Promotions and news in HCMC and beyond…
Treat Your Loved One
Sandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort in Danang is offering a honeymoon package at VND5,900,000, valid from March 1 to December 14, 2014. It includes round trip airport-resort transfer, three days/two nights accommodation in a Bungalow Garden View, breakfast in room or daily buffet breakfast at Alamanda Restaurant, romantic candlelight dinner for two and a 45-minute spa treatment per couple with the choice of a head, shoulder or foot massage.
Other benefits include welcome drink and flower bouquet upon arrival, free bottle of sparkling wine and honeymoon room decoration on arrival, free late check-out until 6pm subject to room availability, two complimentary drinks at Garden Pub, free upgrade to higher room category subject to room availability, extension stays with special rate at VND2,000,000/room/night inclusive of breakfast; 10 percent discount for F&B and 15 percent for spa services. Contact Sandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort at cdv@chr.co.th or (051) 1396 1777.
Meditate On It
Huy, a Yoga Ashtanga certified instructor, is offering a meditation class (a Buddhist practice called the Samatha method) for free. Classes are available in English and Vietnamese. On Wednesdays, classes are held from 7pm - 8pm (Smile Group), 9:30am - 10:30am on Saturdays (Shri Yoga) and 2pm - 3pm on Sundays (Smile Group). Smile Group classes are held at 38/16A Tran Khac Chan, D1 (near Tan Dinh Market) while Shri Yoga classes are at 54/2/25 Bach Dang, Tan Binh (near the airport).
Huy has trained under Tirisula Yoga (Singapore) by Master Paalu and Master Weiling. He visited India several times to study Samatha and Vipassana Meditation (Buddhist techniques) at Gaenka 10-day Vipassana retreats and at Lokaratna Buddha Vihara in Bangalore under Venerable Vinayarakkhita Thera. He believes that asanas (yogic physical postures) brings awareness, releases stress, calms the body and mind, thus, creating the right conditions for a peaceful samatha meditation and Pranayama practice (yogic breathing techniques). For enrollment and details, contact Huy at huylekhac@ yahoo.com or 090 688 7468.
Help at Hand for Foreigners
Mina aims to bridge services between companies and foreigners, providing information about real estate properties for sale or for rent, dining, entertainment, shopping, health and domestic help. It was founded in 2006 to serve the growing number of foreigners flocking into Vietnam. The company’s office is located on the ground floor of Riverside Residence, Nguyen Luong Bang, Phu My Hung, D7. Visit www.mina.vn for more info.
Celebrate Women’s Day
To make your Women’s Day memorable, InterContinental Asiana Saigon (corner of Hai Ba Trung and Le Luan, D1) offers a dinner from 6pm - 10pm and lunch buffet from 10:30am - 2:30pm on March 8. Market 39 restaurant offers a dinner buffet at VND1,099,000, inclusive of a free flow of wines, soft drinks, beer, water and signature cocktails. Meanwhile, Yu Chu Chinese restaurant offers “all you can eat” dim sum starting from VND500,000 per person including Chinese tea and soft drinks. Call (08) 3520 9099 or email dine@icasianasaigon.com for information or to make a reservation.
Hong Kong Airlines Launches HCMC Route
From March 17, Hong Kong Airlines will fly three times a week between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City. Flights will be every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, leaving Hong Kong at 12:20pm and arriving in Ho Chi Minh City at 1:55pm; departing Ho Chi Minh City at 3pm on the return flight, arriving 6:30pm. Combined with the current Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route and new routes, Hong Kong Airlines will offer 10 weekly flights between Vietnam. For more ticket information, visit the Hong Kong aviation website www.hkairlines.com.
Connecting People & Sports
If you’re a swimmer, a cyclist, a runner, or all three, Ho Chi Minh City can be a fantastic place to do sports if you know where to look. A new website, www.triglobe.net, aims to connect people in HCMC who are interested in sports with information on where to find training buddies, exchange training routes, arrange meeting points, and provide info like where to find a bike. The website will be updated regularly.
Dental Breakthrough In Vietnam
In November 2013, the first case of nerve repositioning for dental implant surgery was reported in Vietnam. The surgery was performed by Dr Vo Van Nhan of Nhan Tam Dentist Center. The 59-year-old patient, Nguyen Van Luom, lost his entire lower jaw from a gunshot 40 years ago and before his surgery in 2013, had a prosthetic jaw.
Nerve repositioning is an advanced surgery technique that can only be practiced in developed countries. It is far superior compared to other implant techniques and is seen as new hope for patients like Luom. The surgery has been performed by only 44 doctors worldwide. Vo Van Nhan is the first and only dentist confirmed capable of performing nerve repositioning surgery in Vietnam.
New Place To Drink & Relax
Situated in District 1, Beer Rung (14bis Nguyen Dinh Chieu) is the ideal place to sit down, kick back, throw away your worries and relax with friends and a cold beer. With its unique restaurant and outside terrace, it can accommodate 300 guests at once and is fully equipped to offer event organizing services such as party, birthday, banquet, etc…Beer Rung specializes in grilled dishes from all regions of Vietnam at reasonable prices and opens daily from 4pm to midnight.
KFC Now A Click Away
Food delivery marketplace foodpanda has partnered with global leading restaurant franchise KFC. From now on, customers can order the whole KFC menu online at www.foodpanda.vn.
In Vietnam, foodpanda already entered partnerships with Al Fresco’s, Pepperonis, Subway, Tokyo Deli and Thai Express. On a global level, foodpanda cooperates with McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Subway, Papa John’s, Starbucks and 7-Eleven.
KFC is the largest fast food company in Vietnam, launched here in 1997 and now boasting 134 locations. Founded in 2012, foodpanda provides an online and mobile marketplace with a wide gastronomic range, enabling restaurants to take their menus online and extend their customer base.
Curing the Feet & Hands
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula has just launched the PEDI:MANI:CURE STUDIO by Bastien Gonzalez. The famous Bastien treatments are much sought after by movie stars and international a-listers and are now available at the resort. Bastien selects and trains every member of his team in his treatment protocols, guaranteeing high standards across the board. Benoit Perie, a French pedicurist who previously managed the Spanish Bastien’s Studio in Barcelona and the Turkish one in Bodrum, manages the Danang team.
Among the indulgent treatments at the resort is the award-winning Bastien’s Duo; a 75-minute synchronized treatment by two therapists simultaneously, focusing on nails, hands and feet, for ultimate manicure and pedicure.
For more info, visit www.danang.intercontinental.com.
Ao Dai Museum
This 20,000 square meter museum located at Long Thuan Garden House in District 9 is the first in Vietnam to display ao dais (women’s traditional wear). More than 500 ao dais, with some dating back 84 years ago, are displayed, and the phuong bao (phoenix dress) will also be showcased. Ao dai designer Hoang, a former lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture in 2006, initiated the museum. Admission costs VND100,000 for tourists, VND30,000 for the handicapped, and free for the elderly and children. Proceeds of the admission are used to promote Vietnamese dress culture and traditional arts.