To most travellers, Ho Chi Minh City, located in south-eastern Vietnam, is still known by its older name, Saigon. One of the fast emerging dynamic destinations of Asia, Saigon, with its multi-layered history, is an explorer’s delight. The Reverie Saigon, the only member property of The Leading Hotels of the World in Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with Sophie’s Art Tour and Salon Saigon, is offering a full-day exploration of the city’s museums, galleries and artists’ studios.
Called the ‘Pearls of Saigon’, the package, with prices (without tax) beginning from USD 1,422 for rooms and USD 1,782 for suites, includes two nights of accommodation, round trip airport transfers, daily breakfasts and a host of other facilities, apart from the exploratory tour.
The exploratory tour relates the story of Vietnam from the 20th century, using art, to unveil the story of a nation subdued under colonial rule, striving for independence, paralysed by war and now emerging into a bright future. Each custom-curated, eight-hour tour ranges from a general overview for the casual enthusiast to more esoteric targets for aficionados.
Must-see stops include a walkabout of the Duc Minh private gallery – which features a collection of modern and post-modern works – as well as a private tour and lunch at Salon Saigon (exclusive to guests of The Reverie Saigon), a refined and exquisitely appointed space which houses a fine arts library and salon in-one dedicated to presenting contemporary works and showcasing Vietnamese heritage. The compound in which Salon Saigon is situated was, during the Vietnam War, home to the US Ambassador to South Vietnam, Henry Cabot Lodge. Other sites along the way may include the grand halls of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, which was built in 1929 as a palace for a wealthy merchant family, and a selection of galleries, artists’ homes and studios. www.thereveriesaigon.com