The Anam Cam Ranh has introduced a new degustation menu at its fine dining restaurant, The Colonial, offering a fresh take on Vietnamese cuisine with global influences. Designed to bring together different flavours and textures, the new menu reflects a creative approach to modern dining.

Curated by chefs Duy Anh Nguyen and Banh Thanh Toan, the six-course experience is served at The Colonial, a space known for its elegant setting with an open kitchen, grand piano, and a courtyard surrounded by lush gardens. Guests also have the option to enjoy a curated wine pairing alongside the meal.

The dining journey begins with an amuse-bouche that includes a giant clam with sausage and daikon jams, miso cauliflower sauce, herbs and salmon roe, along with Vietnamese beef tartare paired with caramelised cashew fish sauce, crispy garlic, and betel leaf. This is followed by a starter of Hokkaido scallop ceviche with pink pomelo, yellow tangerine, Wakame cracker, kimchi broth, and imperial caviar.

The soup course features poached buttermilk Black Cod fish served with ponzu caramelized onion, green chilli kosho, and a creamy caviar relish sauce. A refreshing laska lime sorbet is then served to cleanse the palate before moving on to the main course.

For the main, guests are served grain 150-day Black Angus tenderloin with eggplant puree and beef jus infused with homemade chili and basil. It is accompanied by Vietnamese ST25 fragrant rice with corn and green beans, bringing a balanced mix of local and global elements to the plate.

The experience concludes with a dessert of dark chocolate custard made with 75% cacao, paired with fermented coffee sauce and coconut ice-cream, offering a rich and satisfying finish. Wines from Italy, Australia, Chile, France, and Portugal are available as part of the optional pairing, complementing each course.

“We set out to push the boundaries by pairing Vietnamese ingredients with international flavours and techniques in unexpected ways,” Mr Duy Anh said. “The menu is about contrast,  delicate and bold, familiar and surprising, coming together in a way that tells a contemporary story of Vietnamese cuisine.”

The Colonial, inspired by Vietnam’s Indochine-era design, focuses on modern European and French cuisine with subtle Vietnamese influences. By day, it serves as a premium breakfast venue and club lounge for select guests, and by night, it transforms into a fine dining destination.

Adding to its recognition, The Anam Cam Ranh was recently featured among the 100 best hotels in the world on Fodor’s Finest Hotels list for 2025, further highlighting its growing presence in the global hospitality space.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is bringing back its much-loved ‘Rendez-vous’ dining series with a special culinary showcase at Le Beaulieu. The highlight of this edition is a four-hands dinner featuring Michelin-starred Chef Thibault Sombardier, scheduled for March 27 and 28.

Chef Thibault, known for leading some of France’s well-known restaurants, currently heads Restaurant Anne in Paris. Located within the historic Pavillon de la Reine, the restaurant earned a Michelin star under his leadership, reflecting his refined approach to French cuisine.

For this exclusive experience, Chef Thibault will collaborate with Restaurant Anne’s Executive Chef Matthieu Pirola and Le Beaulieu’s Chef de Cuisine Charles Degrendele. Together, they will present a specially curated six-course menu that brings together classical French techniques with a modern touch, using seasonal ingredients.

Sharing his thoughts on the collaboration, Chef Charles said, “This sophisticated culinary dialogue promises a gastronomic experience both accessible and profoundly evocative.”

The event is expected to draw strong interest, with limited seating available. Guests can choose between a dinner-only experience or opt for a wine pairing. Members of ALL Accor+ Explorer can avail special discounts on both the menu and wine pairing.

The ‘Rendez-vous’ series, introduced in 2024, focuses on bringing Michelin-star guest chefs together with Chef Charles to create unique dining moments. Over time, it has become one of the standout fine-dining experiences in Hanoi.

Le Beaulieu itself carries a rich legacy, with a history of 125 years, making it one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in Vietnam. While it continues to serve timeless classics like lobster bisque and crêpes Suzette with traditional guéridon service, the restaurant also explores modern French cuisine with subtle Vietnamese influences.

Adding to its evolving menu, Chef Charles recently introduced a honey-inspired tasting experience that highlights unique varieties of honey sourced from different regions of Vietnam, paired thoughtfully with premium ingredients.

This year is also special for Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi as it marks its 125th anniversary. Since opening in 1901, the hotel has been a key part of the city’s history. To celebrate this milestone, a series of curated events is planned throughout the year, blending its heritage with a forward-looking approach to luxury hospitality.

United Airlines has announced the next phase of its long-term growth plan, with a major fleet expansion and a strong focus on improving customer experience. The airline expects to take delivery of more than 250 new aircraft by April 2028, marking the highest number added by any airline within a two-year period.

This move is aimed at modernising its fleet, introducing new aircraft variants, and bringing in upgraded onboard products across cabins. The plan also includes a refreshed experience for transcontinental travellers, helping United further stand out in the premium travel space.

As part of this expansion, United is introducing its new Airbus A321 “Coastliner” subfleet and A321XLR aircraft. These narrowbody jets will feature widebody-style comfort, including lie-flat seats in United Polaris with direct aisle access. The Coastliner will operate between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Newark/New York, offering a premium cabin experience on domestic routes along with access to United Polaris lounges.

The airline is also bringing in upgrades to its international fleet. Its Boeing 787-9 aircraft with the new Elevated interior will begin international service on April 22. These aircraft include the United Polaris Studio, offering larger seats with privacy doors, enhanced dining with wine pairings and caviar, wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and large 4K OLED screens.

United’s A321XLR aircraft will offer 32 premium seats, expanding comfort options on shorter international routes. These aircraft are expected to replace older Boeing 757s and will help the airline expand into new destinations in Europe and South America.

For regional connectivity, United is introducing the CRJ450, a redesigned aircraft aimed at providing a more premium experience. Operated by SkyWest, it will connect smaller cities to hubs like Denver and Chicago, featuring a spacious United First cabin and improved interiors.

The airline’s broader growth strategy builds on its “United Next” plan announced in 2021. Since then, United has added new aircraft, upgraded its fleet, increased premium seating, and expanded its workforce significantly.

“For more than a decade, we've invested billions of dollars in our product, service, and technology as part of our plan to be the best brand loyal airline in the world, and the result is that more and more customers are choosing to fly us every day,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “Today we accelerate our plans and elevate our offerings to the next level, creating an even more consistent, premium onboard experience for every customer and delivering value across every cabin of service.”

“These new planes and products not only complement our fleet and network plans, but they also give our customers more premium amenity and seat choices, whether they bought a basic economy ticket to fly from Chicago to Ft. Wayne or are flying Polaris between San Francisco and Singapore,” said United Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella. “United is setting the pace and innovating for our customers at a scope and scale unheard of in aviation history and we're not taking our foot off the gas.”

Alongside new aircraft, United is also enhancing onboard services for all passengers. This includes Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members, improved in-flight entertainment with seatback screens, better food and beverage options, and updated comfort features like improved blankets and earbuds.

With these additions, United is working towards offering a more consistent and comfortable travel experience across its entire network, while continuing to expand its global reach.