Christmas And NewYear’s CelebrationsIn Restaurants And Hotels
By Dat Tien
Saigontourist’s hotels, restaurants and resorts in HCM City are introducing attractive food and entertainment programs for Christmas and the New Year
REX HOTEL (141 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 38228380)
Rooftop Garden: A Christmas Eve party will take place from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on the night of December 24 with a menu of diverse seafood dishes and exciting entertainment. The prices are US$75++/adult and US$40++/child. Wine and soft drinks are included. In addition, a Welcoming Spring party will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the night of December 31 with unique entertainment, a fashion show, music by a Flamenco band, a fire dance and a lucky draw with valuable prizes. Notably, the buffet offers guests lobster, free wine and soft drinks. The price for the buffet is US$89++/adult and US$45++/child.
Rose Garden: Special barbecue buffets and music programs are the highlights on the nights of December 24 and 31. The buffet on December 24 costs US$35++/guest. A glass of German beer or wine is offered free.
Cung Dinh Restaurant: Guests are welcomed with a traditional music program. A special set menu is priced at US$25-38++/guest, including wine.
Hoa Mai Restaurant: A special menu for the Christmas season is offered to guests at Hoa Mai restaurant.
Thien Duong Café: Guests are treated to a music program including unique performances.
PALACE HOTEL SAIGON (56 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 38292860)
A “Merry Christmas Saigon” program caters to guests from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on December 24 and a “Happy New Year Saigon” program takes place from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on December 30 at the Palace Ballroom on the sixth floor of the hotel.
A roundtable party in a mysterious atmosphere of candlelight is accompanied by entertainment, Vietnamese and international music programs, fashion show and dance. Guests will get Christmas wishes, enjoy wine and receive gifts for the Christmas masquerade, such as hats and masks. On New Year’s Eve, guests will enjoy best wishes, a menu of eight dishes and champagne. The entertainment includes Jazz music, Christmas carols sung by children, a fashion show and dancing.
The appetizer includes six dishes and beverages, including red and white wine. The dessert menu offers guests seven dishes and after-dinner drinks. Guests will be entertained with Jazz music by popular nightclub singers and a performance by a Filipino band. The all-in price for the party is VND850,000/guest.
QUE HUONG 1 HOTEL (49 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St., Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 38294443)
Guests to Que Huong 1 Hotel can enjoy the Welcoming Christmas program on December 24 and 25, and Welcoming the New Year program on December 31 and January 1. Lunch and dinner buffets offer a variety of selected dishes. The buffet lunch is priced at VND159,000/adult and VND99,000/child.
LION RESTAURANT (11-13 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 38238514)
A “Noel Bavarian Night & New Year’s Party” program offers a buffet with 40 European and Asian dishes. Beverages will be served during the party. The highlights of the Christmas party on December 24 and of the New Year’s party on December 31 are animated music programs and magic shows as well as an interesting circus and lucky draws. The prices of the buffet lunches on December 24, 25 and 31 are VND159,000/adult and VND99,000/child. The prices of the buffet dinners on December 24 and 31 and January 1 are VND549,000/adult and VND279,000/child. A countdown party is priced at VND90,000/guest.
BONG SEN SAIGON HOTEL (117-123 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 38291516)
Guests can celebrate Christmas and the New Year at Bong Sen Saigon Hotel with traditional European food prepared by chefs from Buffet Ganh Restaurant. Guests will be treated to a new and unique dish. Chicken is stuffed with five fillings, including peziza, vegetables and fruit, liver paste, sausages and bacon, and then baked, giving diners an unforgettable, appetizing flavor.
In addition, Buffet Ganh Restaurant will serve guests Western-style roast turkey. Guests can book the special chicken dishes from December 14 to 30. The restaurant offers home delivery service.
DONG KHANH HOTEL (2 Tran Hung Dao B St., Dist. 5, HCM City. Tel: 39236404)
A Welcoming Christmas buffet will be held from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on December 24 on the fourth floor of Dong Khanh Hotel. The buffet features attractive main courses such as rabbit cooked with peas, beef stewed with paste, Italian-style fried fish, French-style steamed barnacles, baked pumpkin with honey, corn sautéed with bacon, French-style baked potatoes, noodles steamed with ham, baked turkey, fried rice with almond and apple, and fruit and cakes for dessert. The program includes classical performances on guitar and violin.
A set menu for welcoming the New Year will be offered from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on December 31 at M’Cat Restaurant, on the first floor of Dong Khanh Hotel. Main courses include grilled beef with sauce and salted fish, French-style grilled lamb chops and stewed cabbage, and beef ribs sauced with green pepper. In addition, more than 10 starters and desserts will be available for guests.
Tickets for the two programs are priced at US$15/guest. In addition, as it does every year, Dong Khanh is organizing a “Countdown” program at 12 a.m. on December 31 to create a warm atmosphere for guests to celebrate the New Year away from home.
BAT DAT HOTEL (238 Tran Hung Dao B St., Dist. 5, HCM City. Tel: 38578252)
For Christmas Eve, Bat Dat Restaurant is organizing a seafood buffet with the theme “Peaceful Christmas.” More than 50 special traditional Christmas dishes such as turkey stuffed with baked chestnuts, rabbit cooked with wine, grilled lamb with pepper sauce and duck grilled with honey. Guests will be entertained with music programs and presented lovely gifts by Santa Claus. Tickets are priced at VND200,000/adult and VND150,000/child. Purchase 10 tickets in advance and get one free.
THANH BINH 2 HOTEL (15 Ly Thuong Kiet St., Tan Binh Dist., HCM City. Tel: 38641585)
To celebrate Christmas and the New Year, Cherry Restaurant offers guests a buffet with 35 selected dishes along with music programs and Santa Claus giving gifts. The prices of tickets are VND300,000/adult and VND150,000/child.
SAIGON RESTAURANT BOAT (Bach Dang Wharf, Dist. 1, HCM City. Tel: 38230393)
A “Seasonal Transition from 2009 to 2010” program takes place on the nights of December 24 and 31, and January 1. Participants will enjoy the view along the Saigon River and taste delicious dishes by candlelight. The boat serves guests from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The first and second floors will serve diners a set menu. From 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. the third floor will offer a buffet with traditional Christmas food such as pumpkin soup, turkey roasted with honey, grilled leg of lamb, rabbit cooked with wine and Christmas cakes. There will be performances by the Latin Eyes band, a fire dance, a fun circus and magic show, and Santa Claus giving gifts to children. The buffet is priced at VND400,000/adult and VND200,000/child.