Destination: the fast rising business area in Ho Chi Minh City -

In January Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts announced it was taking over two hotels in Vietnam. On 1 July 2008 the Swiss hotel group took charge of the management of the first Vietnamese hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. With immediate effect the upscale City Hotel now goes by the name of Mövenpick Hotel Saigon.

The management of a second hotel within Vietnam, specifically in Hanoi, is to go ahead in a subsequent phase towards the end of the year.

"After extensive renovation work the Mövenpick Hotel Saigon will be tailored precisely to the needs of our guests and become one of the leading hotels in the region," explains Hubert Klemenz, General Manager and Vice President Operations Vietnam Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. "It will satisfy all the requirements of a City Hotel, and we very much look forward to treating our guests in Vietnam to the trademark quality standards we apply worldwide."

The Mövenpick Hotel Saigon is located in the busy Phu Nhuan, a fast rising business area in Ho Chi Minh City. It provides convenient access to the International Exhibition and Convention Centre and is located in the vicinity of the International Airport. The upscale hotel is popular with business travellers and holidaymakers alike and is equipped with function halls for up to 400 guests.

All of the 251 rooms and suites offer convenience and comfort. Three restaurants and two bars provide a comprehensive culinary choice. 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.

"We are proud of the fact that we are now also gaining a foothold in Vietnam, after establishing ourselves in Thailand," says Jean Gabriel Pérès, President & CEO Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. "The hotel takeovers in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi represent an important milestone in our expansion plans and will contribute towards further consolidating our brand in the Asian region."