Promotions and news in HCMC and beyond…
ISHCMC Turns 20
ISHCMC IB World School (www.ishcmc.com) celebrated their 20th anniversary in style when over 300 parents, teachers and friends of the school came together as a community by attending a ‘Great Gatsby’ event last month at the Intercontinental Hotel. ISHCMC is the most established school in Ho Chi Minh City and the only one with full accreditation to teach all three IB programs to students from 2 to 18 years of age.
The school has been successfully graduating students to top tier universities worldwide since 2000. ISHCMC has over 50 different nationalities represented within the diverse school community.
Online Tutoring Platform
Recently launched, DestinationTutor is a tutoring platform for students and tutors to connect online and arrange lessons in any subject. Students and tutors can then meet face to face for personalized tutoring in the subject of their choice. The new online tutoring platform, which is also mobile friendly, offers students and tutors an affordable way to meet and schedule lessons without having to pay a heavy commission per lesson, creating savings upwards of 30 to 40 percent per lesson. The site is free of charge and offers one year professional membership to the first 100 tutors and 100 students who register. Professional membership provides users access to all site features.
Founded in HCMC, DestinationTutor.com has expanded to include Hanoi and Danang.
InterContinental Opens In Nha Trang
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the doors of the brand new InterContinental in Nha Trang. The 279-room hotel overlooks the pristine coastline and waters of the Nha Trang Bay and includes 56 luxuriously furnished suites. The hotel’s main restaurant Cookbook Café offers live interactive cooking stations with seafood, char grilled meats and Vietnamese specialties, while poolside bar Aqualine provides guests with views over the bay as they enjoy light bites. Those looking to unwind can enjoy signature drinks at the Lobby Bar. The hotel has three outdoor swimming pools and a fully equipped Fitness Centre, while Spa InterContinental offers guests modern and traditional treatments, equipped with a couple’s suite, sauna and jacuzzi, among others.
To celebrate the opening, InterContinental Nha Trang is offering an Opening Special Promotion for bookings made between April 1 and June 30 from VND2,500,000++ per night. The rate includes complimentary daily buffet breakfast and wireless internet access.
Japanese BBQ
Vui Vui, a restaurant specializing in barbecue and Japanese-style hot pot, is the newest addition to Saigon’s Japanese restaurants. Located at 125A Tran Quoc Thao, D3, Vui Vui opens daily from 11am to 10pm. The highlight of Vui Vui restaurant is barbecue with beef imported directly from the US and sauces to marinate the meat before grilling. It also offers a variety of set lunches including Yakiudon–Stir fried udon noodle, Kimuchi Pokka–Stir fried kim chi and pork, Chige– Spicy hot pot, Sukiyaki lunch set and Purukogi–Korean style BBQ. The restaurant offers free rice, iced tea and dessert for diners who order set lunches, each set priced from VND95,000 to VND150,000. And until May, diners who order one portion of meat will be offered free vegetables, kim chi, salad and rice. In addition, you can also choose one of two types of soup or Korean style steamed eggs.
The restaurant has two floors with each floor accommodating approximately 100 guests. The second floor will only open to serve big groups of diners who reserve in advance. Diners can sit at the table and Western-style sofa or on the wood floor.
For bookings and inquiries, visit www.vuivui.net.vn.
Literary Day
It was great times for Renaissance International School Saigon (www.renaissance.edu.vn) as author and poet Kenn Nesbitt came to spend a day with pupils. Nesbitt was named the US Children’s Poet Laureate in 2013 and has been touring schools throughout Asia raising awareness about children’s natural love of poetry. The pupils at Renaissance enjoyed poems and other writing, videos, songs and games. Some pupils performed dramatic presentations of Nesbitt’s poem while others composed a song based on one of his many humorous poems. Many pupils were inspired to write their own poems. Nesbitt did presentations to Early Years through to Year 8 pupils. He spent time in a special writing workshop with the winners of a Primary School poetry contest. Students treated Nesbitt to special presentations and interpretations of his writing, and students learned what it takes to be a writer.
Gym Opening
Good news for all fitness enthusiasts. A new 2500 square meter Getfit gym and yoga center has just opened at the third level of H3 Building, 384 Hoang Dieu, D4. The center offers professional gym services, yoga, kickboxing and classes for Zumba dance, belly dance, aerobics, Taichi balance, among others. The gym is also equipped with nutrition bars, steam and sauna and wifi.
