Accommodation in Vietnam

Ana Mandara Villas Dalat, Dalat Set in the rural highlands of Dalat, Ana Mandara Villas is a collection of 17 fully restored French colonial villas from the 1920s and 30s when the French used the former... » More

Dalat Palace Sofitel, Dalat This beautifully maintained grand French colonial lakeside hotel was built in 1922 in the heart of Dalat, and is set on a hill in a private 5-hectare park. It has fantast... » More

Halong Ginger, Halong Discover the splendours of Halong Bay aboard the Halong Ginger, a wooden junk that combines classic beauty with modern comfort. Measuring 38 meters (125 feet) in length, ... » More

Halong Jasmine, Halong Discover the splendours of Halong Bay aboard the Halong Jasmine, a wooden junk that combines classic beauty with modern comfort. Measuring 38 meters (125 feet) in length,... » More

Indochina Sails, Halong Discover the splendours of Halong Bay aboard Indochina Sails, a wooden junk that combines classic beauty with modern comfort. All 15 cabins have large windows so that the... » More

The Princess Junk, Halong The most luxurious way of seeing the sites of Halong, The Princess Junks are the only one cabin deluxe boats that operate in the Bay. From the moment you step on board, t... » More

Hanoi Hilton Opera, Hanoi This 4 star business hotel has possibly one of the best locations in Hanoi overlooking the Opera House and provides good value for money especially when compared to neigh... » More

Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake, Hanoi This retreat a mere 10 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, is built entirely over the waters of the West Lake and adjacent to the city's oldest religious foundat... » More

Maison D'Hanoi, Hanoi Opened in 2008, this charming boutique hotel is superbly located in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter, and 5 minutes walk from Hoam Kiem Lake. Its 55 comfortable rooms are... » More

The Sofitel Metropole, Hanoi Built in 1901, the Metropole is one of Hanoi's treasures. This is where invading, liberating or civil armies created their HQs and raised their flags. Also, where the fir... » More

Caravelle, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) The Caravelle is located mere metres from The Opera House in Lam Son Square, many of the rooms have views of this French Colonial landmark. The original hotel was built i... » More

Park Hyatt, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Park Hyatt is the best hotel in Saigon and has an ideal location overlooking the Opera House, close to the chicest shops and places of interest. The bold exterior echoes ... » More

RV Pandaw Cruises, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Pandaw Mekong Cruises: The RV Mekong Pandaw, RV Tonlé Pandaw and the RV Orient Pandaw are replicas of colonial era river steamers with ultra shallow hulls, allowing ac... » More

The Continental, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Originally built as a hotel in 1880, The Continental has always been somewhere to watch Saigon go by from. The hotel is a little rough around the edges however its locati... » More

The Jayavarman - Heritage Lines, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Founded in 2008, Heritage Lines will launch their luxury boutique cruise boat, in early 2010. Inspired by the golden age of cruise liners, the Jayavarman marries avant-ga... » More

The Majestic, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Originally opened in 1925 the Majestic is the Grand Dame of the colonial hotels in Saigon. Overlooking the Saigon River with some of the best shopping in the city just r... » More

Life Resort, Hoi An Located along the scenic Thu Bon River, the Life Heritage Resort is a short stroll from ancient Hoi An, amongst sand beaches, overlooking a quiet bay and two tranquil isl... » More

Nam Hai, Hoi An Set along a 1km stretch of the infamous China Beach, the Nam Hai's villas benefit from beautiful views of the South China Sea and nearby Cham Islands. Each of the 100 vil... » More

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa, Hoi An This cheerful and relaxed 105 roomed hotel is located 10 minutes drive from Hoi An on a private beach of fine, golden sand. All of the large rooms have a balcony or terra... » More

Vinh Hung's Merchant's House, Hoi An This unique property in the heart of Hoi An offers something quite different from many of the luxury resorts outside the town. One of the most evocative places to stay in... » More

La Residence Hotel & Spa, Hue This former governor's residence has been converted into a stunning hotel in a prime position on the banks of the Perfume River. Most of the 122 rooms and suites have vie... » More

Pilgrimage Village, Hue One of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the Pilgrimage Village is located in a small village about 4 km from Hue, surrounded by tranquil gardens. The hotel is built ... » More

