FLIGHTS
Singapore Airlines
13h45 Johannesburg OR Tambo International – 06h10 Singapore
09h45 Singapore – 10h55 Ho Chi Minh City19h40 Ho Chi Minh City – 22h40 Singapore
01h30 Singapore – 06h10 Johannesburg OR Tambo InternationalCathay Pacific
11h25 Johannesburg OR Tambo International – 06h00 Hong Kong
08h35 Hong Kong – 10h15 Ho Chi Minh City11h15 Ho Chi Minh City – 15h05 Hong Kong
19h40 Hong Kong – 22h55 Doha
02h20 Doha – 09h50 Johannesburg OR Tambo InternationalTIME ZONE
GMT + 7
POPULATION
97.4 Million
LANGUAGE
Vietnamese
CURRENCY
Vietnamese Dhong (DFH) or US Dollar
Connect 2025
Memoirs of the Mekong
Vietnam has fast become one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, as tourists enjoy the county’s diverse landscapes, beaches, mountainous rice terraces and bustling cities. In this itinerary, we have showcased some of the best culinary, culture and landscapes the South of Vietnam has to offer.
With the country edging towards the monsoon season, the South remains consistently hot with better weather conditions than the north. We have therefore suggested staying in the South and coastal areas of Vietnam where the best weather conditions prevail.
Each hotel, restaurant, activity and venue has carefully been selected for the group to give exclusivity and immerse the winners into the essence of the destinations visited. Experiences have been customized to ensure all fitness levels, interests have been catered to.
Please enjoy reviewing this proposal, we hope it transports you to the streets of Ho Chi Minh city and incites the Indochene dream Vietnam has to offer.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It is located in the southern part of the country, and serves as the economic and cultural hub of Vietnam. The city has a population of over 8 million people and covers an area of about 2,061 square kilometers.
Ho Chi Minh City is known for its vibrant food scene. From street food stalls to upscale restaurants, you can find a variety of delicious Vietnamese dishes. Some popular dishes to try include pho (noodle soup), banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), and com tam (broken rice). The city also offers a rich cultural experience, with traditional music, dance, and theater performances.
Danang
Danang is one of the major port cities in Vietnam and the biggest city on the South Central Coast of Vietnam; the city is situated on the coast of the South China Sea, at the mouth of the Hàn River.
Located just a short distance from Da Nang, Hoi An UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its preserved architecture, lantern-lit streets, and traditional Vietnamese culture.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
A 5-star hotel with a view of the Saigon River and Ba Son Bridge in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 Located in the exhilarating District 1 area, it’s the first Le Méridien hotel in Vietnam. You are invited to discover the illuminating experiences that abound at this one-of-a-kind hotel. When it’s time to explore, the sights and sounds of Ho Chi Minh City beckon, visit Ben Thanh Market and other attractions just moments from the hotel. Step inside and enjoy contemporary interiors and exclusive artwork. Delight in the hotel’s culinary options, showcasing artfully prepared cuisine from Vietnam and around the world. Pamper yourself with a spa treatment or refresh yourself in the hotel’s outdoor infinity pool. Stretch out in immaculately appointed rooms with Saigon River views, free Wi-Fi and bathrooms with rainforest showers and deep soaking tubs.
Club Room benefits include complimentary breakfast, refreshments throughout the day, pressing of garments and pre-dinner drinks and hors doeuvres.
The Main Group stay in Classic River View rooms with a spacious marble bathroom and bustling views over the Saigon River.
Perched on tranquil Non-Nuoc Beach in Vietnam, Sheraton Grand Danang Resort offers a transformative experience. A short drive from Danang International Airport, near attractions like Hoi An Old Town and the Marble Mountains the hotel offers the perfect launch pad and access to all the activities we have included for the group.
Deluxe Plunge Pools are selected for our Elite winners. Eeach room is equipped with a private outdoor deck and an inviting plunge pool, right next to your bedroom.
Size: 69m2
- Private plunge pool and deck
- High speed Wi-fi and complimentary business services
Main Group in Bay, Sea or Pool view rooms. Deluxe Room provides a king bed and all the space and comfort you need for your vacation, with a balcony and spectacular views of the Marble Mountains and Son Tra Peninsula.
EXPERIENCES AND EXCURSION OPTIONS
Elite Activity Saigon
The “XO Foodie” is the most acclaimed Vietnam food tour, and is designed to introduce you to the dishes and desserts that most food blogs and other tours don’t really touch upon! This world-renowned Ho Chi Minh City Food Tour focuses on street food dishes that most people outside of Vietnam have never had a chance to experience.
