The Apple Tree Group launches river cruise in Laos

The French-owned, Ho Chi Minh City-based company, The Apple Tree Group has launched a dinner cruise, Nava Mekong along the river in Laos? Luang Prabang.

The dinner cruise-which began service earlier this month- embarks daily at 5:30pm, motors downstream to a nearby traditional village for a meal and music, and then returns at 9pm. The Nava also does a four-hour lunch cruise which embarks at 10:30 am daily.

The traditional Lao river boat cruise is a service of the Villa Maly Hotel, which is owned and operated by Apple Tree, in the north central city of Laos.

Through April, the Nava charges US$30 for dinner and $35 for lunch; however, if you stay for two nights at the Villa May the cruise is complimentary.

In related news, the Andrew Harper?s Hideaway Report selected The Apple Tree Group?s La Residence Hotel & Spa in Hue, as one of the two Asian hotels to feature in the January 2009 issue.

The issue writes, ?As well as one of the liveliest and most colorful markets in Southeast Asia, Hue contains an array of handsome French Colonial architecture. La Residence is housed within the former governor?s mansion and is now a superb small hotel.?