Hotels and Restaurants Across Asia Celebrate with Jolly Good Cheer
Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, November 23, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / Santa Claus Is Coming to Cam Ranh and Mui Ne This Christmas. Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies with choristers and live piano, BBQ seafood buffets and a gift-toting Santa posing for family photos are among the merriment at The Anam Mui Ne and The Anam Cam Ranh this festive season. The Anam Mui Ne’s festivities include a European themed Christmas Eve Dinner with a BBQ buffet featuring roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham and grilled seafood at Indochine Restaurant and Grill from 7-10pm, where Santa will hand out gifts and pose for photos between 7-8pm. The Anam Cam Ranh’s vibrant festive season program features The Colonial’s Festive High Tea with sweets and savories, fruit, juice, teas, coffee and sparkling wine from 3-5pm on Dec. 15 – Jan. 10.
Tis The Season to Give in Hong Kong
The Hari Hong Kong is pulling out all the stops to mark Christmas and New Year’s Eve with merry good cheer, hosting a Christmas market to raise money for charity, festive brunches, lunches and dinners, a stay replete with a chocolate muffin Christmas tree, and more. Situated in the heart of Wan Chai, the hotel’s Christmas Market at the lobby on Dec. 9 from 5pm will see service users from Hong Chi Association serve hand drip coffee and sell upcycling and handmade products. Second-hand books and toys will also be available, with all market proceeds going to Hong Chi to help provide education, training and other empowerment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Resort’s Team Builds Giant Gingerbread House in Cam Ranh
A giant gingerbread house, life-sized advent calendar display, a Christmas market showcasing local artisans, and family mini golf tournaments will be among the merriment on offer when Alma Resort Cam Ranh celebrates Christmas. The beachfront resort will host Christmas-themed afternoon tea, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feasts, wine tasting and more. Activities for children will range from Santa’s Corner where Santa will feature in photos with families to gingerbread house decoration classes. The gingerbread house will be crafted using 232 kilograms of gingerbread – 800 wall tiles that each weigh 155 grams and 1200 roof tiles each 90 grams – and decorated in 40 kilograms of merengue.
For the Love of Good Food in Bangkok
INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit will host Christmas Eve feasts at LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar and The Kites Eatery. LUZ will serve a Spanish set menu crafted by Madrid-born chef Juan Ignacio García Racionero in two sessions from 6-8pm and 9pm-11pm. The menu kicks off with ‘scallops with caramelised onion and Iberian ham’ and ‘crab cannelloni’ followed by ‘beef tenderloin in puff pastry with foie gras and sweet wine sauce’. After ‘traditional Spanish rice with seafood and octopus’, dessert is ‘Spanish crepe with vanilla cream and orange ice cream’. The Kites Eatery’s buffet from 6-10pm will brim with seafood on ice, salads, cheeses, a Japanese corner with assorted sashimi, carving corner, BBQ seafood and meats, main courses, paella, a chocolate fountain, and desserts.
Celebrate Christmas in Style on Koh Samui
A gourmet’s paradise of 5-star feasting is on the cards at Banyan Tree Samui this Christmas, with each of its three restaurants offering a colorful variety of dining options from Dec 24-26, inclusive. The resort’s beachfront restaurant, Sands, offers a 3-course set lunch and a 5-course set dinner (or 7-course vegetarian alternative) on each of those three days, while award-winning fine-dining venue Saffron hosts set evening dinners in a sophisticated and tranquil ambience. Meanwhile, The Edge restaurant will lure diners with an abundant buffet menu from Dec 24-26, offering both Western and Eastern cuisine and a host of Christmas surprises.
Twas the Night Before Xmas, and Krabi is Stirring
Located on tranquil Tubkaek Beach, Banyan Tree Krabi is hosting a sumptuous Christmas Eve Gala Dinner at its popular restaurant The Naga Kitchen. Starting from 6:30pm, guests and diners will be paraded with an astounding variety of delectable international culinary choices, including salads and appetizers, cheeses and cold cuts, an Indian Tandoori selection, freshly baked pizzas, a carving station, Japanese favorites, and delicious seafood options such as Spicy Tuna and Salmon Tartare with Local Fresh Herbs.
Adding a Balinese Touch to Christmas Festivities in Ubud
Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana, is adding a Balinese touch this Christmas with cultural performances and experiences, alongside decadent feasts. Things kick off with a four-course Christmas Eve dinner with Santa in attendance. On Christmas Day and the 27th of December there will be a traditional torch-lit Kecak and fire dance performance followed by a Royal Balinese Dinner. Local dishes are the highlight of a special dining event, Crispy Duck Feast, on the 26th with menu items including Gedang Mekuah, Balinese chicken soup with young papaya and Bebek Goreng, crispy Peking duck with Balinese condiments.
