5 of my favorite breakfasts ..

Eggs Benedict..

with a good coffee

or maybe some Pho Ba?

Or fresh fruit salad?

MMM.. Nutella on warm toast? - 

Whatever you decide, enjoy it today.. have a great weekend.. 

Weekend away?.... here's a great packing list..

Weekend away Clothing:
4 undies
2 bras (one strapless)
3 socks
white button-up shirt
short-sleeve blouse
nautical top
pair of jeans/ankle or cigarette leg
optional pair of pants (chinos, corduroy, etc)
jacket
cardigan
camisole (layering)
swimsuit
2 T-shirts
simple jersey dress
maxi dress (if you’re hitting the beach)
comfy cashmere sweater
pajamas
robe (if not going to a hotel that already has one)

Roll, roll, roll to avoid as many wrinkles as possible. 

Footwear:
ballet flats
nude sandals
walking shoes (for strolling)
espadrilles

Accessories:
sunglasses
scarf
over-sized tote
classic pair of earrings (gold & silver) that can go with anything
day handbag
clutch
watch

From the beaches to the cities...

colonial hotel rooms set the pace..

to the furniture, and onto the palm trees swaying..

to the water lily's and the conical hats.. Vietnam remains an all time favorite!

My top ten (or more) current decor passions........

Fresh flowers every week

Stunning easy to care for wooden floors, dark wooden furniture is another of my passions

Stripey wallpaper.. this sets the tone to glamor/luxe immediately!

No clutter, easy open wide passages linking each room

A lovely patio to entertain outside on the warmer days.. filled with great flowers

I love blue/white either in fabric, wallpaper, china.. anything blue and white,  yes please.. a classic

This one has cute monkeys to entertain your thoughts..

Stunning mirrors.. every room needs at least ONE mirror! ..PS  I love the small daisy arrangement at the bottom

Really in vogue currently in Au.. these old bus stop banners.. I'm still looking for one! Watch this spot..

A dark wooden bed, with crisp white linen.. where dreams just happen!

Stunning toile fabric.. this one in orange for that colour pop!

And more blue/white china .. just perfect!

I'm still feeling like some sunshine and a good beach..

This one is Nha Trang.. 

Nha Trang is the coastal capital of Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Its legendary pristine beauty is known throughout Southeast Asia. A place of soft white sand, surrounded by warm, turquoise waters filled with an abundance of sea life and dotted with islands. The 7 km long, palm-lined sandy beach makes Nha Trang one of Vietnam's most popular destinations for Vietnamese and visitors alike. A backdrop of mountains to the west and north not only provide picturesque scenery, but serve to protect Nha Trang from the rest of the country's weather patterns. Nha Trang enjoys the well deserved reputation of having the best climate in Vietnam, with an estimated 250 days of sunshine a year and temperatures between 24 - 38 c. The rainy season starts at the end of October until January.

Top spots to enjoy that cocktail in Saigon

Top spots in Saigon to enjoy a cocktail..

Today.. I'm in the mood for...

 

Finding a palm tree, on a soft sand beach,  and relaxing in the sun with my latest book. oh dream on!

Secrets of the Ao Dai ..

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ao dai (Vietnamese: áo dài) is a Vietnamese national costume, now most commonly for women. In its current form, it is a tight-fitting silk tunic worn over pantaloons. The word is pronounced [ǎːwzâːj], approximately ow-zye, in the North, and with a y sound for the d in the South. Áo is derived from a Middle Chinese word meaning "padded coat" (襖).^[1] Dài means "long"

The word "ao dai" was originally applied to the outfit worn at the court of the Nguyễn Lords at Huế in the 18th century. This outfit evolved into the áo ngũ thân, a five-paneled aristocratic gown worn in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Inspired by Paris fashions, Nguyễn Cát Tường and other artists associated with Hanoi University redesigned the ngũ thân as a modern dress in the 1920s and 1930s. The updated look was promoted by the artists and magazines of Tự Lực văn đoàn (Self-Reliant Literary Group) as a national costume for the modern era. In the 1950s, Saigon designers tightened the fit to produce the version worn by Vietnamese women today. The dress was extremely popular in South Vietnam in the 1960s and early 1970s. On Tết and other occasions, Vietnamese men may wear an áo gấm (brocade robe), a version of the ao dai made of thicker fabric.

Academic commentary on the ao dai emphasizes the way the dress ties feminine beauty to Vietnamese nationalism, especially in the form of "Miss Ao Dai" pageants, popular both among overseas Vietnamese and in Vietnam itself. "Ao dai" is one of the few Vietnamese words that appear in English-language dictionaries.

Top 10 Highlights to Experience in Vietnam....

