and a riverfront setting. Ly, the sales manager who toured with us was exceptionally warm and welcoming. She showed us all around the hotel’s outdoor library, rooms and suites, swimming pool and courtyard and bars and restaurants.
In the evening, we went back to Da Nang to check in to our next hotel: Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang. This deluxe property has its own private beach, a cosy writer’s bar (perfect for me to take notes for the blog!) a selection of elegant rooms, suites and villas, a gourmet restaurant, terrace café and authentic oriental restaurant. There were many great added extras in my room including electronic curtain controls, a wakeup call service and a very deluxe bathtub…
We had an early start with a domestic flight to Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital for our final day in Vietnam. Hanoi was quite a contrast of old and new, with skyscrapers amongst traditional buildings, temples and markets. We enjoyed a city tour which included visits to the impressive Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and stunning Temple of Literature, and afterwards enjoyed a mouth-watering tapas style lunch at the Vietnamese La Ramblot restaurant – we were all thoroughly satisfied with our meals here.
After a delicious lunch, we went for a buggy tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and really got a taste of local life. It’s bustling, colourful and a delight for all the senses. Our final experience was a hosted dinner and site inspection of the Pan Pacific Hanoi hotel, a 5-star property set within walking distance of many local attractions. The showstopper here was the rooftop bar, offering a selection of light bites and beverages, and a fantastic view of the city’s skyline.
Vietnam is a truly wonderful country. We would recommend it as a travel destination for sure and hope this blog inspires you for your future holiday!
