Travel - Vietnam Hanoi
• Ha Long Bay cruise A highlight of any trip to Vietnam is sailing through Ha Long Bay – a seemingly endless stretch of limestone islands topped off with velvety greenery – and spending the night on board, the lumpy silhouettes surrounding you like curious creatures. A variety of destination management companies, including Destination Asia, charter cruises for groups that culminate in a candlelit cave dinners, where shadows ripple in motion with the sea outside. destination-asia.com
HUÉ What’s it like? Situated along the seductively named Perfume River, the former Imperial capital of Vietnam is rich in relics from the Nguyen dynasty era (1802-1945).
Apricot Hotel, Hanoi
Featuring UNESCO World Heritage sites dating back to when emperors ruled the roost, Hue’s grandeur will satisfy delegates seeking epic Ancient Asian architecture.
Where to meet and what to do • Rickshaw tour Hue is best enjoyed from the back seat of a rickshaw, while a charismatic peddler does the hard work. Delegates will feel like they’re a character from ‘Wacky Races’ as they scoot around the traffic, weave amongst shoppers at Ben Ngu Market, and speed past heavenly stretches of waterlilies that coat the moat of Hue’s Citadel. • Motorcycle between monuments When there are so many historic sites to see in so little time, it makes sense to sit
on the back of a motorcycle (helmet and professional driver in tow) and zip between them all. Group motorcycle tours in tandem will allow your guests to soak up everything from the serene Van Mieu temple (Temple of Literature) to the ruins of the mysterious Forbidden Purple City in one go. • La Résidence Hue Hôtel & Spa Overlooking the imperial Citadel, this fivestar property belongs to the M Gallery by Sofitel brand. Built in 1930 as a home for the city’s French governor, the building’s horizontal lines and original bowed facade will delight art deco fans. The plush French colonial-style rooms have beautiful dark hardwood floors, and the VIP meeting room holds 16 people for a boardroom meeting. la-residence-hue.com
La Résidence Hué Hôtel & Spa
51