NEWSLETTER November 2015

Transcription

1 NEWSLETTER November NEWS Saffron Travel News 02 M.I.C.E 03 DESTINATIONS Your Travel Wish Lists 04 FEATURES Hotel & Restaurant Of The Month 05 FOOD CORNER Burmese Mohinga Saffron Travel is a boutique travel agency providing a full range of tourism services to in-bound visitors and travellers to South East Asia.

2 NEWS 01 Saffron Travel - WTM London 2015 Dear partners, friends and clients, On behalf of everyone at Saffron Travel, I would like to thank all of you who came to meet us at the WTM trade show in London. It was such a great occasion to get together with so many people from around the world who share the same passion to provide travellers with unique and memorable journeys. I wish you all huge success as you return from WTM London See latest travel news on our website: Once again, our sincerest gratitude, Doan Huy Long Managing Director 02 th Vietnam Airlines Adds 6 Weekly Flight To The UK Vietnam Airlines will operate a total of six nonstop direct flights per week between the UK and Vietnam three each to Hanoi and Hochiminh. All of the services between Heathrow and Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City are being operated by the new Boeing 7879 Dreamliner airline which features fully flat beds in Business Class. In-flight Wi-fi services are also set to be introduced. 03 New Visa Fee For Vietnam Vietnam s Ministry of Finance has just approved the new Circular No.157/2015/TT-BTC regarding the decrease in visa fee. New visa fees will be applied starting 23rd November 2015 as below: + A month/3month single entry: 25USD/pax (current 45USD/pax) + Multi-entry visa valid for less than three month: 50USD/pax (current 95USD/pax) + Visitors travelling to a third country and re-entering within 30 days after exiting Vietnam will pay 5USD visa fee instead of 45USD

3 NEWS 04 Myanmar To Develop Sustainable Tourism With The Change Of The Government The official result of the election in Myanmar will be made in two weeks. However, it is well known that The National League for Democracy (NLD) has achieved a landslide victory to form the new government and hopefully create a brighter future for Myanmar including its tourism industry. See latest travel news on our website: Myanmar has been listed as Asia s hottest new destination and with this change in leadership, the country s tourism industry promises to grow in a more sustainable, open manner. 05 La Folie Lodge Promotion Package La Folie Lodge, a beautiful lodge located on Don Daeng Island on the banks of the Mekong River in southern Laos, is offering a perfect holiday escape package during Christmas and New Year The package includes a direct flight from Saigon to Pakse, 3 nights in a Superior room with a beautiful view overlooking the Mekong River, airport transfer, boat transfer, breakfast and dinner. Activities such as a half-day excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wat Phu Champassak and a cycling trip through the surrounding landscape are also included. Of course, relaxing by the lovely swimming pool at La Folie Lodge is complimentary. For more details, please contact our team at sales@saffrontravel.net

4 New tours recommended by Saffron Travel M. I. C. E Across South East Asia Probably because of the region s incredible variety in culture, history, cuisine and natural beauty, South East Asia is increasingly becoming an ideal destination for M.I.C.E travel. Whether you are planning a cosy meeting, looking for a great venue for a conference, or organizing a set of teambuilding activities, Saffron Travel can be your guide and partner to ensure a comfortable, well-organised, memorable and above all, productive experience. 01 Private And Exclusive Dinners Evening Event At Ho Chi Minh Museum Of Fine Arts Located right in the city centre, this beautiful 1929 colonial-era building is a very elegant venue for any occasion. Its airy corridors, spacious rooms, and breezy verandas can host hundreds of guests. The museum is especially picturesque at night. We can arrange an exclusive gala event for a few hundred people complete with exquisite food all in a glamorous setting. And of course there is plenty of interesting art to see from contemporary to historical pieces of sculpture dating back all the way to the 4th century. Open Air Dinner In Hoi An Hoi An is attractive not only for its ancient town but also the tranquil beauty of the villages which surround it. Saffron Travel can arrange an outdoor evening event in the middle of a rice paddy surrounded by the river, lush gardens and traditional wooden houses. Guests can enjoy their dinner under the stars while discovering the culture of the area by getting involved in a night market set up in a rural village. Other entertainment options include traditional Vietnamese music, dance performances and craft demonstrations carefully selected and designed to complement the theme of your event.

