Luxury holiday villa in Vietnam ?

Ocean View House An Bang Village, Hoi An, VietnamGood for aspiring boat captains
Sleeps 6
Cost from £973 a week including breakfast

A few miles from the souvenir shop-lined streets of Unesco-listed Hoi An is An Bang, where the sandy shore is dotted with thung chai, traditional bamboo basket boats. Rise before dawn and you’ll see An Bang’s fishermen amid a mountain of nets as they paddle out to sea.

In the village, sandy paths lead between nine whitewashed houses run by a local couple (who can arrange for you try your hand at sailing a basket boat). Ocean View House (comprising adjoining buildings called Ocean Dream and Ocean Breeze, which can be rented separately or together) is the closest one to the sea. Only a lawn scattered with sun loungers and umbrellas separates the shaded patios from the sand.

Light-filled, air-conditioned rooms are whitewashed with turquoise accents, and sparsely furnished (there’s a fridge, but no kitchen). Breakfast is included and a local chef can cook other meals, or you can use the communal outdoor kitchen 50m away down a sandy track.

There’s a fish market nearby, or you can ride the free bikes or hire a taxi to go into Hoi An for superb restaurants and street food stalls. Closer are a handful of simple beachside eateries, sublime spots for sundowners.
• +84 90 666 0309, anbangseasidevillage.com

The Boathouse, Mui Ne, Vietnam
Good for luxury lovers
Sleeps 8
Cost from £2,077 a week

This must be one of the country’s most magnificent beach properties, slap-bang on the area’s best beach, which is great for young kids. You’ll pay a premium for the privilege of staying here, but at least the living is cheap – the Boathouse is right next to a fishing village, so you can buy seafood from the fisherman who ply their round basket boats around the bay. It comes with two motorbikes, a couple of staff and stacks of space – all done out in a rather tasteful if incongrous urbane style.
• No phone, flipkey.com/mui-ne-villa-rentals/p614930

Capri by Frasers launches Ho Chi Minh residence

Frasers Hospitality continues its expansion throughout the region and recently announced the opening of its first residence in Vietnam under its Capri brand.

Situated in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7, Capri by Frasers, which recently celebrated the launch of a similar development in Singapore, will cater to business travellers, offering an extensive range of hotel facilities and services.

The generously appointed 126-suite hotel features spacious studios, one bedroom and two bedroom suites, which include extensive living ares, generous workspaces, top of the range entertainments systems and fully equipped kitchens. Guests will also have access to the business centre, gymnasium complete with steam room and sauna and a number of dining options including the Caprilicious delhi and Drinx bar and restaurant.

Capri by Frasers’ convenient location means guests can also explore the vibrant nightlife and plethora of restaurants in the neighbourhood. It is also situated close to local attractions such as Ben Thanh Market, the Museum of Fine Arts and Mariamman Temple, and major shopping centres including Parkson Paragon, Crescent Shopping Mall and Annam Gourmet Market.

Figures of General Statistics Office indicated international arrivals in Việt Nam in September grew by up to 61.6% to over 640,000, and in the first nine months of 2012 exceeded 4.85 million, up 13% compared to the year earlier period.

Frasers Hospitality quoted sources including the World Tourism Organization as saying that Việt Nam’s tourism industry was expected to grow at an annual rate of 11.5-12% until 2020, generating a total revenue of about US$18-19 billion.

The country is also projected to be among the top three rapid growth markets in Asia Pacific for 2013.

Ascott entrenches presence in Vietnam’s key cities

CapitaLand’s wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has won a contract to manage another serviced residence in Hanoi, Vietnam. The 252-unit Somerset West Central Hanoi will open in 2016. The contract follows the recent opening of the 100-unit Somerset Vista in Ho Chi Minh City. Together, these reinforce Singapore-based Ascott’s position as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in Vietnam with over 1,800 apartment units across 13 properties in four cities – Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong and Danang.

Mr Alfred Ong, Ascott’s Managing Director for Southeast Asia and Australia, said: “Ascott has established a presence in Vietnam for close to two decades and we remain confident in the long-term economic outlook of the emerging country, underpinned by its large, young workforce and pro-growth policies. Our serviced residences in Vietnam have maintained occupancies of over 80%.”

Mr Ong added: “The addition of Somerset West Central Hanoi and Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City will allow us to better cater to the accommodation demand in Vietnam’s two largest cities. We will also enjoy greater economies of scale in our operations. Moving forward, Ascott will open properties in other key growth cities of Vietnam. Our first property in Hai Phong – Somerset Central TD Hai Phong City will open in 2014, while our first property in Danang – Somerset Danang Bay will open in 2015.”