Saigon Morin, Hue Built in 1901 by the French, the Saigon Morin Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Vietnam. Lovingly restored to its century-old glory, the hotel exudes an old world char... » More

Victoria Can Tho Hotel, Mekong Delta Located out of the main town of Can Tho, this hotel is a quiet retreat on the banks of the Hau Rivers set in exotic gardens. The simply designed colonial style hotel has ... » More

Victoria Chau Doc Resort, Mekong Delta Located deep in the Mekong Delta, close to the Cambodia border, Chau Doc is a fascinating riverside town with a mixture of Cham and Khmer cultures. The Victoria hotel is ... » More

Evason Anamandara Nha Trang, Nha Trang This well loved hotel has gained an excellent reputation through years of consistent great service, good food and friendly staff. With the best location in Nha Trang, it ... » More

Six Senses Hideaway Ninh Van Bay, Nha Trang Accessible only by boat, the site of the Evason Hideaway on dramatic Ninh Van Bay is stunning and takes full advantage of its unique setting. The impressive rock formatio... » More

Cham Villas, Phan Thiet Cham Villas is an intimate boutique hotel located in immaculate gardens on a private beach. Each of the 16 comfortable villas and bungalows has a private terrace with day... » More

Victoria Phan Thiet, Phan Thiet The Victoria Phan Thiet is situated in exotic gardens on a vast, palm fringed, private white sand beach on the South China Sea. All 59 cosy, thatched bungalows are spacio... » More

Le Veranda, Phu Quoc Housed in a colonial style mansion, La Veranda Resort & Spa is located on the southern end of the very long Duong Dong Beach. Designed to reflect the ambiance of a coloni... » More

Mango Bay, Phu Quoc Spread along 700 metres of secluded beach, the simple eco resort of Mango Bay has 31 rooms and bungalows built from 60 year old timber and natural materials. All bungalow... » More

Cha Pa Garden Boutique Hotel and Spa, Sapa Cha Pa Garden Boutique Hotel & Spa is a family run hotel, situated in a fully refurbished colonial villa in the centre of Sapa. With just 4 rooms, the hotel is able to of... » More