5 Magnificent Temple Setting Saffron Travel can organise formal dinners amid the splendour of the Temples of Angkor Thom. Guests should prepare themselves for a dinner worthy of the ancient Khmer Kings. Everything is immaculately prepared from the stage set up, four course dinner, cocktail area, to the lighting decorations and tiki torches around the venue. Another highlight of the night is a traditional Khmer dance and music performance. Different scenes illustrate the epic story of the Khmer Empire and will leave guests with unforgettable memories. New tours recommended by Saffron Travel Exclusive Beach Barbeque If you re looking for something a little less formal, a beach barbeque party can be a wonderful way to celebrate with your colleagues: white sand, deliciously fresh food beside a crystal sea and nobody else but you and the team. The beach is all yours. For each event, we create a tailormade concept including scenery, visual effects, catering, entertainment and photographers to make sure the memories really last. 02 Balloon Safari Over Inle Lake, Myanmar Enjoy a magical moment in a hot air balloon overlooking the stunning vista of Inle Lake. The balloons float along the mountain valley, past tiny Shan State hamlets and hill top pagodas. The experience ends with a delicious gala dinner on the lake itself. As well as mouth-watering food and beautiful decorations, guests can enjoy either traditional music performed by some of the best musicians in Myanmar, or contemporary music mixed by a DJ to make your experience a real celebration. A Balloon Safari over Inle Lake is also available in the mornings followed by a sumptuous breakfast set up close to the landing site.

6 03 Unique Meeting / Teambuilding Ideas Treasure Hunt In One Of South East Asia s Most Culturally Rich Capitals Hanoi Hanoi s Old Quarter, with its ancient network of narrow streets full of antique houses, is an ideal place for a team-building race. Each street s name is associated with the type of good traded along its pavements. Get your teams to race as merchants or artisans gathering products along the way, rather like a treasure hunt. New tours recommended by Saffron Travel Navigating Hanoi s alleyways on a cyclo, map in hand, is really a great and fun way to enhance team spirit. Special Meetings With an almost endless coastline, a near perfect climate throughout the year, a varied and spectacular choice of venues and destinations and solid infrastructure, Vietnam offers everything that M.I.C.E Travel needs, including some unique meeting concepts. Far from the conventional model of a long series of meetings in a dull conference room we can bring you to a hilltop lounge overlooking one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Or take you to an island of your own. The beaches of Quy Nhon, Phu Yen; the bay of Nha Trang and the island of Phu Quoc are stunning and highly suitable settings for delegates looking for unique venues, or relaxing environments for a group to escape to from the office; ideal for a board meeting, executive retreat, intimate product launch or an incentive trip.

7 New tours recommended by Saffron Travel 04 Cruise / Yacht Chartering Private Luxury Cruises A private luxury cruise in amongst over 3000 limestone cliffs and islets in Halong Bay is an unusual but wonderful way to spend time together as a team. Spend a full day exploring the bay. Go kayaking, rock-climbing, swimming and visit floating villages. Enjoy a sunset cocktail on the deck. For dinner, transfer to a cave following candlelight to a beautiful, private dinner setting. (Dinning in a cave can be arranged for groups large and small.) Saffron Travel can arrange a private cruise on Halong Bay to suit your request and make sure you have memorable trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site with your colleagues, partners or clients. Charter A Luxury Yacht On Myanmar s Stunning Mergui Archipelago Saffron Travel can offer a chartered yacht for a more adventurous and energetic experience in Myanmar. Mergui is known as Myanmar s tropical paradise comprising 800 stunningly beautiful islands, many of which have had only a handful of visitors set foot on their shores. Enjoy your own all-inclusive 5 star yacht sailing around the archipelago of crystal turquoise waters, amazing coral reefs and colourful fish. Other services such as spa retreats, yoga classes, or scuba diving are also available. Pamper your staff and give them some quality time with blissful massages and an array of treatments all available on the yacht. Another highlight of the trip is that guests can meet and interact with local fishermen and if you wish, we can arrange a fishing trip with the Sea Gypsies that live around the islands.

8 DESTINATIONS 01 Danang - A Great City For International Conferences Newly transformed, Danang has become a fantastic centre for international conferences. Located just 2 km from the city centre, the city now boasts a gleaming new airport, great beach resorts and fantastic transport and accommodation options. Saffron Travel arranges adventure tours across South East Asia Smooth sand, fresh air and crystal blue waters make Danang beach one of the six most attractive beaches on the planet according to Forbes magazine. However, there s more to do in Danang than just lying by the sea. Son Tra Peninsula is a gem with long, white sandy beaches, picturesque landscape and lush, ancient forests offering endless chances for M.I.C.E activities including boat racing, jungle safari, teambuilding games on the beach and much more. Danang is also home to the multi award winning Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. Covering a large and exclusive area, this hillside resort is an ideal venue for special conferences and meetings in the privacy of its own exclusive bay. 02 Golfing Around Vietnam Listed as one of the world s up and coming golf destinations, Vietnam now boasts a number of international standard golf courses developed to suit different levels. There are 35 golf courses operating in Vietnam and among the courses, the ones along the coastal areas including Danang and Nha Trang are considered to be country s best.