Main Group Activity
Saigon, a renowned center for culinary, shopping, nightlife, and culture, conceals a poignant history of war and resilience. Explore Cu Chi, a crucial base for Vietcong guerrillas. Marvel at hand-dug tunnels, vital for hiding, supply, and communication during the war. This 120km network now serves as a poignant war memorial, embodying history’s echoes.
Elite Enhancement: The main group will travel by coach whilst the elite will be transported by speedboat to the site enjoying beautiful views of the river along the way.
Main Group Activity continued > Experience Saigon
Journey through Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, a vibrant metropolis marked by its journey from the Indochina era to its rapid modernization. Witness the stark contrast of the majestic Notre Dame Cathedral to the grand Central Post Office, epitomes of French influence. Experience history frozen in time at the Reunification Palace. Dive into the lively Ben Thanh Market, an amalgam of food stalls, an ideal place to hone your bargaining skills.
The tour will be done partially by cyclo, vespa and on foot finishing off in the park for a Tai Chi lesson.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SAIGON
To be selected during registration
During registration we will provide options for activities in Saigon which winners are able to select on behalf of themselves and partners. These activities will allow them to explore the destination at their own pace or simply have some time at leisure to relax and soak up the wonderful facilities at the hotel
Vietnamese Cooking Challenge
This activity will challenge team couples for their organization and ability to help each other while learning new cooking skills. The jury will decide about the winners according to food presentation, taste and leaders aptitude to support their teams. The benefits of “cooking together” are numerous! It improves creativity, team work, and communication while offering new cooking skills, a lot of fun and a great way to experience Vietnamese food!
Five Sense Signature Tour
In an era overrun by digital overload, we offer an escape to awaken your senses. Begin your day at a serene pagoda, your sense of smell rejuvenated. Experience Vietnamese coffee, tantalizing your taste buds. Engage in Tai Chi, accompanied by its traditional music, testing your agility. Finally, absorb the breathtaking cityscape from the Skydeck on the 49th floor
Can Gio Mangroves Tour
Can Gio Biosphere Reserve belongs to Can Gio District, a coastal suburban district located 40 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. This reserve has been listed as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2000. The site is an important wildlife sanctuary in Vietnam as it is characterized by a wetland biosystem dominated by mangrove and many rare species. Can Gio Mangrove forest is also known as the lungs of Ho Chi Minh city.
Saigon Craft Beer Vespa Tour
Embark on a thrilling Vespa tour discovering Saigon’s flourishing craft beer scene. Visit four unique breweries that blend international brewing styles with local Vietnamese flavors. Enjoy a variety of carefully curated beers, meet the passionate brewers, and learn about their innovative processes and unique ingredients. Alongside the beer tastings, savor an array of gourmet tapas and Vietnamese-inspired bites.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN DANANG
To be selected during registration
Group Welcome Activity Hoi An
The group will have the opportunity to experience the town of Hoi An, formerly a bustling 15th-century trading port. This walking tour includes iconic landmarks such as the 16th-century Japanese Bridge, well-preserved ancient houses, Chinese Assembly Hall, and bustling central market. Known as tailor-town, Hoi An is famed for its shop-front tailors crafting made-to-measure garments. After visiting some of the sites we will allow for 1 hour of leisure time for shopping and exploring
Fisherman’s Life
Immerse yourself in a comprehensive cultural experience, learning traditional fishing techniques and navigating the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat along tranquil coconut-palm waterways. Get an authentic glimpse into the daily life of local fishermen and their communities. Try casting a fishing net under the guidance of a local and paddle in centuries-old basket boats. Afterward, relax on the main boat while cruising along the Cua Dai river.
Marble Mountains
The Marble Mountains, a cluster of five mountains symbolizing the five natural elements, hold historical and spiritual significance. Once a Viet Cong base during the Vietnam War, they now serve as a site of worship dotted with caves and a Buddhist pagoda. The tour includes a visit to Thuy Son mountain and a local marble factory where artisans skillfully craft statues from the locally sourced marble.
My Son Sanctuary
Journey through 40km of scenic countryside and local villages to the ruins of My Son, one of Vietnam’s most significant ancient sites. The UNESCO World Heritage site, once the heart of the Cham Kingdom, features remarkable architecture dating back to the 4th century. Despite the severe damage during the Vietnam War, the ruins, nestled against the Cat Tooth’s Mountain, still retain their historical and architectural value.