Somerset West Central Hanoi will be strategically situated in the Nam Trung Yen New Urban Area in Cau Giay District, slated to become the new central business district of Hanoi. The serviced residence will serve the accommodation needs of corporate clients located in the area. Currently, the area houses the offices of government ministries in Vietnam such as the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Public Security as well as multinational companies such as Standard Chartered, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

As part of an integrated development, Somerset West Central Hanoi will be conveniently linked to a Parkson department store. It is within walking distance to the Big C hypermarket and National Conference Centre. The Noi Bai International Airport and existing city centre are also within a 30-minute drive from the serviced residence.
Somerset West Central Hanoi will offer residents a choice of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment units. The serviced residence will also provide facilities such as a swimming pool, gymnasium, business centre and residents’ lounge.

Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City (Now Open)
Ascott has opened Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City in District Two, which is earmarked to be the city’s new commercial and financial centre. The serviced residence is close to the current central business district and easily accessible via the Hanoi Highway and the East-West Highway.
It is situated within An Phu Ward, a prime residential precinct popular with expatriates. The area is home to prestigious educational establishments such as the British International School Ho Chi Minh City, Australian International Saigon School and International School of Ho Chi Minh City. A Metro Hypermarket, An Phu Supermarket, restaurants and cafes are also conveniently located within the serviced residence’s vicinity.

As part of The Vista – a premier residential development by CapitaLand, Thien Duc Trading Construction Co., Ltd and Phu Gia Investment Joint Stock Company – Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City is connected to a medical clinic, retail outlets, supermarket and office facilities on its premises.
Designed by the award-winning RSP Architects, Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City offers beautifully-furnished apartments ranging from two- to four-bedroom units. Each apartment comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, separate living and dining areas, complete with modern amenities such as washing machine and dryer, home entertainment system, complimentary Internet access, and docking station for iPhone, iPad and iPod.

Residents can enjoy extensive facilities in Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City. These include a 50-metre lap pool and Jacuzzi amidst lush landscaped garden, a children’s pool and playground, a gymnasium with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a clubhouse with steam room and sauna, tennis court and golf putting green. Residents can also relax in the privacy of their apartments or entertain their friends and business associates at the residents’ lounge or living room at the lobby.

Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City also offers 24-hour reception and security, housekeeping, laundry and dry cleaning services, business centre services as well as residents’ programmes.

Ascott opens its fourth property in Ho Chi Minh City

The 100-unit Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City is located in the city’s district 2, which is earmarked to become Vietnam’s new commercial and financial centre. The new property reinforces Ascott’s presence as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in Vietnam with over 1,800 apartment units in 13 properties across four cities in the country – Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Haiphong and Danang.

Graham Black, Ascott’s country general manager for Vietnam, said “Our existing serviced residences in Ho Chi Minh City’s central urban district of district 1 are performing well with strong occupancy of over 80 per cent, despite current market challenges. Having a serviced residence in the city’s district 2 allows us to capitalise on the accommodation demand in another part of this city and reap the benefits when market conditions improve.”

“We are confident that Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City, with its proximity to facilities such as international schools, elegant design and quality product finishes, will become another sought-after accommodation option for expatriates and business travellers in the city,” added Black.

As part of The Vista – a premier residential development by CapitaLand, Thien Duc Trading Construction Co., Ltd and Phu Gia Investment JSC, Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City is connected to a medical clinic, retail outlets, supermarket and office facilities on its premises.

Designed by the award-winning RSP Architects, the serviced residence offers spacious and beautifully-furnished apartments ranging from two- to four-bedroom units. Each apartment comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, en-suite bathrooms, separate dining and living areas, complete with modern amenities such as washing machine and dryer, home entertainment system, complimentary Internet access and docking station for iPhone, iPad and iPod.

Residents can enjoy extensive facilities in Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City. These include a 50-metre lap pool and Jacuzzi amidst lush landscaped garden, a children’s pool and playground, a gymnasium with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a clubhouse with steam room and sauna, tennis court and golf putting green. They can also relax in the privacy of their apartments or entertain their friends and business associates at the residents’ lounge or living room at the lobby.

Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City also offers 24-hour reception and security, housekeeping, laundry and dry cleaning services, business centre services as well as residents’ programmes.

To celebrate the opening of Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City, Ascott is offering special introductory rates from VND1,590,000++ per night for a two-bedroom apartment from now until February 28, 2013.

Besides Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City, Ascott operates three other properties in Ho Chi Minh City – Somerset Chancellor Court, Somerset Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences, and four properties in Hanoi – Somerset Grand Hanoi, Somerset Hoa Binh, Somerset West Lake and Hoa Binh Green. The company will be opening more properties in Vietnam over the next few years including Somerset Central TD Hai Phong City in 2014 and Somerset Danang Bay in 2015.

