IHCL, Goa Heralds The Holiday Season With A Greater Purpose, India

The Anam Group’s two beachfront resorts in Cam Ranh and Mui Ne will celebrate the most significant time in the Vietnamese calendar, Tet, with a broad spectrum of remarkable dining, entertainment, recreational, and spa experiences. Photo credits: The Anam Group In the lead-up to Tet on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, The Anam Cam Ranh and The Anam Mui Ne will each stage a ceremony on Jan. 22, 2025 to plant “Cay Neu”, a towering Lunar New Year bamboo pole to ward off evil spirits, followed by dragon dancing. Fronting Long Beach, one of Vietnam’s most stunning stretches of sand, The Anam Cam Ranh’s program from Jan. 28-Feb. 2, 2025 is filled with Tet festivities including: Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar serving a special family reunion Tet set menu that celebrates authentic Vietnamese home-style cuisine as well as a la carte Tet dishes such as Hanoi deep-fried spring rolls, glutinous rice cake, braised catfish, pork belly with galangal, braised pork belly with egg, stir-fried bamboo shoots with beef, and crispy mackerel with basil fish sauce. The Indochine and Colonial restaurants offering traditional Tet specialities and international favourites during breakfast. Dragon dancing at the lawn and Indochine from 9am on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Jan. 29. Youngsters will make red envelopes, for lucky money designed to bestow good luck, at the kids club. Movies aired at The Anam Cinema and on the center lawn under Cam Ranh’s starry night sky from 6pm on Jan. 29. 30 and 31. A banh chung making workshop on Jan. 30 from 10-noon at Lang Viet Restaurant & Bar. On the second day of Tet, Jan. 30, at the lobby, the traditional custom of calligraphy giving, with a calligraphy master inscribing auspicious characters on red paper for guests from 10am-12pm. Kids will make New Year greeting cards at the kids club. Artisans crafting “To he” traditional toy figures out of play dough from 10-noon on the third day of Tet, Jan. 31 in the lobby. The kids club will host making paper firecrackers. Guests creating their own unique fragrant candles as part of candle-marking workshops from 2-4pm daily from Jan 31- Feb 2. A talented musician playing “Dan Tranh”, a wooden zither with strings, from 6-7pm on Jan 31 and Feb 1 at the lobby. Lang Viet serving ‘Vietnamese Traditional Buffet” on Jan 31. brimming with Tet specialists with free-flow soft drink, local beer, and wine packages from 6.30-9pm. To be accompanied by live traditional instrumentalists and a bartenders flair show. A Seafood BBQ buffet at The Indochine on Feb. 1 from 6.30-9pm with free-flow local beer, soft drink and wine packages. To be staged to a backdrop of live music by the Filipino band and a spectacular fire show. The kids club helping children make paper Chung cakes and paper Tet cakes on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 respectively. Casual dining at Beach Club and tapas and cocktails at Saigon Bar throughout the program An exclusive day lounge from 11am-3pm at Colonial for guests staying in high-end accommodations before afternoon tea is served between 3-5pm. The Anam Spa offering 15% off treatments for individual guests and 25% for couples. A complimentary nail polish session will be held from 10-11am daily. Photo credits: The Anam Group The Anam Cam Ranh’s sister resort The Anam Mui Ne will host a program of Tet celebrations from Jan. 28-Feb 1, 2025 featuring: Buffet breakfast at The Indochine with traditional Tet specialties and international dishes. Classic Tet set menus celebrating home-style Vietnamese cooking at Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar in addition to a la carte Tet dishes. Daily spa workshops from 2-2.30pm at the yoga room and Beach Spa focused on making homemade body scrub, making and using a herbal poultice, head massage techniques using homemade coconut oil, massage techniques for a facial and learning how to do a foot massage on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31 and Feb. 1 respectively. A Non La hat decoration workshop at the kids club on Jan. 28 from 10-11am, before Lang Viet’s Banh chung making workshop from 3-5pm. Dragon dancing in the lobby from 9am on the first day of Tet, followed by a “Pho Pizza” making workshop from 3-4pm at The Indochine. A calligraphy master writing lucky letters at the lobby from 10-12 daily on Jan 29, 30 and 31. Bamboo dancing from 4.30-5pm on Jan. 30 the lobby before the “Butcher’s Cut and Seacatch” BBQ Buffet at The Indochine from 6-9pm with free-flow soft drinks, beer and wine. Highlights include whole roast goat, smoky beef striploin, lamb rack, tiger prawns, grilled calamari and local snails in garlic sauce. Lang Viet’s “Vietnamese Roast Night” buffet from 6-9.30pm on Jan. 31 with traditional tea and music. Whole roast pig, crispy golden Peking duck, tender roast chicken and char siu pork are paired with the likes of pickled baby leek, stuffed sticky rice cake, mixed Vietnamese cold cuts and an array of sauces. “Surf and Turf Buffet” at The Indochine on Feb. 1 from 6.30-9.30pm. A paper lantern making workshop for kids on Jan 30 at the grass area and kids club from 3-4pm. A status coloring workshop at the grass area and kids club on Feb. 1 from 10-11am. Tapas and cocktails served at the Saigon Bar adjacent to Mui Ne beach. For further information or to make a booking, visit.theanam.com, email The Anam Mui Ne on info.mn@theanam.com and The Anam Cam Ranh on info.cr@theanam.com or telephone The Anam Mui Ne on tel. +(84) 252 628 4868 and The Anam Cam Ranh on +(84) 258 398 9499.

