IN JUNE, the Caravelle Hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh City joined a handful of leading properties worldwide that have converted from magnetised room keys to advanced RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. The new keys only need to be in the proximity of the door to unlock it. A surprising trend is emerging in Vietnam where iconic heritage properties are striding to the front of the lineup by offering guests the most innovative high-tech gadgets and software on the market. The 52-year-old Caravelle, best known for its role as a journalist haven during the Vietnam War, followed its room key upgrade by installing GPS tracking in all its Mercedes vehicles. A remote check-in service allowing guests to bypass the front desk altogether also made its debut last month. Meanwhile, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, the undisputed grand dame of Vietnamese hospitality, is also undergoing a digital makeover. Suites come with state-of-the-art Beosound 8 docking sound systems, plus the use of a personal iPad, guests at the concierge desk are offered iPads for online searches while diners in the Italian restaurant peruse the menu on another of the trendy e-tablets. And Behind the scenes, the hotel is also introducing breakthrough industry software.