9 DESTINATIONS Saffron Travel arranges adventure tours across South East Asia A new course for consideration is on Phu Quoc Island. Fringed with white sandy beaches and large tracts of tropical jungle, guests can golf on one of the most beautiful and professional courses in the country. Saffron Travel can organize different packages for guests such as stay and play or meet and play with generous options of exclusive luxury accommodation and gala dinners/team building events, or even a golf tournament itself. 03 Wellness Wellness activities can make a huge contribution to a MICE trip. Here are a couple of the best spas in the region. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay Spa The name says it all. It s a sanctuary for all the senses. The treatments include traditional Vietnamese therapies, the Six Senses signature method, customized detox programs and rejuvenating oxygen facials. Yoga and meditation classes with a private tutor are also available. The Spa The Strand Yangoon There is a wide range of options for guests to choose from, including traditional Myanmar massage, signature Strand massage, traditional Asian foot massage and many other customized treatments. The therapist will carefully advise and apply their skilful techniques to ease muscular tension and bring balance to your mind and body.

10 NEWS DESTINATIONS FEATURES FOOD CORNER 01 Hotel Of The Month: Luang Say Residence Luang Say Residence is a 5 star luxury boutique hotel set in the UNESCO heritage city of Luang Prabang. Surrounded by lush and tropical gardens with great mountain views, this is an ideal place for anyone looking for a truly relaxing destination. Hotel and Restaurant of the month recommended by Saffron Travel. FEATURES The grand, colonial style mansions that evoke the spirit of mid-19th cen-tury exploration include 24 suites: 20 Pioneer Suites spread out across 5 pavilions and 4 Explorator Suites located in the main residence. All rooms are fully equipped with the latest facilities. With its ideal location, guests can reach out to nearby attractions and join activities such as cruising the Mekong River, elephant riding as well as visits to beautiful local waterfalls. 02 Restaurant Of The Month: Noir Saigon Noir is a new restaurant located in the central district of Saigon with a very special concept. The restaurant creates a path for guests to embark on a sensory journey into a different world and savour exquisite tastes and textures in complete darkness. The unique menus stimulate other senses as guests are deprived of the dominating sense of sight. The experience is intriguing and illuminates much about the art of enjoying good food. Noir is able to organize a dinner for two as well as much larger events of up to 70 people per session, or totally 140 in one evening or half day. Its spacious Lounge, Bar and Terrace can function as a cocktail and reception area for big events. There are a range of activities for guests in addition to dinner in the dark e.g. a sensory workshop, a seminar, a team building exercise, a food or beverage tasting, or even a concert.

11 FOOD CORNER Burmese Mohinga Mohinga is an essential part of Burmese cuisine and has long been considered as the national dish of Myanmar. This complex noodle soup bustles with contrasting textures, fragrances, and flavours exemplifying the earthly notes of the country s cuisine. A national dish of Myanmar Ingredients: - 3 tbsp. cooking oil - 1 onion grated - 4 garlic cloves - crushed - 1 inch freshly grated root ginger - 1 stalk lemon grass - 1 tsp. chilli powder - 1 tsp turmeric - 90 ml fish sauce - 2 small onions - 4 tbsp. rice flour mixed with cold water gm catfish gm fine rice noodles - 2 hard boiled eggs - Shredded spring onions - Shredded green beans - Slices of fried gourd or squash - Fresh coriander leaves - Water Preparation: - Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the grated onion, garlic, ginger, lemon grass, chilli powder and turmeric and cook for a few minutes over a medium heat, stirring, until fragrant. - Add the water, fish sauce, quartered onions and rice flour mixture. - Mix well and bring to the boil, stirring thoroughly to prevent any lumps forming. - Once the soup has thickened, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. - Cut the fish into chunks then add to the soup. Mix well and continue to cook for a further 10 minutes. - Meanwhile, bring a large pan of water to boil, add the noodles and cook for about 5 minutes or until tender. Drain well. Place a portion of noodles in individual soup bowls and top with the soup. Serve hot with the garnishes in separate dishes and allow diners to add whichever of the garnishes they like to their own bowl of soup.