Countryside by Vespa
Embark on a morning vespa ride to Cam Kim island, exploring the quaint countryside and riverfronts. Visit ancestral homes, traditional boatyards, and learn the craft of mat weaving from local families. Enjoy a snack of Banh Dap (rice cracker) before heading towards the Thu Bon river mouth. Savor local drip-coffee in a village café, then cross the panoramic bridge to the coconut palm fringed Cam Thanh.
RESTAURANTS AND DINING
** Lunch on arrival at the Le Meridien Hotel Saigon for Elite at BarSon restaurant with private use of the terrace. Located in the heart of Saigon, BarSon brings the harmony between distinctive fusion, stellar cocktails and dynamic music with resident DJs
Elite Welcome Dinner
Private luxury yacht
Watch the sunset from a luxury Vietnamese cruise boat with your chosen drink in hand as you sail past the city’s most affluent district, where the river banks are naturally lined with palm tress. This yacht’s menu is designed by Chef Andy Cao with a background as an Executive Sous Chef at Gordon Ramsay North America and experience working at prestigious 3-Michelin-starred restaurants.
Combined Welcome Dinner
Chill Sky Lounge
We propose an informal dinner consisting of canapes, cocktails and beers with bowl food as the main plates. The venue will deliver a wow experience as the group soak up 360 degree views of Saigon on their first evening together in Vietnam. Saigon’s hippest nightlife spot, a two-story restaurant and bar located on the twenty-sixth floor of an unassuming office block in the heart of the city. This sophisticated and happening place serves an excellent range of wines and cocktails. The city’s flat topography really lends itself to a rooftop bar providing very impressive views of this vibrant and ever-changing skyline.
Entertainment: DJ Playing lounge music with saxophonist to accompany live
Group Lunch
Ngon Restaurant (after Cu Chin Tunnels visit)
One of Saigon’s most popular local restaurants – with good reason, a lovely airy colonial villa setting and a great concept. Ngon is packed every day with locals and foreigners sampling classic Vietnamese dishes from small stalls replicating the country’s impressive street fare. The restaurant will be exclusively booked for Sanlam Connect with access to both the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Mandarin Restaurant
Saigon Informal Dinner
Mandarin Restaurant is located on a quiet side street in the centre of the city, with sophisticated and cultured décor. With the high wooden beams and muted lighting providing a classic setting to showcase a variety of regional Vietnamese design. The cuisine has influences of all the regions of Vietnam using a great variety of herbs and spices. The service is friendly and guests are treated to a nightly traditional string instrument performance.
Moon River Restaurant
Danang
Moon River Restaurant has a perfect blend of atmosphere that draws from a number of attractive details: The tranquil Do river that flows past the green garden; the riverside fishing villages which surround it; the nearby Cua Dai beach; the ancient town and period architecture; rich and diversified food.
Why we like it? A picturesque setting along the Thu Bon River, offering serene and enchanting views of the river.
Beach Side Barbeque
La Plage, Sheraton Grand Danang
To give the group some downtime and an opportunity to enjoy the resort, we suggest doing a casual dinner at the hotel around the poolside. Chef’s will be preparing typical Vietnamese street food which will be passed around for arrival and a delicious BBQ with local meats and seafood will be prepared for their main course.
Entertainment: A DJ booth with some light hearted music to set the ambiance
Gala Dinner
The Marketplace by Vy Hoi An
On the final evening spent in Vietnam, we plan to transport the group to an authentic Vietnamese market style evening.
Arrival and venue
The Market restaurant, owned by world-renowned Chef Vy and author of Taste Vietnam, is located just across the river from Hoi An Old Town. Guests can choose from an array of fresh local delicacies while also seeing how noodles, rice paper, and other classic Vietnamese food components are made. The restaurant offers an interactive, market-style atmosphere with landscaped garden surrounds.
The main event
Guests will be asked to take their seats after they have had some time at leisure to interact at various points during the welcome reception. A section of the restaurant will be set up for a sit down meal, well-lit with ferry lights and lanterns. A stage will be constructed where all speeches and awards will be conducted as well as a program of various performers to keep the group entertained throughout the evening
GIFTING IDEAS
ELITE WELCOME GIFT
Vietnamese Gourmet Hamper
WELCOME GIFTS FOR HER
Shopper Bag
WELCOME GIFTS FOR HIM
Round Bucket Hat
FAREWELL GIFT FOR ALL
Personalised Silk Robe
