Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong: address book

IDENTITY CARD

Formalities Tourist visa: A tourist visa is issued on arrival. Passport valid for six months after visa expiry date.
Area code Phone numbers: + 84; + 28 (Ho Chi Minh City).
Time difference : +6 h in winter, +5 h in summer.
Currency The dong (VND).
1 euro = 24,482 VND (March 2017).
Best season Vietnam's climate is that of a monsoon zone country. Hot and humid, especially in the south. The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta is from December to April, during the dry season.
Group size The economic capital of Vietnam is perfectly equipped with most of the major international chains. The Mekong delta also has some high-capacity establishments.

GETTING THERE

Turkish Airlines offers daily flights from Paris CDG (T1) to Ho Chi Minh City, via Istanbul and a 1.5-hour stopover in Hanoi. The stopover in Istanbul (2 h 20) allows passengers to take advantage of the airline's lounge, one of the most beautiful and, above all, busiest in the world. Access is free for business passengers. The Paris-Istanbul flight is operated with a two-class Airbus A330-200, while the flight to Vietnam is operated with a three-class Airbus A330-300. In first and business class, there is a chef who takes great care of his passengers.
Tel.: 0 825 800 902
Internet: www.turkishairlines.com

Vietnam Airlinesthe Vietnamese national airline operates seven weekly flights between Paris CDG (T2F) and Ho Chi Minh City, code-sharing with Air France. These flights are operated by one airline or the other in alternation, with the brand new Airbus A350s for Vietnam Airlines and Boeing B777s with the new economy, premium and business cabins for Air France.
Tel: 01 44 55 39 90 (Vietnam Airlines); 0820 320 820 (Air France)
Internet: vietnamairlines.com; www.airfrance.com

TO FIND OUT MORE

Viet Nam Cultural Centre in France (no tourist office in France) 19-19 bis, rue Albert. 75 013 Paris.
Email : contact@ccv-france.org
Internet: www.ccv-france.org

NOT TO BE MISSED

In Ho Chi Minh City: the terrace of the Continental Hotel, a living memory of the city in the heart of the historic district; the post office built by Gustave Eiffel and still in operation; the Ben Thanh market; a tour of Cholon, a Chinese city within a city and a former pleasure district in the 1930s. In the Mekong delta: floating markets aboard a sampan, a mini-cruise on the river, the Chinese house where a scene from the film L'amant was shot...

HOTELS

HO CHI MINH CITY

Pullman Saigon Centre

Ideally located in a very lively district, especially at night, which never quite dies out in Ho Chi Minh City. The Pullman Saigon, opened in 2013, offers just about everything that groups are looking for when it comes to meetings: seven meeting rooms covering more than 700 m2 of modular space and an exceptional gala room for up to 300 people. All with plenty of windows overlooking the busy street. So there's plenty of natural light, which is the least we can do when we're so far away in the tropics. The décor, designed by Japanese artist Kume Sekkei, is refined, designer without overdoing it, and particularly pleasant to live in. 306 rooms and suites, lounge, rooftop cocktail bar, swimming pool, two restaurants.
148 Tran Hung Dao Boulevard, district 1.
Phone: + 84 (0)8 3838 8686
Email : H7489@accor.com
Internet: pullman-saigon-centre.com

Sofitel Saigon plaza

A little way from the hustle and bustle of the historic quarter, but only 700 m from the cathedral and the main shopping areas... The French touch, the hallmark of Sofitel quality, is present everywhere, particularly in the L'Olivier restaurant, which serves Provençal cuisine in an ideal setting. The eight meeting rooms, which can accommodate from 10 to 450 people depending on their configuration, are particularly well suited to corporate clients.
286 rooms and suites, two restaurants, bar and lounge and roof-top swimming pool.
17 Le Duan Boulevard, district 1.
Tel: + 84 (0)8 3824 1555
Email : h2077@sofitel.com
Internet: www.sofitel.com

The Reverie Saigon

Past the profusion of marble, the gold and Olympian volumes of the reception hall, past the crystals and accepted the size of the sofa - of which Michael Jackson owned a version - that imposes itself on the concierge, past all that and more, you realise the quality of the things presented in this hallucinating establishment - a member of Leading Hotels - which deserves at least 18 stars on the scale of excess. Everything here is precious: the smallest marble is a rare blue from Bolivia, the smallest chandelier comes from Murano, the leather is ostrich and the style is Italian. Donatella Versace would be crazy about it... The service is ad hoc, refined, attentive, perfect. It's all about the detail, including the toilets, which are of course Japanese, and the generosity of the bathroom products from Chopard, Hermès or Acqua di Parma. Fortunately, the view from the pool of the shark fin tower, the Bitexco tower, is a reminder that this is Ho Chi Minh City and not some rich emirate. In any case, it's a magical setting for a gala evening. 286 very large rooms and suites, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants and, above all, an impressive 48-metre long table-bar-restaurant. Spa, swimming pool, fitness centre, 15 meeting rooms and... a very luxurious car service.
22-36 Nguyen Hue Boulevard/57-69 Dong Khoi Street, district 1
Phone: + 84 (0)8 3823 6688
Email : info@thereveriesaigon.com
Internet: www.thereveriesaigon.com

MEKONG DELTA

Victoria Can Tho Resort

Oh, the beautiful garden! Oh, the coconut palms! The dream pool... And the river, just at the end, rolling its calm waters; the Mekong which, at this height on its journey of more than 4,000 km, will soon join the sea. The Victoria, which advertises "the charms of Indochina" on its brochure, can in no way be accused of false advertising. Everything is there, including the building, which opens in a classic U-shape onto the pool and garden. The floors are French-style polychrome tiles or dark varnished wood, as is customary in tropical countries. Of course, the fans are on every ceiling, and it's even nicer when they sweep over the pool table and bar counter.
92 rooms and suites, a lounge bar and restaurant serving Asian and international cuisine, a conference room with theatre seating for 150 people. Spa, swimming pool, tennis, organised excursions and boats on request.
Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City - Tel: + 84 (710) 381 0111
Email : resa.cantho@victoriahotels.asia
Internet: www.victoriahotels.asia

ACTIVITIES

Massage

The Apothecary

64 A Truong Dinh St. Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: + 84 (0)8 3932 51 81
Email : info@lapothiquaire.com
Internet: www.lapothiquaire.com

Cruises

Rivages du Monde in France

9, Rue du 4 Septembre, 75002 Paris.
Information and bookings: 01 58 36 08 36
Internet: www.rivagesdumonde.fr

AGENCY

Phoenix Voyages

82-83 Street 7B-Khu A- An Phu/An Khanh -District 2 Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam
Phone: + 84 8 6281 0222
Email : info@phoenixvoyages.com
Internet: phoenixvoyages.com

Representation in Paris: Audrey Quoico.

Tel.: 06 03 82 43 69
Email : phoenixfrance01@phoenixvoyages.com

PRACTICAL GUIDES

Guide Vert Michelin, Le Routard, Petit fûté, Lonely Planet.