Welcome to our November Newsletter!

The Indochina tourist scene has just entered its high season and we're enthusiastic to greet new and returning clients who are coming to explore the vibrant landscape this month. This month's issue we've got the usual local news, new additions, and peek into Indochina.

Kind Regards,
Your Team at IT&T

Raffles renovates Cambodian hotels

Raffles' two hotels in Cambodia - Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh and Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor in Siem Reap - are currently undergoing a major refurbishment. The projects, which will be completed by November 2011, include updating of the guestrooms at both hotels, a revamped lobby, bar and ballroom in Phnom Penh, and the renovation of two villas in Siem Reap. Opened in 1929 and 1932 respectively, these are the only luxury hotels in Cambodia that pre-date the Khmer Rouge era. They were brought into the Raffles portfolio in 1997. The refurbishments will use original pieces of Khmer artwork sourced from local artists, including silverwork, wood carvings, to lacquer works and sculptures. Cambodian silks and other materials will also be used in upgrades.

Bookings open for Vietnam Airlines' UK flights

Vietnam Airlines is now accepting reservations for its first direct flights to the UK. The inaugural flight from Hanoi to London's Gatwick airport will take-off on 8 December 2011, with the route being operated twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays). The airline will also operate a twice weekly service between Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Gatwick, with flights operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The new flights, which will both be operated using a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, will become the first direct air connections between Vietnam and the UK.

Life Resorts offers overnight trips to Ha Long Bay

Life Resorts plans to make multiple-night voyages in Ha Long Bay on heritage junks available in time for the grand opening on November 4. Numbering 22 in all, Life Resorts' 15-meter boats have been designed and are maintained according to the highest international safety standards. Life Heritage Resort Ha Long Bay has earned an overnight-cruise license in compliance with Vietnam's strict new maritime regulations. The boats have separate lounge areas, en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning and heating, LCD televisions and CD/DVD players, and are equipped with kayaks, snorkeling equipment, fishing gear and an assortment of board games. Day cruises of four to six hours will also be available, as well as wedding-photo cruises. Upon departure, the passengers can decide where they want to go by selecting from a choice of itineraries that take in islands, floating fish markets, hidden grottos and beaches.

Best Western expands in Vietnam

Best Western International, one of the world's largest hotel chains, has expanded its presence in Vietnam with a luxury hotel in Thua Thien-Hue Province's Hue Town. The Celadon Palace, located in the center of the central region town and 20 minutes from Phu Bai International Airport, was renamed Best Western Premier Indochine Palace early this month. For the last quarter of 2011 and early 2012, the Indochine Palace is offering several packages to its first guests. The hotel was designed to reflect the romance of Vietnamese culture, and was dedicated to Vietnam's last King Bao Dai, and his wife, Queen Nam Phuong.

Vietnam to spend $61 mln to restore royal citadel

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue will spend nearly US$61.4 million to restore its imperial citadel and relocate 876 families living along the site's wall. According to investors -- the Hue people's committee and the Hue Ancient Capital Relics Preservation Center -- the restoration project will be begin by the end of this year to be completed in 2015. Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism asked the province to do its best to restore the water system and rock embankment of the citadel using traditional methods. That means the pavement along the citadel's wall will be made of traditional Bat trang tiles.

Myanmar revamps Shwedagon Pagoda

Myanmar is renovating the famed Shwedagon Pagoda to mark the Yangon landmark's 2,600th anniversary. The state-run New Light of Myanmar reported yesterday that renovation work on the 99-metre-high pagoda is underway, with the anniversary event scheduled to take place in March 2012. The project includes new tiling of prayer halls and shrines, the installation of lifts at the museum, the construction of a new staircase to the Buddha's Life Museum, and landscaped gardening. The construction of two new gateways to the pagoda is also underway. The Shwedagon Pagoda was built in 588BC, reputedly making it the oldest Buddhist pagoda in the world.

