Hand-delivered gifts by Santa Claus

Every child’s wish of having gifts delivered by Santa Claus can now come true. With 10 years of experience delivering holiday surprises to children, Nguyen Buu Hoi, deputy manager of Tan Binh Lua Viet Tourism Service Co. (Tavitour, 301 Pham Ngu Lao St., Dist. 1 tel: (08) 386 855), said that this service is a must during Christmas. Due to heavy traffic on Christmas Day (December 24), Hoi advises placing orders earlier.

The Santa service is priced at VND60,000-75,000 per address within the central districts; there will be an additional 30% charge for a second child at the same address. Prices will double between 12 p.m. to 24 p.m. on December 24.

Tan Dinh Fiditourist (Fiditour, 127-129 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, tel: (08) 914 1414, ext: 210) is also providing a gift delivery service by Santa Claus, his reindeers and a fairy.

The service is priced at VND900,000-1,210,000 for each gift per delivery. A Fiditour officer said that the service is currently 80% booked, mainly by foreign customers.

Santa Claus and a fairy will visit children in a reindeer-pulled sleigh. The visit will include Christmas tales and a sing-a-long. Beginning this Friday until December 25, the sleigh will roam the city streets.

The Sadaco Tourist Center (200bis Ly Chinh Thang St., Dist. 3, tel: (08) 9318 189, call Ms. Tam on 0903 917) recently launched a home delivery service for holiday gifts priced at VND58,000 per present for delivery in the central districts. Suburban addresses such as those in districts 2, 7, 9, 12 and Thu Duc, will be charged VND75,000 per present. An additional charge of VND45,500 will be levied for each additional child at the same address.

Christmas sweets

Noel cakes made by Kinh Do, Duc Phat, ABC, Hy Lam Mon, Givral and Brodard come in traditional and modern flavors such as cheese, fruit and chocolate mousse.

Kinh Do has produced 100,000 cakes in two different styles—a traditional cake (buche chocolate cake and round cake) and a special cake with prices ranging from VND15,000-500,000.

Brodard Bakery, with thirty years of experience, will offer guests cakes made from high-quality chocolate, fresh milk, cream and liquor. Prices range from VND135,000-600,000 per cake.

Gifts, decorations and greeting cards

Souvenir shops across the city, especially those along Hai Ba Trung, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Pasteur and Ky Dong streets, are filled with many shoppers these days. Decorations featuring reindeers made from thatch, stockings decorated with snowman and teddy bears are popular gifts.

The greeting cards on hand this season are either printed or hand-made, and can be purchased at downtown bookstores or along the streets bordering the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.

In a tropical country like Vietnam, residents will be hard-pressed to find an actual Christmas tree. However, artificial flowers in a plethora of colors are readily available at the flower shops along Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1 and Ba Thang Hai Street in District 10.

Dining out on Christmas

Majestic Hotel (1 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, tel: (08) 829 5514)

Cyclo Café: A buffet dinner will be served from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on December 24 with free drinks is priced at US$35/adult and US$18/child. On December 31, a buffet dinner featuring seafood, musical performances and bartender performances will take place. Tickets are priced at US$38/adult person and US$19/child.

Serenade Restaurant: A grill buffet will be served from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on New Year’s Eve with musical performance, dancing and much more. Tickets are priced at US$44 /adult and US$22/child.

Rex Hotel (141 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, tel: (08) 829 2185)

The Rooftop Garden Bar will hold a gala buffet on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve serving European and Asian dishes. Entertainment will be provided and there will be a lucky draw. Tickets are priced at US$65/adult and US$35/child on December 24, and US$70/adult and US$40/child on December 31.

Hoa Mai Restaurant will serve a European set-menu at US$35/guest and an Asian set menu at US$25/guest on December 24 and December 31 with drinks included.

Cung Dinh Restaurant will be serving a special Vietnamese set-menu with a folk music performance on December 24 and December 31. Tickets are priced at US$25/guest.

Thien Duong Café will introduce a European set-menu priced at US$35/guest on December 24 and December 31.

Que Huong Hotel 1: (167 Hai Ba Trung St., Dist. 3, tel: (08) 8294 227)

On December 24 and December 25, the hotel will organize a European-Asian food program to with 50 dishes. Lunch is priced at VND159,000/adult and VND99,000/child and dinner is priced at VND279,000/adult and VND179,000/child.

Metropole Hotel (148 Tran Hung Dao St., Dist. 1, tel: (08) 9201 938)

On December 24, Metropole will hold a “Noel Magical Night” including food, lucky draws, dancing and an art performance by Vietnamese and Filipino artists. Tickets are priced at US$35/adult and US$25/child.

De Nhat Hotel (18 Hoang Viet St., Tan Binh Dist., tel: (08) 8441 199)

From December 21, 2007 to January 2, 2008, Pho Nuong Restaurant will introduce a new menu made by chefs awarded by Food & Hotel in 2007. Santa Claus personally invite guests at each table to enjoy Christmas cake on Christmas night.

Beginning at 10:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, there will be a free New Year’s Eve program for guests at the hotel’s lobby featuring food, magic, fire dancing, lucky draws and performances by Filipino artists and a Hawaiian band.

Tan Cang Tourism Park (A100 Ung Van Khiem St., Binh Thanh Dist., tel: (08) 899 1120)

“Buffet on the River” will begin in the garden of Tan Cang Tourism Zone at 5:00 p.m. on December 24 and December 31. The buffet will feature 50 dishes including roast turkey and Indian-style turkey. Festivities include live music, a lottery, gifts from Santa Claus and cream cake. Ticket are priced at VND150,000/adult and VND90,000/child.

Van Thanh Park (48/10 Dien Bien Phu St., Binh Thanh Dist., tel: (08) 512 3026)

Dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m. on December 24 and December 31. Event will feature music, lucky draws and Christmas gifts from Santa Claus. Ticket are priced at VND130,000/guest.

Bong Sen Hotel (117-123 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1., tel: (08) 8291 516)

From 4-11:00 p.m. on December 24 and December 31, Bong Sen Restaurant will hold festive buffets priced at US$27/guest.

On December 24 and December 31, at the Executive Lounge Restaurant on the 7th floor, the restaurant will hold a seafood buffet from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. at the price of US$45/guest.

The Green Leaf Café from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. from December 22, 2007 to January 1, 2008, the program “Come to Cheer” will be celebrated with the ticket priced at US$20/guest.