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The Business Traveller Awards 2017 named Bangkok the ‘Best Leisure Destination in the Asia Pacific‘ for the second straight year, marking a record sixth time Thailand’s capital city has received this prestigious international accolade.

Ms. Sarima Chindamat, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Hong Kong Office, was on hand to receive the award from the magazine’s representative, Mr. Willian Tang Tat Chi, a Hong Kong-born veteran fashion designer, at a ceremonial luncheon that took place on 8 September in Hong Kong. Other awards for Thailand included The St Regis Bangkok that won the Best Business Hotel in Bangkok honour.

According to Ms. Sarima, the Best Leisure Destination in the Asia Pacific and the Best Business Hotel in Bangkok awards reflect the hard work and close cooperation between Thailand’s private and public sectors plus an ongoing commitment to the highest standards of service and product excellence.

Ms. Sarima said, “I am delighted that Bangkok has once again been rightly recognised as the Best Leisure Destination in the Asia Pacific. We thank all involved in this award. No one will be resting on our laurels. Even after receiving the accolade for the sixth time, we intend to constantly strive to improve for many years to come.

“Bangkok has superb hotels and improving mass transit infrastructure that helps visitors conveniently move around the city. The destination offers no shortage of entertainment options ranging from superb restaurants, excellent shopping and unique Thai local experience.”

This marked the 26th edition of the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards. Each year Business Traveller Asia-Pacific magazine confers the Awards based on votes cast by its readers and subscribers. These include frequent travellers who use airports, airlines and hotels services to visit a variety of regional destinations.

Next year, TAT will continue to maintain the destination’s competitive edge in line with its ‘Amazing Thailand Tourism Year 2018’ marketing plan by providing quality leisure offerings to travellers.

These include but are not limited to ‘Gastronomy Tourism’ highlighting local Thai culinary experiences; ‘Ladies’ Journey’ focusing on the needs and interests of female travellers and ‘Sports Tourism’ for adrenalin enthusiasts who are keen on diving, running marathons or viewing Thailand’s first MotoGP World Championship motorcycle races starting in October 2018.

source: TAT NEWS

Bangkok is poised to build a massive candle-like skyscraper that will be the tallest observation tower in Southeast Asia at 459 metres high.

The Bangkok Observation Tower is set to be the tallest observation tower in Southeast Asia and the 6th tallest tower in the world, costing around US$138 million to be built.

The new tower, which will be built on Thai government land by the Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation and the National Identity Foundation, has recently been given the go-head by the country’s cabinet. It will be located along the Chao Phraya River and is expected to be completed in 2019.

The candle-like design is inspired by the tradition of lighting candles on the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and symbolises lighting up the country with prosperity.

According to Mr. Ittirith Kinglake, the President of the Tourism Council of Thailand, “The tower is the most important new addition to Bangkok’s rich array of tourism magnets and one that will attract people from around the world. The Bangkok Observation Tower helps mark our city as one of the world’s most important and exciting destinations.”

The tower is hoped to become a tourist draw in the city, such as the Tokyo Skytree or Shanghai’s Canton Tower. The aim is also to reinvigorate the banks of the Chao Phraya River and kick off efforts to make the river a clean and safe natural corridor, as well as renew focus on its historic and culturally significant landmarks.

The tower will not have any commercial space – instead it will be used for educational purposes to promote Thai historic and culture from around the country. Any surplus funds from ticket sales will go to the local community and charities, according to a statement.

The new tower will surpass the city’s current tallest, the recently completed MahaNakhon tower. Featuring a sky observation deck, outdoor bar and restaurant and more, it is the tallest architectural landmark in the city.

Source：Lonely Planet , TripZilla

Golden Emperor partnered with renowned developer, Sansiri, to launch the first Bangkok’s residential property project, Taka Haus, a joint venture between Sansiri and Tokyu Corporation. The property is located in the most prosperous area in Ekamai, employing Japanese design concept and low-rise architecture idea. Possessing great investment potential, the project was launched first time worldwide at our exhibition and seminar, our event was attracting about 700 customers attended over the weekend.

Above: Around 700 customers attended the weekend exhibition.

Above: Terence Chan, Director of Golden Emperor, provided a presentation on investing in Bangkok.

Above: Sansiri & Tokyu’s latest property project from Bangkok, taka HAUS also be featured at this event.

Above: Our clients in Hong Kong had exclusive offer during the event.

BK’s annual Top Tables guide lists Bangkok’s 100 best restaurants. Here are the top picks from the city’s glamour strips.

Kitaohji (JAPANESE)

This kaiseki (Japanese fine dining) specialist traces its roots back 70 years to Tokyo’s chic Ginza district, where it has since spread to 10 Japanese branches. All deal in meticulously prepared meals spread out over a lengthy courses, starting with sashimi and moving on to your choice of premium main like charcoal grilled wagyu beef or steamed hairy crab. In Bangkok, an a la carte menu charting the same fare caters to walk-ins.

