Bright Lights, Big City

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is Vietnam's largest city and is the powerhouse driving the country's rapid economic development. Being the centre for trade in Vietnam, Saigon fairly hums with energy from dawn to dusk, and life in the second city is fast-paced, dynamic, cosmopolitan and exciting.

Architecturally, Saigon is eclectic in style. Restored colonial classics stand side-by-side with brand new developments which would be at home in any Asian megapolis, traditional temples in classical Sino-Vietnamese-style sit next door to sixties and seventies architecture.

As a travel destination, Saigon is justifiably popular and the city offers something for everyone. Business and MICE travellers and tourists can enjoy the opulence of luxury, five-star hotels - some restored classics and some brand-new developments.

Dining out is a treat in Saigon and the city's nightlife is also wide-ranging and good value. For MICE groups, there are plenty of excellent venues for group dining

Sightseeing and other leisure opportunities are plentiful and the city is a great place from which to explore the surrounding area, including the Mekong Delta, Cu Chi tunnels and Tay Son's eclectic Cao Dai temple.

Saigon is the most popular destination in Vietnam for both business and pleasure and the city offers an insight to Vietnam and the Vietnamese seldom seen elsewhere in the country. Golf is a major draw for many visiting Saigon, with the city being home to at least four international-standard 18- and 36-hole golf courses with easy access and competitive rates, especially for groups.

The sheer range of unique, often historical venues for meetings, conferences and group entertaining which include the French-colonial era Opera House, the Reunification Palace (once home to the president of what was then South Vietnam), the museums, parks and of course the hotels, many of which offer truly state-of-the-art conferencing facilities, combine to make the city a MICE destination with a difference.