Decadent colonial dining in a hopelessly romantic setting

Word to the wise: At USD 99, the three course set dinner is a deliciously decadent extravagance and comes with a complimentary bottle of wine.

Hands down the finest French restaurant in the city, Au Manoir de Khai keeps the romanticism of colonial Saigon alive and well (fed). Set in a corner space of a palace built by Louis XIV and surrounded by idyllic landscaped gardens, this monochromatic restaurant serves up beautifully prepared luxury French classics like shellfish bisque with caviar and foie gras with Sauternes wine and Périgord truffles.

The occasional twist on classic dishes such as a Baileys and pistachio flavoured crème brulée are a nice innovative touch. You'll pay handsomely for your meal, especially by Vietnamese standards, but for special occasions, it's absolutely worth it.