In its takeover of two City Hotels in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi - Vietnam - the Swiss hotel group has taken another major step in its expansion in Asia.

The relevant management agreements have just been signed with the owning company VinaCapital Hospitality Co. Ltd. The agreement covers two existing 5-star hotels, which are set to open under Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts management by the end of 2008 after a period of extensive renovations.

"We are delighted to be working with the renowned Swiss hotel group in the future," explains Stephen O'Grady Managing Director VinaCapital Hospitality Co. Ltd. "Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is a pioneer in the Asian region and stands for uncompromising service and high standards of quality."

"We are proud of the fact that, thanks to VinaCapital Hospitality Co. Ltd. we will very soon be gaining a foothold in Vietnam too, after Thailand and Singapore," says Jean Gabriel Pérès, President & CEO Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. "Once the renovations are completed, we will have two exceptional city hotels here, tailored precisely to the needs of our guests."

The Mövenpick Hotel Saigon (called Omni Saigon Hotel until June 2008) is located in the bustling Phu Nhuan district of Ho Chi Minh, in the immediate vicinity of Tan Son Nhat International Airport and the trade fair grounds. The 5-star hotel is popular with business travellers and holidaymakers alike and boasts an exceptional MICE offer for up to 350 persons. All of the 251 rooms and suites are elegantly appointed offering all the comforts of a modern business hotel.

Three restaurants and two bars provide a trademark culinary offer of the highest order. The outdoor pool, fitness centre and spa facility with a total of 14 treatment rooms, sauna, steam bath and whirlpool offer plenty of opportunities for sporting activities and relaxation.

The Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi (formerly Guoman Hotel Hanoi) is situated in a prime city centre location in an important business district of Hanoi, 40 minutes by car from Noi Bai International Airport, and offers 150 comfortable and spacious rooms and suites. A restaurant and bar will ensure that guests enjoy the very best culinary choice. With modern banquet and conference facilities for up to 100 persons, the boutique hotel caters ideally for the needs of business travellers. The extensive offer is rounded off by a fitness centre with sauna and massage facilities, as well as a gift shop.