Source : http://www.vir.com.vn

Frasers Hospitality to expand Capri brand

Frasers Hospitality has confirmed plans to expand its new Capri by Fraser brand into Malaysia and Vietnam.

The contemporary serviced apartment brand was first unveiled in May last year, and the first property, the Capri by Fraser Changi City in Singapore, opened its doors in September 2012. Now the company is planning to add two more Capri properties in 2013; the 126-apartment Capri by Fraser Ho Chi Minh City, which will open in March, and the 240-apartment Capri by Fraser Kuala Lumpur in November. The company said it is also in the process of finalising more Capri by Fraser properties in Asia Pacific and Europe.

“The positive international response that Capri by Fraser has generated within a relatively short span of time is a strong indication that there is a demand for a hotel residence brand that is well positioned to meet the 24-7 work-life balance needs of the rapidly growing e-generation market sector,” said Choe Peng Sum, CEO of Frasers Hospitality. “We are very excited with this response and it is very much our plan to explore the growth potential of this brand internationally throughout Asia and beyond.”

The Capri by Fraser brand targets younger, tech-savvy travellers, with facilities including free high-speed Wi-Fi, high-tech conference rooms, laundrettes with games consoles and iPad check-ins. Frasers revealed that the Capri by Fraser Changi City has experienced average occupancy levels of more than 80% since it soft opened in September.

Source : http://www.traveldailymedia.com

Ascott Hospitality in Vietnam : 2200 apartments by 2015

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has been awarded a contract to manage a 100-unit serviced residence in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The new Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City is slated to open in December this year. It is part of The Vista, a premier residential development by CapitaLand, Thien Duc Trading Construction Co., Ltd and Phu Gia Investment Joint Stock Company. Ascott will also manage Vista Residences, a 168-unit property within The Vista that will be available for lease this November. With the additions, Ascott further consolidates its position as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in Vietnam with over 1,600 apartment units in 11 properties across four cities – Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong and Danang.

Mr Alfred Ong, Ascott’s Managing Director for Southeast Asia and Australia, said: “Ascott established its presence in Ho Chi Minh City more than 15 years ago and we have always enjoyed strong occupancies for our two serviced residences in the city’s central urban district of District One. With the government’s plans to transform Ho Chi Minh City’s District Two into Vietnam’s new commercial and financial centre, we see strong growth potential to expand into the area. Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences, with their strategic location in District Two, proximity to facilities such as international schools, elegant design and quality product finishes, will appeal to expatriates and families with children looking for quality accommodation.”

He added: “Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences further affirm Ascott’s commitment to grow our business in Vietnam. We will be opening more properties in Vietnam in the next few years. These include our first property in Hai Phong – Somerset Central TD Hai Phong City which will open in 2013, and our first property in Danang – Somerset Danang Bay that will open in 2014. We will continue to look for opportunities to expand our presence in this key growth market and target to increase our Vietnam presence to 2,200 apartment units by 2015.”

Ascott has sealed management contracts for two new serviced residences in Ho Chi Minh City

The company will open the 100-unit Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City in December this year, plus the Vista Residences, a 168-unit property within The Vista that will be available for lease this November. With these new additions, Ascott now operates 11 properties across four cities in Vietnam.

“Ascott established its presence in Ho Chi Minh City more than 15 years ago and we have always enjoyed strong occupancies for our two serviced residences in the city’s central urban district of District One,” said Alfred Ong, Ascott’s Managing Director for Southeast Asia & Australia.

“With the government’s plans to transform Ho Chi Minh City’s District Two into Vietnam’s new commercial and financial centre, we see strong growth potential to expand into the area. Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences, with their strategic location in District Two, proximity to facilities such as international schools, elegant design and quality product finishes, will appeal to expatriates and families with children looking for quality accommodation.”

Ascott will further expand its Vietnam portfolio in the company years. The company’s first property in Haiphong – Somerset Central TD Haiphong City – which will open in 2013, while the launch of the Somerset Danang Bay in 2014 will also mark its entry into that city. In total, Ascott is planning to increase its Vietnam inventory from 1,600 to 2,200 apartment units by 2015.

Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences will both offer apartments ranging from two to four bedrooms, all including kitchens, separate work and living areas and home entertainment systems. Communal facilities include a 50-metre lap pool overlooking landscaped gardens, a kids’ pool and playground, a gymnasium and a clubhouse with steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, tennis court and golf putting green.

Source : http://www.traveldailymedia.com