Two of Vietnam’s most stylish hotels invite guests to celebrate the festive season with exclusive meals, family-friendly activities, special stay packages, New Year’s Eve countdowns, and much more.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay, a serene oceanfront resort with all suites and villas in southern Vietnam, overlooks a sweeping 5km stretch of white sand, while Azerai La Residence, Hue is situated in the former Imperial capital on the Perfume River. Both properties will transform into holiday wonderlands full of Christmas and New Year spirit.
Here are some highlights from their festive season programs:
Throughout the festive season, Azerai Ke Ga Bay will host numerous daily activities, including a “Mini Carnival” games area at the activities hub by the beach (from 10am to 11am daily), yoga classes at dawn and dusk, sandcastle building and beach volleyball. Other activities include traditional kite making, Vietnamese leaf folding, surfing and bodyboarding, and more holiday-specific fun, such as decorating the Christmas tree and candy-cane relay races.
On Christmas Eve, an exclusive dinner will be served at The Dining Room and The Terrace featuring seared Japanese scallop and caviar; seafood and black truffle consommé; marinated Ke Ga Bay grouper fillet; Tournedos Rossini; and a traditional Christmas pudding. Ahead of the meal, there will be a special beach sunset toast.
Guests can experience the magic of Christmas Morning on Dec. 25 as they listen for Santa’s bell at The Dining Room. They are invited to follow jolly old Saint Nick to the resort’s Infinity Poolside, where he will hand out presents to the children and sit for photos.
The resort’s Christmas BBQ Buffet dinner on Dec. 25 presents a veritable feast with Ke Ga Bay seafood on the grill (including local lobster, king prawns, octopus with satay sauce, marinated calamari with salt and chili, and much more), carving stations (featuring glazed honey ham, turkey roasted with herbs and garlic, and roasted U.S. beef striploin) and hot stations (with soups, vongole, fried rice and more), along with a whole host of appetizers and desserts.
On New Year’s Eve, guests will bid farewell to the final sunset of 2024 on the beach before celebrating with a New Year’s Eve Dinner served at the Infinity Poolside. The dinner begins with an amuse bouche of pan-seared foie gras, followed by delicate chestnut and truffle soup, roasted three cheese Ke Ga Bay lobster and Australian lamb rack, and a decadent Valrhona chocolate mousse for dessert.
As midnight approaches, guests are invited for a toast of bubbles at the Infinity Poolside as the world celebrates the arrival of 2025.
The New Year begins with an auspicious Vietnamese dragon and lion dance at the Infinity Poolside, bringing good luck and prosperity to all. That evening, the hotel’s New Year BBQ Buffet will feature fresh Ke Ga Bay lobster, king prawns, fresh salmon with garlic and herbs, along with glazed honey ham, lamb leg with herbs and garlic, and a roasted Australian tomahawk ribeye steak. Hot soups and delicious pasta, rice and vegetables will be available, in addition to a wide range of appetizers and mouth-watering desserts.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay, located a comfortable 2.5-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City on a new highway, is nestled amongst 4.5 hectares of verdant gardens, framed to the east by Hon Ba Island with its historic lighthouse and to the west by soaring dunes. This unique and picturesque location provides a tranquil setting for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Festive season officially kicks off at Azerai La Residence, Hue on Dec. 10 with a special Christmas tree-lighting and house-lighting ceremony. The festivities include a cocktail reception with expertly crafted drinks poured by a renowned mixologist, complemented by light snacks and live piano music to get guests into the holiday mood.
The hotel also unveils its Festive Season Set Menu on Dec. 10, offering a delicious array of seasonal dishes and delightful treats. The set menu and the Festive Season Weekend Buffet Breakfast will be offered through Jan. 12, 2025. The buffet breakfast will be available every weekend in December and January.
Guests at Azerai La Residence, Hue can purchase homemade gingerbread cookies and cards at the hotel’s Christmas Gingerbread Cookies Corner, with a portion of proceeds benefiting disadvantaged children at the Hope Center Hue.
The hotel’s Festive Season Package includes a two-night stay in a Superior River View room with daily breakfast, a one-way pick-up (or drop-off) at Phu Bai Airport, a signature cocktail and a special Festive Season Set Dinner for two people. The package is valid from Dec. 10 to Jan. 12, 2025. Package guests will also enjoy 15% off the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner or the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner.
The Christmas Gala Dinner on Dec. 24 kicks off with a cocktail reception at the hotel’s elegant lobby lounge, followed by a sumptuous dinner at Le Parfum and the enchanting melodies of a Christmas choir from the Friends of Hue Foundation. The dinner will include a very special appearance from Santa Claus himself, bringing joy to all.
On Christmas Day, guests are invited on a complimentary ride in the hotel limousine to Notre Dame Cathedral in Hue City for Christmas Mass. Advance bookings are required. That afternoon the hotel will host a special Christmas Afternoon Tea in the lobby lounge, along with a fun-filled calligraphy and painting class for kids.
On New Year’s Eve, the festivities kick off with a cocktail reception in the lobby lounge, where there will be a traditional dragon and lion dance (a symbol of luck and prosperity), followed by a gala dinner with an exquisite set menu at Le Parfum. Guests can later return to the lobby lounge for the exciting countdown to the New Year with a toast of sparkling wine.
The next morning, guests can start the New Year with an “all-you-can-eat” a la carte brunch at Le Parfum. And later that day, the hotel will offer a Hue Delicacies Afternoon Indulgence, a sumptuous afternoon tea buffet, a flower arrangement, and a painting class.
Azerai La Residence, Hue, with 122 rooms and suites, is centered on a colonial mansion built in 1930 as part of the residence of the French Resident Superieur. The mansion’s distinctive façade, including its long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes, are hallmarks of the streamlined modern school of Art Deco architecture.
