Vietnam’s world-renowned resort destination, Ha Long Bay, is set to enter a new tourism era when Accor opens the Novotel Ha Long Bay on 1 October 2008. Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO listed World Heritage area, is 165 km from Hanoi in the Gulf of Tonkin and is one of the world’s most spectacular destinations.

The area offers a series of more than 3,000 islands with many beaches and grottos. There are hundreds of caves set into the limestone rocks. The rocks (more like small mountains) rise straight out of the ocean, sometimes rising over 500 metres in the sky.

Ha Long Bay has a remarkable international reputation and provided a backdrop for many films including the renowned French film Indochine. Since then, tourists have flocked to the site but the lack of suitable accommodation has meant that many tours have been restricted to day visits. The potential to grow the international leisure and incentive business prompted the decision to develop the region’s first internationally branded hotel.

Novotel Ha Long Bay, located on the beachfront with a stunning vista from all angles, offers a harmonious blend of modern European architecture and authentic Asian interior design, with extensive use of polished stone, glass and marble set against delicate Asian silk, wickerwork and carved wood, and accentuated by splashes of bright colors and elaborate design centerpieces.

The Novotel is within easy walking distance of local markets, the beach, and the pier where tourists board sightseeing cruises. The 214 room hotel features an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the idyllic Ha Long Bay, a spa with an extensive menu of treatments to suit all needs, a fully equipped fitness center, the Square® restaurant that serves an extensive array of Asian and Western dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, an executive lounge on the 12th floor, which offers an exclusive environment, and a contemporary style lobby lounge bar, where guests can simultaneously enjoy tropical cocktails and the sunset at Ha Long Bay.

In addition to the leisure facilities, Novotel Ha Long Bay has conference facilities capable of hosting up to 300 delegates, supported by the latest in audio and visual equipment.

“Inbound tourism has increasingly become important to Vietnam’s economy and Ha Long Bay is one of the major ourist destinations due to its uniquely beautiful scenery and its close proximity to Hanoi. With such a potential, we are delighted to be the first branded international hotel to open in the Ha Long Bay area. Novotel Ha Long Bay is expected to appeal to the leisure travelers because of its location and also be very popular with conference and incentive groups wanting a world-renowned destination backed by excellent conference facilities.” said Patrick Basset, Accor Vice President, East & North East Asia.