See Northern Vietnam on Pandaw's River Cruise

Pandaw offers a value-laden 10-day cruise of Vietnam’s Red River and Halong Bay.  Pandaw’s RV Angkor is a pioneer when it comes to passenger travel on Vietnam’s Red River and still the only such vessel.

The cruise includes the sights of Hanoi, Halong Bay, and many places along the Red River that most tourists don’t get to see.  Besides the shore trips there are ethnic shows, on-board cooking demonstration, and informative presentations. The staff takes care of everything from arrival to departure and includes personalized service such as cleaning shoes after a shore trip; they will try to accommodating all reasonable requests. 

White tablecloth-dining is on the main deck with great views of the

river and country side. Guests can choose from several items on a menu plus there is a salad and dessert buffet table. The menu is varied featuring Asian and Western cuisine. Special dietary need will be accommodated. Local beverages including beer are gratis but not imported wines, beers, and liquors. Passengers can expect gourmet meals expertly served. There is open seating. Weather permitting staff will prepare a BBQ on a sandbar in the river.

All 32 air-conditioned cabins are roomy with bathroom/shower larger than on many other vessels and include hair dryer, all amenities and L’Occitane toiletries. All are outside cabins with great views. Each room has ample storage space, two nightstands, a safe, and desk/chair, plenty of lighting and life jackets. 

Pandaw cruises are understated luxury that focuses on the history and culture of the area.  Do not expect to find a TV or any of the activities found on large sea-going cruises such as a swimming pool, disco, or sports.  Most of the Pandaw’s guests have been on one or more of their cruises – some as many as five.  That says it all. For more information log on to www.pandaw.com. 

Paris Beach Hotel in Phu Quoc

Paris Beach is a no-nonsense hotel on the island of Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand just off the shore of Cambodia; however, it is Vietnamese. The bungalows are nestled in a garden setting.  The hotel is located on Long Beach, great for swimming and walking on the beach.  There are VIP rooms in the main building, some of which have wonderful views of the water.  

Breakfast is included. The restaurant has an amazing selection with Vietnamese fresh spring rolls and pizza being exceptionally good. People of adjacent hotels are drawn by the extensive menu especially the BBQ. While there is a large restaurant area most guests prefer to eat on the strip of tables and chairs that look out onto the Gulf. 

For those who do not want to lounge on the beach there is a very nice pool Staff is helpful. There is construction going on all around the hotel. Phu Quoc is growing by leaps and bound.  The construction noise in not much of a distraction and the workers are not using loud noise-making equipment.   For more information check http://phuquocparisbeach.com/en.

Ananda Resort in Mue Ni

For a perfect stay in Mue Ni book a sea view room at Ananda Resort. The hotel is located on a great beach… yes, a beach that is there all the time not just a low tide. There are 22 individual

bungalows most of which are in a lovely garden setting. The accommodations are a blend of Balinese and Vietnamese architectural features including a high, peaked interior ceiling with a roof of water coconut palms. Large windows and sliding glass door look out to the sea or the attractive gardens. 

Guests will find coffee/tea making available in their room along with free Wi-Fi throughout the property and cable TV with international channels. The extensive international breakfast is included. Besides the lovely infinity pool with a kiddy area, the hotel is home to a water sport center for kite boarding, jet skiing, SUP, and more.

 There are plenty of lounges and umbrellas on the beach for guest usage. Yoga and cooking classes are available on request. There is a selection of books and DVDs available in the Front Desk for guests to enjoy. Golfers will want to check out the Sea Links course which is only a five-minute drive from the hotel. 

Guest may dine at the hotel or explore the many restaurants just

steps from Ananda Hotel.  Staff will arrange tours to the Sand Dunes, the Fairy Stream, fishing village, plus there are bikes and motor bikes to rent so guests can explore on their own. For more information check www.ananda.vn. Book early as the hotel is often full during peak season, especially during Tet. 

The ParkRoyal, my home in Saigon

The ParkRoyal Hotel in Saigon it the perfect hotel for those who plan to stay in Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City) and also for those transferring to another destination. The property is a mere five to ten minutes from the Tan Son Nhat International Airport – depending on the traffic. And, the best part is, the airport transfer is gratis. From the ParkRoyal there is easy access to all the tourist spots in the area plus the Tan Binh Exhibition and Convention Center. Staff will help plan excursions. The property is within walking distance of a lovely park and a Military Museum. 

The ParkRoyal is offers tranquil luxury and excellent service for the business or leisure traveler.  All accommodations from Superior Rooms to the Executive Suites offer all the amenities travelers have come to expect from the ParkRoyal from pillow-top beds to modern amenities like a media hub and complimentary internet access.  There is a choice of bed size and guests can enjoy the executive work desk among other niceties. 

Looking for a quick bite or cocktails then head to the Lotus Bar where they have live music every night. The Lotus Bar serves a large range of libations, tapas, and light bites. The ParkRoyal’s Garden Brasserie overlooking the garden pool offers a wide international selection of culinary treats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with ala carte items.

Discerning guest will want to upgrade to the Orchid Club rooms where they will receive personalized checking, daily breakfast, and evening cocktails in the club lounge on the top floor plus complimentary laundry service. 

During leisure time guests can avail themselves with a workout in the gym or relaxing in and by the garden pool.  No visit is complete without a rejuvenating massage at St. Gregory’s Spa where there is a full menu of treatments. For more information check www.parkroyalhotels.com. Life is good at the ParkRoyal.

Shades Mui Ne,a friendly boutique hotel in Vietnam

Shades is an oasis of calm and comfort in the heart of Mui Ne. Mui Ne is about five hours by car due east of Saigon also known as Ho Chi Minh City. Shades is a boutique hotel with access to the beach (at low tide) and a lovely pool. There are seven self-contained

apartments and four studio apartments – some with wonderful ocean views. All accommodations are lovely with comfy beds, marble kitchens, flat screen TV, and complimentary Wi-Fi. 