Ambassador Cruise has launched a luxurious new day cruise that makes the most of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Halong Bay’s limestone karst-studded waters and key attractions such as Sung Sot Cave and Titov Island. Photo credits: Ambassador Cruise With a remarkable two-level dining space, open-air sundeck affording 360-degree views of the bay’s limestone karst-studded waters, the leading cruise operator’s new 99-passenger capacity vessel named “Lavoya Boutique Day Cruise - By Ambassador Cruise” will bring its fleet to a total of four vessels. Cruisers get up close and personal with three of Halong Bay’s most spectacular attractions as part of the seven-hour cruise itinerary. The itinerary checks out the bay’s largest and most compelling cave, Sung Sot, home to myriad stalactites in all sorts of unique forms. Via a kayak or bamboo boat rowed by a local, passengers enter and exit stunning Luon Cave’ self-contained lake, surrounded by towering cliffs and lush vegetation, through a 100-metre long limestone arch. Afterwards cruisers visit picturesque Titov Island, swimming at its crescent moon-shaped beach and ascending some 450 steps to reach its peak and soak up panoramic views of the bay. The day cruise has a prime focus on culinary excellence, underpinned by a premium lunch buffet, vibrant Vietnamese cooking demonstration and exquisite afternoon tea service. The extensive lunch buffet showcases a diverse array of Asian and European cuisines including locally sourced seafood, beef, tuna, and other delicacies. Featuring nearly 30 dishes, the buffet’s highlights include US steak with grilled seasonal veggies, smoked tuna with green tea, hot and sour steamed mussels, crispy deep-fried prawns with chilli rock salt, stir-fried glass noodles with crab, and caramelised cinnamon pork shoulder. A seafood tower is also served to each table. Photo credits: Ambassador Cruise As the vessel glides through Halong Bay's majestic limestone formations on its return to Halong International Cruise Port, the chefs stage the Vietnamese cooking demonstration and serve the elegant afternoon tea replete with fine pastries. “As our premium day cruise experience, Lavoya Boutique Day Cruise - By Ambassador Cruise will see Ambassador welcome a new dawn with even more bucket-list worthy experiences,” said Nguyen Hong Nhat, General Director of Asia Premier Cruises Corporation, which owns Ambassador Cruise. “The itinerary will guide you through Halong Bay’s most spectacular locations with excellent Vietnamese cuisine and top-notch service.” The cruise’s current itinerary, on offer during Vietnam’s winter and spring, begins with a 9am check-in at Halong International Cruise Port before transferring to the vessel. Guests disembark at the port at 4.30pm. Since launching its first vessel in 2021, Ambassador Cruise has made a name for itself as the leading luxury cruise operator on Halong Bay. It operates three other vessels; Ambassador I, Ambassador II and Ambassador Signature. Guests choose from a variety of journeys including overnight cruises of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, day cruises, and dinner cruises. The overnight and dinner cruises offer a “Floating Dinner” experience on their 360-degree sundecks. Ambassador Cruise is also introducing an exclusive dining experience in a private cave 40 kilometres from Halong Bay. For more information about Ambassador Cruise or to make a booking, visit ambassadorcruise.com, email info@ambassadorcruise.com or call +84 1900 3045.

IHCL, Goa Introduces Aguada Pickleball Arena at Sinquerim Beach, Goa furthering the legacy of pioneering innovative leisure experiences and its commitment to redefining luxury through unique offerings. The Aguada Pickleball Arena, nestled with in emerald greens against the backdrop of the breathtaking Sinquerim coastline, is poised to become a key destination for sports enthusiasts and leisure travelers alike. As the sport of pickleball rapidly gains momentum worldwide, IHCL Goa’s strategic investment in this facility exemplifies its foresight in recognizing and catering to emerging lifestyle trends.   Reinforcing its position as an industry leader by introducing a first-of-its-kind recreational sports arena to Goa, the facility aligns seamlessly with the growing global preference for active tourism, creating synergies between wellness, fitness, and leisure.  Strategically situated opposite the iconic Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, the arena is set to provide a world-class sporting experience to resident as well as non resident guests thus enhancing the brand’s repertoire, creating new avenues for customer engagement while setting benchmarks for experiential offerings.   IHCL Goa’s initiative is particularly significant as it aligns with the government’s efforts to position Goa as a global hub for sports tourism. Moreover, it demonstrates it’s commitment to sustainable development by repurposing existing spaces to accommodate this innovative facility, ensuring minimal environmental impact while maximizing social and economic benefits.   From establishing India’s first luxury resort 5 decades back to introducing  the Aguada Pickleball Arena showcases IHCL Goa’s forward-thinking approach and its ability to stay ahead of the curve in identifying and delivering on customer aspirations.   Commenting on the launch, Mr Ranjit Phillipose Sr Vice President - Operations, Goa said, “Pickleball, a fusion of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, is rapidly gaining popularity due to its accessibility, inclusivity, and social appeal.This sport is easy to learn, making it suitable for all ages and skill levels, while its low physical intensity attracts both recreational players and fitness enthusiasts. Smaller courts and slower-paced play foster friendly competition, encouraging social interaction and community building. As pickleball adapts to both casual and competitive formats, its growing presence among all sections of society and age groups further fuels its popularity.Here is to ‘Your New Favorite Hangout: Pickleball Courts Are Here”. As the Aguada Pickleball Arena prepares to welcome its first visitors, IHCL, Goa remains committed to delivering unparalleled guest experiences while driving long-term value for stakeholders. The initiative reflects the company’s strategic vision of blending tradition with modernity, creating spaces that resonate with contemporary lifestyles while staying true to the essence of Indian hospitality, reaffirming its position as a pioneer in the hospitality sector, setting a precedent for others to follow.