Little Beast (INTERNATIONAL)

The ever-evolving menu of this Americaninfluenced kitchen doesn’t shy away from base pleasures like corn dogs and khao phad, which are as likely to feature in a meal at Little Beast as fine-dining classics like beef Wellington and seared scallops. The moody space with its faux-paneling and button-back leather pitches the right note for Thonglor’s pre-party crowd—as do the strong, wellpoured cocktails.

Meatlicious (STEAK)

Gaggan Anand’s Meatlicious sees the 2015 and 2016 winner of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants steering away from the delicate and high-tech cuisine of his Langsuan restaurant in favor of a beef-heavy menu cooked using only wood and coal. Tucked down a quiet soi, the cozy house is best enjoyed seated at the kitchen bar, where Gaggan’s pirate crew slice, roast and sear tomahawk steaks, burgers and jalapeno peppers stuffed with ricotta.

Supanniga Eating Room (THAI)

Without resorting to any trendy tweaks, the Trat-meets-Isaan dishes of this elegant bistro have captured the hearts and stomachs of Bangkok foodies. Delicate flavors with powerful claims of authenticity come served in a space that’s grown-up and convivial, as comfortable for lunch with friends as for a romantic dinner date. The quality of produce means that dishes as simple as cabbage in fish sauce taste sublime.

Tempura Kanda (JAPANESE)

Featuring an assortment of premium ingredients deep-fried to delicate perfection, the tempura here is spoken about with the kind of hushed reverence usually reserved for sushi. Indeed, this restaurant has arguably supplanted its raw fish-specializing sister Sushi Kanda (found in the same community mall) for its ability to give new dimension to only the finest ingredients from Japan. Try the omakase of tempura, where the chef fries up the freshest arrivals.

Upstairs Mikkeller (AMERICAN)

In a crisp, white room perched above craft beer house Mikkeller, Korean-born chef Dan Bark puts to work skills honed at Chicago’s three-Michelin-starred Grace Restaurant. Paired with beers from the Danish brewery, the 10-course tasting menu is unlike anything else in Bangkok, showcasing the chef’s self-proclaimed “progressive American” cuisine and proving fine dining is not limited to wine. Do note, Upstairs only opens on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and 3-4 days’ advance reservation is advised.

Source：BK Magazine

Russian automobile company Sollers plans to set up an assembly plant in Vietnam in 2018, the company’s General Director Vadym Shvetsov said on the sidelines of the third Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia on September 6. The company is negotiating terms with Vietnamese partners, including technical issues, industrial assembly facility, he said, adding that Vietnam also has conditions for setting up the facility.

In July, Sollers first announced the plans to create a joint assembly plant in Vietnam with initial capacity of 1,000 cars per year, according to Shvetsov. Sollers has worked with world leading automobile makers such as Ford, SsangYong and Mazda.

Furthermore, Vietnam’s leading property developer Vingroup [VIC.HM] said on Saturday it launched construction of a car factory in a project worth $1-1.5 billion in the first phase. The project is part of Vingroup’s expansion plan into the heavy industry of Vietnam, its vice chairman was quoted as saying in a statement, following similar moves in other major sectors such as retail and health care.

Vingroup said it hopes to become a top car manufacturer in the Southeast Asian region, making 500,000 cars per year by 2025.

The company expects to produce 100,000-200,000 vehicles per year in the first phase, including 5-seat sedans, 7-seat SUV and electric motorbikes.

Vingroup’s spokeswoman told Reuters the factory would introduce the first electric motorbikes in 12 months and first cars in 24 months.

Its construction brand VINFAST signed a memorandum to borrow $800 million from Credit Suisse AG [CSGN.S] to build the 335-hectare (827.8 acres) factory, located in Vietnam’s northern city of Haiphong.

Activity levels across Vietnam’s manufacturing sector continued to improve in Auguest. The Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – a composite single-figure indicator of manufacturing performance – ticked up to 51.8 in August from 51.7 in July, signaling a further modest monthly improvement in the health of the sector, Nikkei has said in a report.

The recent improvements in the domestic manufacturing sector continued in August, extending the current sequence of strengthening business conditions to 21 months. A solid and accelerated rise in new orders was central to the latest improvement in business conditions. New business has increased continuously since December 2015 while the rate of expansion in new export orders also quickened and was the fastest in four months.

Despite the marked increase in input costs, firms continued to reduce their output prices in August. Charges decreased for the fourth month running, albeit only marginally. Purchasing activity increased at a faster pace, with the latest expansion linked to higher new orders. Stocks of purchases also rose; the 14th month running this has been the case.

Post-production inventories, on the other hand, decreased for the second successive month, albeit marginally. Panelists suggested that the dispatch of finished products to customers were behind the reduction.

The reported noted that business confidence improved in August and was the strongest since March. Anecdotal evidence suggested that firms were planning to increase output, helped by expansions in capacity and predictions of rising new orders. More than 56 per cent of respondents predicted a rise in production over the coming 12 months.

“Vietnam’s manufacturing sector continued to perform steadily mid-way through the third quarter of the year,” said Mr. Andrew Harker, Associate Director at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey. “There were further positive signs regarding new orders, which should help the sector maintain growth going forward.”

Source：Vietnam+ , Reuters , Vietnam Economic Times