Famous tourism in Viet Nam

Top Destinations

	Hanoi City: Vietnam's small and pleasant capital lies at the heart of the northern Red River Delta, and is a city of lakes, leafy boulevards and open parks with a French colonial feel. Hanoi was founded in 1010, and became the centre of government for the Indochina Union under French rule in 1888. In 1954 it became the official capital of independent Vietnam. Today ancient crumbling buildings dating from the 11th century lie scattered among grand French colonial residences, while shrines and monuments to Vietnam's first president, Ho Chi Minh, sit in the shadow of modern high-rise buildings. The streets of the Old Quarter preserve age-old customs, where trade takes one back half a century, and temples, pagodas and monuments reflect the historic character of Vietnam. Hanoi is fast becoming one of the most enticing and interesting cities in Asia. As a cultural centre there are traditional water puppet shows, and music and dance performances. It is also a good base for excursions to the beautiful Halong Bay, or into the Hoang Lien Mountains inhabited by several hill tribes.
	Hoi An was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and a visit to this old-world gem is a sure cultural highlight of any tour in Vietnam. The quaint riverside town of Hoi An was an important port town and one of the major trading centres in South East Asia during the 16th and 17th centuries. The cultural influences of the Japanese and Chinese merchants are still evident today in the town's architecture, with the famous Japanese Covered Bridge and the distinctly Chinese atmosphere of the Old Quarter part of its unique character. Lining the narrow streets are two storey Chinese shops with charming wooden facades and tiled roofs, merchants' homes, Assembly Halls and temples that preserve its ancient character. On the 15th day of every lunar month the ancient character of this sleepy town takes on fairytale propotions as porches, streets and windows are lit by the glow of colored lanterns, a practice reminiscent of the old days and aimed at retaining the ancient spirit of the past.
	Dalat - The Highlands around Dalat is where we specialize and base our activities. Dalat is a quiet town in the south central highlands of Vietnam, about 300 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, and is set in a landscape dotted with lakes and blanketed with pine forested hills and jungle covered valleys. It was first established as a hill station by the French, and many of the fabulous villas they built are still here. The cool climate, clean air and escape from the heat and congestion of Saigon provide the perfect setting for the adventure sports we love to do. At an altitude of between 1,500 and 2,000 meters the cool, hilly terrain is fantastic for mountain biking, trekking, canyoning, kayaking, rappelling and rock climbing.
	Phan Thiet (Mui Ne) - Located in Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan province, has long been considered the "Hawaii" of Vietnam. It boasts shady roads under coconut trees, a beautiful beach and cliffs battered by the waves of the sea. The typical scenery of Mui Ne lies in the moving lines of golden sand caused by the wind and when they are seen from afar they look like moving waves. The scenery looks more fascinating at dawn, when young Cham girls in green dresses go to work. Mui Ne is an ideal place for rest and relaxation. Away from the beach, the key attraction of Mui Ne are its sand dunes, of which there are three sets which can easily be visited from Mui Ne. Best visited in the late afternoon when the light is sublime, you can also catch the sunset from above Mui Ne village which, with its bevy of fishing boats, is particularly scenic.
	Ho Chi Minh City: Once romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City is still called Saigon by almost everyone who lives there. It is a modern city by Asian standards and has only been under firm Vietnamese control for a little more than 200 years. The city's character remains essentially French with wide boulevards, colonial villas, and a lively café society but also resolutely Asian. It has more of a cosmopolitan feel than Hanoi, although much of the old French colonial city is vanishing beneath the rapidly rising skyline and the sheer weight of recent history. Combined with this vivacious street life, the city's French influences have bred a charm all their own. But it is the people even more than the city that you will remember most. The Mekong Delta is the southern rice bowl of Vietnam. The Mekong River, one of the famous river of the world, is known to the Vietnamese as Song Cuu Long (River of the Nine Dragons). The Mekong originates high in the Tibetan plateau, flowing through China, between Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, along the Lao-Thai border and through Cambodia and Vietnam. The Mekong splits into two main branches in Phnom penh, the lower river cross Chau Doc, Long Xuen and Can Tho and flows to the sea, the upper river splits into several branches at Vinh Long and empties into the sea at six points. Half of the delta region is fully covered with rice fields. The region is dotted with small villages and towns and several large centres like Can Tho, My Tho, Rach Gia, Chau Doc and Ca Mau. There are many Khmer temples and relics dating from previous centuries. This is an area of endless paddy fields and mangrove swamps, small villages and communities and, along the coast, deserted beaches. Special features include Vinh Long with the most charming hotel in the Mekong Delta, Chau Doc and the temple hill, Ha Tien with the best beach in Vietnam and Soc Trang and Tra Vinh with their Khmer temples.

Halal food products represent future for Thailand's manufacturers

Thailand's Central Islamic Committee said that halal food products, or those complying with Islamic rules, could dominate an $80 billion world market within one year, if the government and private sector worked together to boost exports, reported Bangkok newspaper Business Day.

Islamic committee Halal Activity Chairman Phaisal Phromyong is said to view the market as a promising one, recognising the financial help from the government for the development of food production systems as an important benefit.

Phaisal said: "Several educational institutions have already launched development and training programmes for halal foods." He added that Thai Halal food currently accounts for less than four per cent of the world market because the country is not prepared to compete in international markets and because of fierce competition from giant food producers like China, which is also interested in the multi-billion dollar industry.

"Malaysia is not considered a major rival since it currently uses raw materials from Thailand," Phaisal noted.

Phaisal also claimed that given full support from the government, Thailand could become the world's biggest Halal food exporter by 2004.

However, deputy director general of the Export Promotion Department Songchai Saisawatevaree said that Thai Halal food exports were worth $ 6.3 billion last year, a small sector of the $80 billion market.

According to Songchai, the major markets for Thai Halal foods are Singapore (for re-export), Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. "The new potential export market is Africa which has the world's second largest Muslim population after Asia," he said.

There are currently more than 600 local Halal food manufacturers in the application process for a Halal seal of approval from the Central Islamic Committee. Thirty per cent of them are new companies.

The Islamic committee has also appointed 250 Halal food inspectors to inspect the food processing plants that have already been granted the Halal approval in order to ensure that these plants comply with the Islamic food law.

New World City Hotel

Halal Food Bangkok(Muslim Hotel and Restaurant Thailand)

Welcome to New World City Hotel, the hotel for both business and leisure travelers.Our friendly atmosphere is evident the moment you arrive.The friendly and courteous staff is always ready to greet you with a smile and Sawadee, Thai custom for a warm welcome.

