Fueled by a booming visitors’ market in Vietnam and heightened expectations by those same visitors, Budget Rent A Car, one of the world’s best-known car rental companies, has rolled into the market.

Budget vehicles, complete with chauffeurs, will be made available from hotels and Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport beginning today - and not a moment too soon. Travelers to Vietnam surpassed 2.2 million in the first half of 2008 - the most ever in a 6-month time frame, according to Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) statistics.

“We are confident there is substantial demand for high quality car rental here,” said Dan Cohen, Budget Vietnam’s general manager. “Google receives the key phrase ‘car rental Vietnam’ at least 250 times per day. Not only does Budget fill that glaring need, but it does so in a comforting fashion. Everyone who’s been overseas knows the name, Budget, and what it represents.”

With this ramp into Vietnam, Budget becomes the country’s first international standard car rental service. To maximize its chances of success, it strategically teamed with The Gannon Group, one of the country’s most steadfast foreign firms.

On the ground since the lifting of the trade embargo in 1994, Gannon has paved the way for a host of big-name brands, including L’Oreal, Nestle and, most recently, Budweiser. With Budget, there is a vested interest; Gannon owns the franchise rights for Budget Vietnam.

“We began discussions with Budget in 2005, believing its service has huge potential, especially as this country welcomes more visitors with discerning tastes,” said Walter Blocker, Gannon’s CEO. “The brand offers qualities an affluent audience wants and appreciates.”

Budget, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has more than 1,900 vehicle hire locations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and parts of the Pacific region.

Its move into Vietnam represents more than just another country to place its worldwide footprint. It’s a major cross-cultural leap, as precious few foreigners drive on Vietnam’s frenetic highways and byways.

To address this issue while rounding out a first-class experience, Budget will provide each customer in Vietnam with a well-trained native driver who’ll function as a traveling concierge, with strong English-language skills and knowledge of the immediate region.

“Our drivers will get you where you need to go, safely and efficiently, but they will also have the capacity to accommodate any type of request,” said Cohen. “From making a dinner reservation to providing the scoop on local promos and events, these guys know it all and can handle it all.”