Home-made Cookies and a Decorated Tree In-Room in Tokyo
Guests of Palace Hotel Tokyo over the festive season will enjoy the 16-foot Christmas tree standing tall in the lobby moat-side, along with their own in-room 5.5-foot-tall tree when they book the one-night stay package, ‘A Tokyo Christmas.’ Along with the decorated tree they’ll also enjoy an assortment of home-made Christmas cookies presented in a limited-edition tin. At the hotel’s one-Michelin-starred French restaurant, Esterre, a six-course Christmas dinner menu will feature lobster bisque, steamed ezo awabi (abalone) with barigoule-style vegetables, and beef tenderloin with truffled winter vegetables. At Wadakura, Palace Hotel Tokyo’s signature Japanese restaurant, the winter kaiseki course menu will be all about crab – including Kobako hairy crab, crabmeat dumpling, sashimi with Matsuba crab, and grilled Taraba crab with crab cream croquette.
A ‘Candlelit Wonderland’ in Vietnam’s Capital
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, the iconic 123-year-old luxury hotel in Vietnam’s capital, has unveiled an enchanting “Candlelit Wonderland” theme ahead of this year’s festive season. The hotel invites guests to immerse themselves in a dreamscape of timeless elegance, with the courtyard bathed in golden hues, and shimmering ornaments and sparkling lights casting magic in every corner. Vietnam’s most storied hotel will host memorable dining events on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the award-winning modern French fine-dining restaurant Le Beaulieu, and at Le Club, angelina and the modern Vietnamese restaurant Spice Garden. L’Epicerie du Metropole also offers an unparalleled array of specialty products and gifts, with shelves filled with premium turkey, succulent beef Wellington and a variety of festive treats.
From Central Vietnam to the Southern Coast, Celebrate Christmas in Style
Two of Vietnam’s most elegant and sophisticated hotels invite guests to celebrate this year’s festive season in style, with a host of exclusive meals, stay packages, special activities and more. Azerai Ke Ga Bay, a beach resort comprising all suites and villas in southern Vietnam, overlooks a sweeping 5-kilometer stretch of white sand, while Azerai La Residence, Hue is located in the former Imperial capital of Hue on the fabled Perfume River. Both properties have announced a host of family-friendly activities to mark Christmas. Azerai La Residence, Hue’s Festive Season Package includes a two-night stay in a Superior River View room with daily breakfast, a one-way transfer to/from Phu Bai Airport, a signature cocktail and a special Festive Season Set Dinner for two people.
Christmas in Cambodia
Two of Cambodia’s most iconic luxury hotels are set to offer an enchanting blend of tradition, elegance and joy this holiday season, with a host of exclusive meals, gala celebrations, festive treats and more. Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap invite guests to enjoy memorable moments together this Christmas season, as the landmark heritage hotels transform into a wonderland of holiday cheer. Raffles Hotel Le Royal’s Parisian Brasserie Christmas Day buffet dinner will be served at Le Phnom 1929 and feature seafood towers, imported cheese, artisanal charcuterie, foie gras and turkey, with signature French wines and festive cocktails, priced at $120 per person (add $30 for unlimited Champagne Charles Mignon). Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor will present a 7-course Christmas Dinner at 1932 featuring an exciting gastronomic experience by Executive Sous Chef Doeurt.
A Festive Program That Brings Plenty of Yo Ho Ho to Lang Co
Laguna Lang Co in Vietnam is offering a delightful lineup of festive Christmas events. The season kicks off with a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, complete with a festive canapé menu featuring mini banh mi, smoked salmon tartlets, and sweet treats like mince pies and rum chocolate bonbons. Guests can also enjoy a range of drinks, from wine to cocktails. On Christmas Eve, a grand cocktail reception and dinner await, showcasing a diverse menu with dishes from organic salads to seafood on ice, along with live food stations for Vietnamese rolls, noodles, and sushi. For mains, there are grilled selections, carving stations, and a variety of sides. Traditional Christmas desserts like yule logs, ginger cookies, and ice cream complete the evening. Christmas Day brings an indulgent brunch featuring classic holiday flavors. Diners can relish live grill options, a carving station with honey ham and roasted lamb, a pasta station, and seasonal desserts like chocolate yuletide logs and Christmas puddings.
Luxury Phuket Resort Offers a Beachside Yuletide Bonanza
Trisara is hosting an enchanting array of Christmas events by the beach, perfect for a luxurious holiday celebration. On Christmas Eve, enjoy a beachfront BBQ with an international buffet featuring fresh seafood, a dessert station, and a traditional Thai dance and fire show with live band entertainment. The event is priced at THB 6,900++ per adult and THB 3,400++ for children (ages 6-12). On Christmas Day, indulge in a festive brunch at Cielo, complete with live jazz, a kids’ corner, and a visit from Santa. The brunch offers packages, including a premium champagne option (THB 7,900++), regular champagne (THB 6,900++), wine (THB 5,900++), or food only (THB 4,900++). Children’s pricing is THB 2,500++. To close the festive season, a Beach BBQ on December 28th serves global culinary delights, paired with live music and a fire show. Prices are THB 5,900++ per adult and THB 2,900++ for children.
