Ascending Dragon

Vietnam's capital is a city in transition. Home to more than four million people, Hanoi retains a classic "small town" feel and old world charm. The city's French-colonial heritage is evident in the number of elegant, colonial-era buildings which these days compete for with modern developments including world-class hotels, shopping centres and commercial developments.

The city's long history, from ancient Imperial citadel through French colonial occupation to modern-day commercial and governmental centre provides the MICE visitor with a range of options rarely found in one destination.

Hanoi's numerous modern, international-standard hotels offer the visitor every convenience with many able to accommodate large groups in their conferencing and meeting facilities while smaller groups are equally well catered for. And when the working day is done, Hanoi offers plenty of unique and interesting entertainment venues from the ancient Temple of Literature - originally founded around one thousand years ago and now painstakingly and comprehensively restored - to the stunning Opera House, both of which are available for private hire.

Hanoi is also home to plenty of excellent restaurants many of which can accommodate large groups for special corporate occasions. For more adventurous tour groups, Hanoi is conveniently located for day or weekend trips to interesting destinations such as beautiful Halong Bay and Sapa.

The pace of life in Hanoi is more laid back than that in its southern sister Saigon, the city's tree-lined boulevards still crowded with bicycles during rush hour, people taking time out to stroll around the central Hoan Kiem lake, or simply sitting at a kerbside cafe and watching the world go by.

Modern Hanoi however, with its newly completed international airport, the many international-standard five- and four-star hotels and the city's numerous and interesting venues for meeting and entertaining, has evolved into an ideal destination for MICE travel and a perfect gateway for onward travel to the rest of Vietnam.