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa 5*

Hyatt Regency Da Nang Resort & Spa is the latest Hyatt Resort ideally situated on an immaculate stretch of picturesque white sand beach at the foot of the legendary Marble Mountains. Midway between UNESCO world heritage village of Hoi An and the City of Da Nang, Viet Nam’s third largest city with colorful culture and tourist attractions.

200 Guest Rooms
183 Bedroom Residences
27 3-bedroom Ocean Villas with private pool

Opened in October

Please contact us for more information on those new properties.

Ly Club Saigon

Set amid a sculpted, neo-modern garden featuring sett paving and a water infinity fountain, the classic French colonial-era Lý Club Saigon villa is located in Ho Chi Minh’s central District 3. Wide elliptical arches, original French staircase, classic modernist furnishings and refined natural colors imbue an atmosphere of relaxed yet cultured elegance in the lounge and dining areas. The delicate Vietnamese, Western, Innovative menu and silver service dining experience can be enjoyed al-fresco, taken in the relaxed ambiance of the open dining areas or the formal, private dining room. The restaurant opens for Soft Opening in November.

Opening Time: 10:00AM - 23:00 PM
Capacity: 200
Location: District 1, Saigon

Soft Opening in November

Once again, this month we have some new Promotions for you. Please keep in mind that there are still concurrent Promotions that we announced in previous Newsletters and you can check them in the Promotions section of our website, which always shows the latest Promotions that are available.

Central Vietnam

Vedana Lagoon Resort

SPA: Oct. 01 – Dec. 20, 2011 & Jan. 11 – Apr. 30, 2012
Book 3 nights, pay 2 nights (3 nights is required to be consecutive)

The Nam Hai Resort

Jan. 11 – Dec. 20, 2011. Applied for FIT booking from 01-09 rooms
One-bed room Villas: Stay 3 nights, pay 2 nights. Stay 4 nights; pay 3 nights + 1 lunch.
1 to 5 bedrooms Pool Villas: stay 3 nights, pay 2 nights. Stay 4 nights; pay 3 nights + 1 lunch + 1 dinner.

This month we take a look at Mr. Do Tran Anh-Minh from the Marketing Department.

Coming Home

Mr. Minh is a Vietnamese American who was born and raised in California and visited the homeland of his parents when he was 5-years-old. His first trip to Vietnam, barely in his own memory, marked the first of many trips that he would return to Vietnam. His parents, very active in the non-profit and charity organizations working in Vietnam, saw to it that he kept close to the country of their family's origins and it was only natural that almost 20 years after his first encounter that he would move to Vietnam to live.

From Education to Tourism

Although Mr. Minh studied Religion and Visual Culture in University, he came to Vietnam at first to work in education. Teaching English to University students in the Mekong Delta and developing the International Relations Department filled his first 3 years living in Vietnam where he developed an intimate love for the Vietnamese landscape and the people. After 3 years there he finally decided to move to the big city where he would eventually pursue a new career in tourism.

At IT&T

Originally introduced into the company through his friend who worked with him in a local expat magazine in which he was writing for, Minh came to the company with a renewed interest in discovering and sharing Vietnam. He hopes to draw on his experiences in living closely with the people and giving an intimate picture of the entire Indochinese region to travellers across the world who have an interest in experiencing something new and unique. Today, Minh works as the Marketing Communications Manager in the Marketing Department where he takes care of the website, developing new marketing materials and products and giving our partners and clients as clear a picture as possible of what IT&T can do and has to offer with such things as this Newsletter. He's happy to work with such a multi-cultural and diverse staff and is excited about what IT&T can offer in the future.

If you would like to contact Mr. Minh, you can email him at anhminh@itt.com.vn

If you're looking for a peek into Vietnam's cultural soul you need not look further than the Water Puppets. This unique story-telling medium came out of the Red River Delta in the 11th century, where puppets emerge from the water to weave stories about family, morality, hunting, agriculture, religion, education and more. The puppets dance, sing and dialogue along to traditional Vietnamese music. The entire performance is a wonderful display of color, puppetry, music, culture and fun!