Situated in a quiet location, the New World City Hotel located in the heart of Bangkok.The hotel provide its guests with 171 modern, bright, well appointed en-suite bedrooms : 3 Suites, 54 Deluxe, and 114 Superior. All rooms have windows and balconies, private bathrooms with hot & cold showers, telephone with IDD, color TV with satellite, in-room safety deposit box, mini bar and refrigerator.Our Suites and Deluxe rooms also offer hairdryer and bath room scale. A broadband Internet connection can be set up for all room types.

Sara Halal Restaurant and our 24 Hrs Room Service offer Thai, European, and variety of Asian cuisine. Cafe' de Canal, an outlet among greenery area and lots of trees that make your drinks and snacks become very relaxing. Fitness Centre and hi-speed internet will make your stay even more pleasant.Our conference and meeting rooms will help your business become a successful one.

Thailand Halal Food Everywhere....

* * * * * * * * * BANG SAN THAI CUISINE is 100% Halal food. We are the original Thai Halal restaurant in the Bay Area! Our soy sauce, fish sauce, and other cooking sauces are made in Thailand and they are certified Halal! Contrary to popular misconceptions Coconut Milk and Coconut Oil are 'healthy' fats. READ BELOW! (SOME FACTS AND INFORMATION ON COCONUT MILK AND COCONUT OIL...) Our food is traditionally cooked Thai food. The difference is the meats Halal certified meat meets strict health requirements. The meat is raised in a humane environment, and does not contain any chemicals (steroids, hormones, etc). It is slaughtered by hand, and contains less adrenals than machine slaughtered meat. There is also a health inspector present at the time of slaughter to ensure no sick animals are passed through. The animals have not been fed any meat or meat by-products (cause of many meat orientated diseases). YOU CAN TASTE THE DIFFERENCE! We hand select all our produce at various markets to ensure our food is the freshest possible. and use only the finest ingredients we can find. YOU CAN TASTE THE DIFFERENCE! Ameena (Pin) Khan, owner and chef, has had 16 years experience cooking in the Bay Area since coming from Thailand. She prepares all sauces personally from only the freshest of ingredients. Vegetarians: Bang San is proud to also present a 100% vegan vegetarian menu (at our O'Farrell location). We do not use fish sauce, oyster sauce, etc in our vegetarian dishes. We can substitute most of our meat dishes with imitation beef, chicken, or fish.

YourSingapore.com - Rojak

YourSingapore.com - Rojak

One rojak variation is adapted from Malay and Chinese cuisines, which is a veritable toss of beansprouts, greens, tau pok (or deep-fried soybean cake), yu tiao (a crispy long strip of fried flour) pineapple, cucumber, and a generous sprinkle of finely chopped roasted peanuts well-tossed (which gives it ample texture and a lovely crunchy bite) with a spicy fermented prawn paste sauce.

The other is the Indian version, which is also tossed in peanut sauce, although this version has an added red flavouring and colour for that tinge of spiciness. The Indian rojak can be personalised to one’s specific tastebuds as most stall vendors allow their patrons to choose the ingredients that they want – which includes baked potatoes, steamed fishcakes, prawn fritters, octopus, a mix of fried greens and many more.

Yet again, this is a popular dish in Singapore, so finding a rojak stall near you won’t be too much of a hassle. While the best rojak stalls are found outside the city (like in neighbourhoods like Bukit Merah and Katong) there are still reasonably good places within the CBD or in the Orchard Road area where you can find them. The Food Republic food courts in Wisma Atria and 313@Somerset are easy enough to find; but also do check out Straits Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency hotel along Scotts Road for a sampling of this true-blue Singapore dish in a stylish, sleek setting.

Singapore's Sensous Signature

There are two versions of this classic; the Malay (original) version has a straightforward offering of ikan bilis (fried anchovies) and nuts, fried fish, cucumber and sometimes an egg; whereas the Chinese version, like Chong Pang Nasi Lemak and the Changi Village Nasi Lemak (take the Bus No.2 to the Changi Village market to sample this unforgettable version) have a whole bunch of things like deep fried drumstick, chicken franks, fish cake, curried vegetables and luncheon meat (Asian Spam) in it.
Like the chicken rice, the accompanying chilli condiment can make all the difference; sometimes the chilli and plain lemak rice is enough for a satisfying meal.
Nasi lemak is always enjoyable whether at breakfast or any other time of day, and some stalls still retain the tradition of wrapping the rice in a banana leaf to enhance its flavour. It is commonly found at food centres in Singapore, with the more famous nasi lemak stalls being the ones at the Adam Road Food Centre.