For more info, visit www.getfit.vn.
South East Asian Maths Competition 2014
Students and staff at the British International School (www.bisvietnam.com) were honored last month by a visit from Professor Marcus du Sautoy from Oxford University. Prof. du Sautoy spent the day at BIS interacting with students during workshops and meeting with the BIS Maths Department. Students learned why the number 17 is so important, other than being the professor’s football shirt number.
Professor du Sautoy was also the guest speaker at the recent South East Asian Maths Competition (SEAMC). SEAMC 2014 was held at the British Vietnamese International School (BVIS), Binh Chanh from February 27 to March 2. Marcus du Sautoy is the Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of New College. In 2004 Esquire chose him as one of the 100 most influential people under 40 in Britain and in 2009 he was awarded the Royal Society’s Faraday Prize, the UK’s premier award for excellence in communicating Science.
SEAMC is an annual two-day event organized by local volunteer teachers on a rotational basis throughout the region. Hundreds of international school students, aged 15 or younger, and their teachers come together for a long weekend to share their enthusiasm for Mathematics and problem solving.
InterContinental Asiana Saigon Promotions
There’s no better way to celebrate Easter than spending valuable time with your family and friends at InterContinental Asiana Saigon (corner of Le Duan and Hai Ba Trung, D1). On April 20, Market 39 and Yu Chu will offer an Easter Brunch for VND1,599,000++ and VND1,399,000++ per person, respectively. The Easter Brunch will include free flow of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, cocktails, house wine, beer, soft drinks, and coffee. You can also enjoy a buffet dinner at Market 39 on Liberation and Labour Day (April 30 and May 1) for VND999,000++ per person including free flow of house wine, beer, soft drinks and signature cocktails.
For more info or to make a reservation, call 3520 9099 or email dine@icasianasaigon.com.
Ascott’s Anniversary Offers
To commemorate its 30th anniversary, Ascott is offering promotions for stays at Somerset Serviced Residences from April 1 till December 31. Ascott’s online members can enjoy at least 30 percent off Best Flexible Rates at participating properties in over 30 cities worldwide including Ho Chi Minh City. Simply log in or sign up for the complimentary Ascott online membership at www.the-ascott.com/ en/myascott/signup.html to enjoy the special rates. Guests who make bookings of 30 consecutive nights or more will receive a complimentary night for every 30 consecutive nights of stay. Guests can redeem their free nights at any Ascott property worldwide. In-house guests who refer their friends or business associates to stay at Ascott’s serviced residences for a minimum of 30 nights will be rewarded with cash vouchers redeemable for complimentary stays at any Ascott serviced residence worldwide. Corporate clients who are members of Ascott’s rewards program, The Link Club, can get 30 percent off redemption points between April 1 and September 30, where they will enjoy privileges such as dining, shopping and travel.
Call (04) 39342342 or visit www.the-ascott.com for further info.
Learning To Bike
FirstBIKE now offers balance bikes in Vietnam. FirstBIKE aids in the development of the child’s essential balance and provides a no-stress method of learning to ride a bike. It eliminates the need for training wheels which are counterproductive and do not support proper posture or spinal development. Balance bikes, which are extremely popular in Europe, UK, USA and most of the West, are best for kids from about 22 months to five-years-old. The bikes are lightweight, comfortable and provide maneuverability to ensure the child can travel long distances without getting tired.
Visit www.firstbike.com.vn for more info.
Drink In Sophistication
Continuing with the series of Park Hyatt Masters of Food and Wine, Park Hyatt Saigon is inviting cocktail enthusiasts and local residents to take part in an interactive session and learn how to prepare 2 Lam Son martini bar classic cocktails on April 19 from 2:30pm- 5:30pm. This hands-on demonstration guarantees to both inform and entertain its guests as they shake, stir and sip the art of crafting drinks. Cost per person is VND840,000++.
For reservations, email nguyen.luu@hyatt.com or call 3824 1234.
Easter Celebration
New World Saigon Hotel’s (www.saigon.newworldhotels.com) Parkview Restaurant will present an Easter Dinner Celebration on April 18-19 from 6pm to 10pm. The buffet consists of roasted lamb, honey glazed ham and lobster along with a sumptuous selection of salads, pastas, sizzling Asian dishes and an array of Easter desserts priced at VND820,000. And on April 20, an Easter Champagne Brunch awaits from 12pm to 3pm priced at VND1,200,000 per person including free flow of Louis Roederer Champagne, house wine, draft beer, soft drinks and juices. Especially for guests’ little bunnies, New World Saigon Hotel will organize an easter egg hunt and egg painting corner filled with colorful surprises. For a special treat, relax and indulge at The Spa with a 20 percent discount on all treatments from April 20 to May 1.
