Car + driver in Vietnam

This item appears on page 88 of the March 2009 issue.

Rental cars under the “World-Class Drives” program of Budget Car Rental Vietnam (198 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St., Ward 6, District 3, HCMC, Vietnam; phone [84-8] 3930 1118, www.budget.com.vn) each include an English-speaking chauffeur with strong English-language skills who drives you on a half- or full-day trip and also functions as a concierge.

There are 15 short trips out of Ho Chi Minh City and seven more farther afield, including short tours designed for war veterans, cooking buffs, golfers or families. You also may build your own itinerary.

Rental cars cost $99-$249 per day and come with mobile phone, international newspapers and magazines, chilled water and towels plus 24-hour customer-service support. Also, hotels can be prebooked each night and advice given on places to eat, shop and explore.