The most famous laksa lemak recipe can be found in an area in Singapore called Katong, where the noodles are cut up such that that they can be slurped directly from a soup spoon, without the need for chopsticks. Princess Terrace Café also boasts a mean laksa that packs a punch, so while you’re in Singapore, don’t forget make a visit to sample this ever-popular dish.

Thailand: Halal Food Options

Thailand is popular with visitors from nearby Muslim countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia as well as countries from the Middle East. Although Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country there is a significant Muslim population particularly in the southern region and places such as Krabi and Phuket.

Even in Bangkok you will find halal food and Muslim restaurants along Silom Road and a wider selection on Sukhumvit Soi 3 (also known as Nana Nua). In shopping malls such as MBK you will find food courts that will have a halal vendor, usually they would be Indian restaurants and its worthwhile asking as not all places will have a halal certificate. This does mean you are reliant on verbal assurances.

Some of the KFC branches in Bangkok claim to be halal. Even near the prestige hotels such as the Shangri La, you will find a halal restaurant such as Little India which is near the small mosque in the vicinity of the hotel.

In Krabi and Phuket halal food is plentiful. In Phuket itself you will have a wider choice of restaurants in Patong and Phuket town. Note that in Phuket the KFC will carry a Halal certificate. Again most halal restaurants in Patong tend to be Indian restaurants near the vicinity of the Jungceylon mall. In Karon beach you will find several Kashmiri restaurants, but again more often that not you are reliant on verbal assurances.

Welcome to Viet Nam

Vietnam officially is known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam), is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea, referred to as East Sea (Vietnamese: Biển Đông), to the east. With a population of over 86 million, Vietnam is the 13th most populous country in the world.

The people of Vietnam regained independence and broke away from China in AD 938 after their victory at the battle of Bạch Đằng River. Successive dynasties flourished along with geographic and political expansion deeper into Southeast Asia, until it was colonized by the French in the mid-19th century. Efforts to resist the French eventually led to their expulsion from the country in the mid-20th century, leaving a nation divided politically into two countries. Fighting between the two sides continued during the Vietnam War, ending with a North Vietnamese victory in 1975.

Emerging from this prolonged military engagement, the war-ravaged nation was politically isolated. The government’s centrally planned economic decisions hindered post-war reconstruction[citation needed] and its treatment of the losing side engendered more resentment than reconciliation. In 1986, it instituted economic and political reforms and began a path towards international reintegration.[citation needed] By 2000, it had established diplomatic relations with most nations. Its economic growth had been among the highest in the world in the past decade.[vague] These efforts culminated in Vietnam joining the World Trade Organization in 2007.

Where to find halal food in Viet Nam

EATERIES

If you are planning to visit Vietnam but don't know where to go for halal food then please check out these places: (We are in the process of compiling this list, please have patience with us)

South Vietnam
You need a local Muslim to take you to these places (just ask the Imam from the Dong Du Mosque for assistance):

66 Dong Du, District 1: Indian, Vietnamese cuisine. This mosque has a halal food court where you can buy lunch or dinner. Many Muslim foreigners come here to eat.
26 Bui vien, District 1: Indian, Pakistani.
45 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia: Malay, Indo cuisine.
443- 445 Le Hong Phong street, District 10: SHAMSUDIN RESTAURANT
459B Tran Hung Dao: Pho (noodle).
94/4A Huynh Van Banh (near fashion shop of Ms.Basiroh): Budget food.
52 Nguyen Van Troi: Goat Cari (cari de).
An Giang

Café Vila, 25 Nguyen Huu Canh, Chau Doc town.
phone: 867129; Indian food
North Vietnam

53 Ba Trieu, Hanoi.
10 Hang Thung, Hanoi.
Nisa Restaurant: 90 Nguyen Huu Huan: Malay and Indian cuisine. Email: nisarestaurant@hn.vnn.vn