Basic HTML Version
4
timeout
Dear readers,
It’s good news for budget travellers in Vietnam this month - the coun-
try’s only surviving private carrier, VietJetAir, has signed a memorandum
of understanding with Europe’s leading aircraft maker, Airbus, to purchase
62 jets that will be delivered from next year until 2022. What’s more, this
low-cost airline plans to purchase 30 more Airbus planes when supply is
available, as well and lease eight more from a third-party.
VietJetAir now has nine jets flying to 14 destinations in Vietnam and two
international routes from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Bangkok. These
purchases will allow VietJetAir to increase frequency and add more routes
in Vietnam as well and expanding its network to other Asian destinations
such as Taiwan, Japan and southern China.
Offering airfares much lower than other traditional airlines, VietJetAir is
encouraging more people, particularly backpackers, to take flight.
However, despite long being known as a backpacker destination, and
even in the face of VietJetAir’s expanding low-cost service, Vietnam is
emerging as a luxury tourism destination. The country does not yet boast a
Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons hotel, but other luxury brands such as Banyan
Tree, InterContinental and JW Marriott have already taken a foothold here.
Luxury tourism is about muchmore than just hotels, however - it’s about the
broader experience. This issue we offer an insight into luxury living and travel
in Vietnam with a feature on the best destinations and the hottest properties
Also this issue, we have an in depth report into the serviced residence
market in Vietnam, explaining how it is continuing to flourish in spite of the
economic downturn which is bruising other property segments.
On other pages, Timeout’s guest journalist from Laos shares his thoughts
on life in Hanoi, drawing a host of comparisions – some favourable, some
less so – with other Southeast Asian destinations.
Alongside all this, we have our regular rundown of Vietnam’s top travel
deals as well as what to see and do in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Yours sincerely
NGUYEN ANH TUAN
Editor-in-Chief
PRICE: VND52,000 if sold separately
Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan
Deputy Editors-in-Chief
Le Trong Minh
Bui Duc Hai
Do Xuan Khanh
Deputy Managing Editor
Tran Ngoc Son
Designer
Lai Hoang Yen
OFFICES
Hanoi
47 Quan Thanh Str.
Tel: (84-4) 38450537
Fax: (84-4) 38235281
E-mail: timeout@vir.com.vn
Website: www.vir.com.vn
Ho Chi Minh City
178 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Str., D3
Tel: (84-8) 39305311 -
39305316
Fax: (84-8) 39305318
E-mail: dautu@virhcm.com.vn
vpdd@virhcm.com.vn
Can Tho
105 Tran Hung Dao,
Tel/Fax: (071) 3731766
Email: dautuct@vnn.vn
Danang
5th floor, MPI’s office building
Le Sat Str., Hai Chau Dist.
Tel: (0511) 3623492
Fax: (0511) 33623491
E-mail: huanvir@dng.vnn.vn
Haiphong
1 Dinh Tien Hoang Str.
Tel: (031) 3842478
Fax: (031) 3842419
E-mail: thanhtanvir@yahoo.com
REGULARS
6
What's on
18
Update
20
Hot deal
58
Timeout Guide
66
Voyeur
CAST & CREW