Experience dynamic spa treatments across Vietnam, from Saigon, to Hanoi and everything in between. Take time for those pamper sessions, total R & R timeout, relax, renew, recharge, all at a fraction of the costs back home

Experience some amazing colors in Vietnam, from the purest of silks you'll find shopping down Dong Khoi street in Saigon,  to the colors of the water lilies, the sunsets, the stunning lacquered bamboo products, oh and the hand made silk lanterns, all will become etched in your memory 

Virtuoso Luxe Report named Vietnam  as one of the top three emerging destinations for high end travellers - and is fast emerging as the world's latest luxury destination - discover some amazing Colonial hotels, in Hanoi, Saigon - names like Park Hyatt Saigon, Sofitel Metropole, Ana Mandara Resort, Le Residence, Life Heritage, Nam Hai all remain long after our visit.

Discover the amazing  Phở  is a Vietnamese noodle soup,  usually served with beef (phở bò) or chicken (phở gà).The soup includes noodles made from rice and is often served with Vietnamese basil, lime, beansprouts, fish sauce, and chili that are added to the soup by the diner. - its very addictive be warned, as well as the stunning Vietnamese coffee!

Vietnamese iced coffee, also known as Ca phe da or cafe da cà phê đá, literally "coffee ice") is a traditional Vietnamese coffee recipe.  

"Vietnamese iced coffee with milk", also known as ca phe sua da or cà phê sữa đá It is also called ca phe nau da  cà phê nâu đá, "iced brown coffee" in northern Vietnam.

At its simplest, Ca phe da is made with finely ground Vietnamese-grown dark roast coffee individually brewed with a small metal French drip filter (cà phê phin) into a cup containing about a quarter to a half as much sweetened condensed milk , stirred and poured over ice. - amazing thirst quencher for those hot humid days you'll experience in Vietnam. 

Luxuriate in the French Colonial decor across Vietnam.. many hotels great reminders of the opulence of the Colonial past.. Hanoi Sofitel Metrople  - indulge in the comforts - bask in the serenity - discover a world where ancient traditions mingle with sophisticated style.

Experience UNESCO HALONG Bay - step on board a large wooden junk, and

slowly circling around Halong Bay, in such grandeur style, contemplating more than 1,000 pinnacle shaped, limestone outcrop Islands can be viewed. Sip a cocktail watching the sun set over the South China Sea – prepare for a magical night. -  we join on deck for a Thai Chi class, before a leisurely breakfast - aah, can life get any better?. 

Hoi An  – this undoubtedly is the gem of Central Vietnam! UNESCO World Heritage listed ancient town has some of the country’s best dining, shopping and accommodation temptations. Wander the lanes to explore distinctive architecture, tailor shops. And some amazing photo taking opportunities.

Experience the vibe and energy of more than a million mopeds in HCMC, where simply crossing the street is a huge challenge - well not if you follow the locals.

The Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Remarkably every stone used in its creation was shipped from France to Vietnam. Her two forty meter towers, topped with iron spires, still dominate the city’s skyline. The Old Post Office is another example of French colonial architecture and is also the country’s largest post office. -  

Follow the lady with the Conical hat when you have to cross the road in Saigon.

Experience the calm of the famous China Sea beach -  step back in time to March 8, 1965 where the first US combat troops to arrive in Vietnam as 3,500 Marines land at China Beach to defend the American air base at Da Nang.

Make friends with a BOB.. BOY on a BUFFALO,.. buffalo are a family's most treasured animals, and are seen as a very important member of the family - they are used to clean the beaches, plow in the rice paddies, their dung used for fuel, and fertilizer.. Buffalo, may your place in Vietnam never be replaced by a machine - you are an integral memory etched in my heart of Vietnam 

 Experience some of the newest golf courses - Vietnam is fast becoming one of Asia's premier golf destinations with two new courses recently opened near Danang, on the central coast, We recommend you try Ho Chi Minh Golf Trail, playing the country's courses from the Vietnam Golf and Country Club, to the King's Island Golf Club in Hanoi. Don't forget the The 1930's Dalat Palace Golf Club, the Mongomerie Links near Danang, near to the famous China beach and do tackle Nick Faldo's designed Ocean Dunes Course. All are sure to unleash a great challenge for the golfer.  

I escort Small group, to discover Hidden Charms of Vietnam. I offer big value, amazing memories, great fun.. 
contact me today.. jeanw@thecapeclub.com for your copy of Itinerary -  
Tours available?..

• 13-28 July 2012 – Photography Tour – Vietnam – meet local photographers and we’ll get their best shots!

• 10-22 August 2012 - French Colonial Revealed, splurge with a Stylist/Personal Shopper.. Girls only.. 

• 5-17   October 2012 – Girls Getaway Trip – Vietnam – Stylist goes with..  Spa Splurge – Time Out for Indulgence

• 2-14 November - Write your life story in Vietnam.. from Saigon to Hanoi.. high spots and low spots between.. 

The Tour Company I represent is most defiantly registered with the Office of Fair trading, and as well as by law a TCF Bonded travel agency.  You’d be in very safe hands

Don't delay..