Deck the Halls Amid Limestone Karst-Studded Waters
Leading boutique cruise operator Ambassador Cruise’s overnight cruises of UNESCO World Heritage-listed bays Halong and Lan Ha will celebrate Christmas Eve on December 24 with a wine toast, live band playing festive music, fireworks display and souvenir raffle. Throughout December and January, the overnight cruises will also host a special gala dinner on the sundeck featuring live music against stunning backdrops of both bays’ limestone karst-studded waters. Guests also have the option of starting Christmas Day with a tai chi session on the sundeck before a light breakfast is served at the piano bar and a full breakfast at the restaurant.
Restaurants Across Vietnam Host Festive Soirees
Viet Deli’s restaurants HOME Saigon, Ngon Gallery Nha Trang and All Seasons Danang will offer a festive week from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1 with unique, holiday-inspired menus. Each restaurant will offer its own themed experience titled “Festive Soiree Set Menu & Champagne Night package” including a special set menu paired with a curated wine list including champagne, available for an additional fee. All Seasons Nha Trang – Ambassador Club, HOME Hanoi, HOME Hoi An, MAMMOM Hanoi, also under the umbrella of Viet Deli, the company behind some of Vietnam’s most popular dining establishments, will feature holiday promotions and be decorated for the season.
Chiang Mai Hotel to Sparkle and Shine This Christmas
Meliá Chiang Mai is getting the mulled wine ready for its exciting Christmas and New Year’s festivities including sky-high parties, vibrant buffets, exquisite and four-course dinners. Ruen Kaew Lounge will serve mulled wine to a backdrop of classic holiday melodies from 5-10pm from Dec. 1–Jan. 31. Santa Claus will give children gifts as a live band performs at Laan Na Kitchen’s ‘Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet’ on Dec. 24 from 6-10pm. Eye Styles band will take to the stage with acoustic tunes under the stars at Mai The Sky Bar on the hotel’s 22nd floor for ‘Christmas Eve Sparkles in the Sky’ from 5-12pm. A four-course Northern Thai set dinner marking Christmas Day at 21st floor Mai Restaurant & Bar from 6-10pm.
A Ray of Christmas in Da Nang
A wellness-focused resort along the coastline of Da Nang is extending its wellbeing ethos to its Christmas plans with a “Ray of Christmas” feast set for December 24th from 6:30pm. The Dining Room at TIA Wellness Resort is serving up two decadent and nourishing six-course meals, one of which is fully plant-based. The TIA Christmas Feast includes dishes like Coquilles St Jacques, scallops and prawns with potato gratin, and a turkey roast with traditional stuffing and brussel sprouts. The plant-based feast reinvents many traditional favorites in a veg-friendly way such as a mushroom version of Coquilles St Jacques and a seitan and tofu roast with the same trimmings as its meat counterpart. Course menus start at VND1,400,000++ per person and VND2,600,000++ when a wine pairing menu of six organic wines from around the world is included.
A Ray of Christmas in Da Nang
A wellness-focused resort along the coastline of Da Nang is extending its wellbeing ethos to its Christmas plans with a “Ray of Christmas” feast set for December 24th from 6:30pm. The Dining Room at TIA Wellness Resort is serving up two decadent and nourishing six-course meals, one of which is fully plant-based. The TIA Christmas Feast includes dishes like Coquilles St Jacques, scallops and prawns with potato gratin, and a turkey roast with traditional stuffing and brussel sprouts. The plant-based feast reinvents many traditional favorites in a veg-friendly way such as a mushroom version of Coquilles St Jacques and a seitan and tofu roast with the same trimmings as its meat counterpart. Course menus start at VND1,400,000++ per person and VND2,600,000++ when a wine pairing menu of six organic wines from around the world is included.
Wellness-Inspired Christmas Celebrations in Vietnam
Fusion Resorts, the wellness-inspired brand with multiple properties throughout Vietnam and Thailand, has introduced unique wellness packages, exclusive meals, family friendly activities and much more this holiday season. Fusion Resort & Villas Da Nang, the newest property in the Fusion portfolio, has unveiled a rejuvenating Christmas Mindfulness Retreat package at the resort’s flagship Maia Wellness. The 3-day, 2-night retreat promotes enhanced well-being, inner peace and reflection. Meanwhile, the resort’s popular spa packages include the Holiday Bliss Spa Experience (priced at VND 2,465,000) featuring a 50-minute Maia Relaxing Signature Treatment, followed by a 40-minute Brightening Facial. Fusion’s new customer loyalty program, Fusionlife, helps travelers find the best rates and other benefits, including discounts up to 25%. The fast-growing brand includes 23 properties, with five more resorts under development.