To make info, call 3822 8888 or email saigon@newworldhotels.com.
Calling Your Bluff
The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip (www.thegrandhotramstrip.com) has opened for preview play along Vietnam’s south-central coast. Designed by legendary golfer Greg Norman, who spent 331 consecutive weeks at top the world golf rankings, The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip trades on geographical traits that course architects dream of. Routed over and around towering seaside sand dunes less than two hours southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip is one of the few championship-caliber links courses with significant elevation changes, making for a golf experience that’s as much a feast for the eyes as it is a challenge to tame. While the highest point of the rugged, windswept property is 50 meters above sea level, on the 15th green, one of the most spectacular spots comes earlier in the round, on the 4th hole.
When finished, The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip will include a 2,300 square meter clubhouse housing an array of dining outlets and a PGA-staffed driving range with more than 3,000 square meters worth of practice and training facilities. Limited Golf Membership opportunities will be rolled out in March. The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip is among several components of The Grand Ho Tram Strip’s first stage of development. The ambitious project already features a 541-room upscale hotel, over 10 restaurants and bars, a spa, nightclub, convention center and casino with 90 gaming tables and over 600 slot machines.
Equatorial Hotel Promotions
Enjoy a dinner buffet on Hung King’s Celebration Day on April 9 at Chit Chat at The Café (www.equatorial.com/hcm/) for VND940,000++. The buffet features a number of action stations with chilli crab, kaki furai, seafood paella, grilled lobster and an international cheese board and includes free flow of beer, wine and soft drink. Celebrate Easter Sunday on April 20 at Orientica restaurant which offers over 30 selection of Dim Sum priced at VND310,000++ per person. On the same day, Chit Chat at The Café will offer an Easter brunch buffet for VND750,000++ per person from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Food on offer includes roasted lamb with rosemary sauce, oyster, grilled lobster, roasted beef with herbs. A Chocolate Corner filled with chocolate bunnies and chocolate easter eggs will also be featured. If you want to satisfy your seafood cravings, The Café boasts a large selection of seafood on a dinner buffet, priced at VND840,000++ per adult including free flow of beer, wine and soft drink, that runs every Saturday night from 6:30pm to 10pm.
Festive Offerings
Celebrate the Thai New Year, Songkran, at Cafe Central An Dong (4th floor, Windsor Plaza Hotel, 18 An Duong Vuong, D5) and experience a collection of Thai dishes including spicy papaya salad, savory pad thai and aromatic coconut curries. And on April 9, indulge on Vietnamese specialties and on April 20, bring your kids for a festive Easter brunch featuring roast pig, lamb, hot cross buns and specialty desserts. There will be activities with prizes for kids. Adults ordering buffet (priced at VND498,000++ per person) can enjoy free flow of Krombacher beer and Henkell Trocken sparkling wine.
On Liberation Day, April 30, celebrate with a selection of Vietnamese dishes in addition to the international buffet. Adult buffet orders include free flow of Krombacher beer. Bring your family every Sunday as Windsor offers free buffet for every two children under 10 years old per family and 50 percent discount for senior citizens.
For bookings and more info, call 3833 6888 or visit www.windsorplazahotel.com.
Taxi Booking
Easy Taxi, the world’s leading free mobile taxi application is now available in Vietnam, starting with Ho Chi Minh City and promises to soon expand to other big cities including Hanoi. Working with major taxi companies, they are hooked up to the most reliable taxis in the city. Available to download on Android, iOs, Blackberry and Windows operating systems, Easy Taxi allows users to book and track for the nearest available reliable taxi for any trip. With one simple click on their phone, passengers can interact directly with taxi drivers, and gain access to additional details such as phone number and car model. All trip records and drivers’ data are saved in the app, which could be helpful in case passengers need to retrieve their forgotten belongings. Easy Taxi offers both drivers and taxi companies a different channel to generate more rides, hence, more revenues, especially in a competitive market for taxi companies. The application was founded in 2012 and is backed by Rocket Internet, the world’s largest Internet incubator.