Watch the sun come up over the South China Sea, go for a walk on the beach at low tide, and watch the unique round fishing boats head out to get their daily catch. A complete breakfast, with a sea view, is included and, if ordered the day before, it can include pho, that wonderful Vietnamese soup.  Spend the day relaxing and reading on the lounge chairs, some of which are on a sandy area

with a view of the sea and others around the pool. Or, for the more sports-minded, head down the beach for a few hours of kite surfing – lessons are available. Meet the other guests at five pm during happy hour before heading out to one of the many

restaurants for dinner. Need a quiet night at “home” then order food delivered and enjoy a DVD from the hotel’s wide selection. 

Staff is very helpful, friendly and will arrange transportation, motorbike rental, and sightseeing trips including visits to the sand dunes or to see the largest reclining Buddha in Vietnam. For more information check www.shadesmuine.com

The InterContinental Residence Asiana Saigon

Be impressed - very impressed. Stay at the InterContinental Residence in Saigon. Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it is still called by many, is a 31-storey InterContinental Asiana Saigon Residence. It is adjacent to the InterContinental

Hotel and part of an integrated complex that includes restaurants and a variety of shops. Make yourself at home in this luxurious two-room apartment with a balcony that stretches the length of the two rooms. The combination living room/dining room is large with surround sound TV and a comfy couch and chair. The kitchen area has a large refrigerator, stove and everything needed for preparing a meal. There is a grocery story on

the first level. A dining table seats six. Just off the kitchen is a room with a washer/dryer combination plus a drying rack. The bedroom is large with many closets and drawers plus a desk with free WiFi.  The bathroom has a rainwater shower plus a tub with the commode in its own private room. There is everything one needs for a luxurious stay including daily housekeeping.

Enjoy breakfast or dining any time of the day at Basilico Italian Tratoria. For more dining options it is only a few steps to the restaurants of the InterContinental Hotel.

Guests at the Residence can make use of the InterContinental’s business center, the third-floor fitness center, or the spa.  There is an outdoor pool for guests to use.  The Residence is the perfect place to stay when in Saigon for few day or a fee weeks. For more information check www.ihg.com and for more benefits join their customer loyalty program.

Pandaw Cruise to Saigon

The most comfortable and enjoyable way to get from Cambodia to Saigon is on a Pandaw Cruise. The sights and sidetrips are unforgettable.  

The mighty Mekong River is over 2,700 miles long, making it one of longest in Asia. It is a multinational river with connections to China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.  One of the best ways to get from Cambodia to Vietnam is on Pandaw’s RV Mekong.  Board the luxury cruise boat in Cambodia’s capital of Phnom Penh after visiting the Royal Palace, the Killing Fields, and the Genocide Museum. Before dinner enjoy an onboard Cambodian cultural show.  

Along the river it is one Kodak moment followed by another.

Crossing the border from Cambodia to Vietnam is a non-event for passengers as the staff takes care of the formalities.  One of the shore trips is to a Cham village and a visit to their mosque.  

One evening, after dinner, watch the explicit movie “The Lover” and then the next day visit the town that was the setting for the movie including visit to Lover House.  

Another great shore trip is to a small village where the people make

rice paper, rice snacks and a variety of other tasty treat.  The last evening, before dinner, enjoy a Vietnamese cultural show.  Sadly the four-night cruise comes to an end in My Tho where a bus takes people to Saigon and the InterContinental Hotel.  It is just one of the many cruises offered by Pandaw. For more information check www.pandaw.com. 

Dalat, Vietnam: Sofitel Dalat Palace

• Beautiful restored 1922 hotel in the heart of Dalat
• Ask for a room facing the lake
• Offers great tours and even a cooking class in a local French-style villa

For more luxury accommodations check www.sofitel.com or http://www.accorhotels.com/.

Hoi An, Vietnam: The Nam Hai

• An incredible luxury hotel near China Beach
• One hundred villas 40 of which have their own pool with landscaped gardens
• Free shuttle to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Hoi An

For more information on this amazing property check http://www.thenamhai.com/.

Hanoi, Vietnam: InterContinental Westlake Update

I doubt there is any hotel in Hanoi that can surpass IC’s Westlake Hotel. It’s all about location, location, location.  We stayed there the year they opened and never forgot how wonderful it was.  At that time we stayed in the main part of the hotel and enjoyed a wonderful meal in their Café Du Luc Restaurant. We anticipated the same experience this time. 


This time our stay was even better; the villas on the water had been completed. We had planned to eat in their excellent restaurant but decided to have room service and eat on our balcony that jutted out in the lake.  The lake is serene; the area is quiet but not far from Hanoi’s famous Old Quarter.  The food was great but the view was divine.  The hotel has given the lake in their area a special Vietnamese touch – they have several round, woven, coracle fishing boats tied up.  Cool!


It was misty while we were there but it only added to the ambiance; however, I would like to be there when I could use their pool which is beautifully landscaped as it the rest of the property.  The hotel seems to have more acreage than most other hotels.

The room had all the amenities one comes to expect from an InterContinental hotel. The internet, which is critical for us, was great. Make sure you join IC customer loyalty program and you may qualify for an upgrade and other benefits. By the way, the hotel, as are most hotels in Vietnam is very affordable. For more information check www.ihg.com. 

First Stay!

The InterContinental Hanoi Westlake breaks from the traditional style of a city hotel.

• The main building connects three island pavilions on pillars in Hanoi’s West Lake.
• Insider programs offer tours highlighting unique aspects of Hanoi

For more information on InterContential properties worldwide click on http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/.