Asia - Homeless in Saigon / HCM - need hotels thoughts

Hi,

I've had a recent itinerary change and could not keep my reservations at the Renaissance Riverside in Ho Chi Minh which is not sold out for my days. It seems a bunch of other glabally recognized hotels are sold out or $200 + which just seems strange for Vietnam. There are excellent rates at the Empress Hotel Ho Chi Minh City ($35), but I am not aware of this hotel.

Does anyone have any experience with good business / vacation quality hotels in HCM?

Thanks in advance

p.s. I am heading there in less than 24 hours.

The Sheraton Saigon is a very nice hotel in a great location. I spent three great nights there last month.

The Sheraton Saigon is a very nice hotel in a great location. I spent three great nights there last month.

Seconded. I was there a few days before CHG. One of the best, if not best, experiences I have had at a Starwood. IIRC, you can use points and cash (about $30US/nt), a great bargain.

Thanks for the input.

This is a personal portion of a biz trip and the best the Sheraton has to offer is $194/us per night. Too much to bite off and there is no award availability. Oh Well.

I am going to try the Empress at $30/night. No executive floor access, but the $160/night difference should go a long way there.

I'll post a review later on.

You may want to call SPG customer service directly and speak to a live agent. Ask if any executive deluxe rooms or suites are available for a higher point redemption cost. You can get a 91 sq m (i.e. huge) suite for 8000 points on weekdays, 6000 on weekends.

You may want to call SPG customer service directly and speak to a live agent. Ask if any executive deluxe rooms or suites are available for a higher point redemption cost. You can get a 91 sq m (i.e. huge) suite for 8000 points on weekdays, 6000 on weekends.

Good suggestion. And if you go this route, I would highly recommend requesting room 1708. As a plat I was upgraded to this suite and it's huge, with windows on two sides overlooking both the city and the river. Full bath and a powder room. One of the best upgrades I've ever received (*W and HHonors). Exec lounge is very nice and the staff are superb.

For an authentic local experience, try the Rex Hotel (http://www.rexhotelvietnam.com/). A special treat is breakfast on the roof surrounding by the caged birds. The main market is within walking distance.
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13F

I second the Rex. We stayed there three nights in October. Very nice service, breakfast is fantastic. We had a Rex Suite on the front side of the building. Small balcony facing one of the main streets in Saigon. $90.00 per night. Great views and lots of fun watching the street traffic. Walking distance to lots of attractions and good eating. We walked over to the Sheraton to eat in their steakhouse-Level 23, I think.

The Rex is NOT new, very kitchy and 1960's. But a lot of history in that hotel.

The Empress is over on Đ Bui Thi Xuan, which is kinda West of the main travellers' ghettos of the Dong Khoi area, home of upscale places such as the Rex, and the Pham Ngu Lao area, home of the more modest places and, uhh, lively bars.

I recommed the Pham Ngu Lao area and, especially, the Huynh Anh hotel, 26A/2, Đ Do Quang Dau. +84 920 3566 huynhanhhotel@yahoo.com. US$15/night, including a skipable breakfast. Easy transport. Cheap laundry. Great food within a 1 minute walk, etc. etc.

Appreciate the recommendations. As I pointed out I had some pretty short notice to find a place and stay. All the main hotels were either booked, or only had very pricey rooms left. I did end up staying at the Empress and it was really nothing to write home about.

Staff at the hotel recommended not walking the few blocks at night to get to more touristed central areas. That is never very comforting.

Anyway, survived the 2 nights at the hotel and managed to sneak in some fun in the short 30 hours in HCM. I had been there before, so it was easy hitting the highlights and getting around.

I'll be in Saigon in January and am considering either the Renaissance or New World. Anyone have any experiences with these or other hotels in this price range ($80 - $100 from asiarooms.com)? I'm staying away from the Rex as I've seen a number of really horrible reviews over the past month. I might be willing to spring for the Caravelle if it's worth it.

We just spent some time in Saigon and stayed at the Park Hyatt. It's a new property and is very much a five star property, I dont think any of the other said-to-be "top" properties in Saigon can compare with it. It is more expensive, I think about $140 per night, but you will be pampered. I highly recommend this property if the extra $$ are not an issue. I posted a longer review of the property over on the Hyatt forum in flyertalk.

I'll be in Saigon in January and am considering either the Renaissance or New World. Anyone have any experiences with these or other hotels in this price range ($80 - $100 from asiarooms.com)? I'm staying away from the Rex as I've seen a number of really horrible reviews over the past month. I might be willing to spring for the Caravelle if it's worth it.

The Renaissance is on the river, has really nice views -- as well as a rooftop pool. I was only in the lobby at the new world and it looked like a decent hotel, but surrounded by some busy streets and I am not sure what kind of views the rooms or common areas provided.

Have fun.

prices are a little ridiculous in ho chi minh city. the Bong Sen is literally across the street from the Sheraton, and is perfectly fine. It's obviously not the Sheraton, but the rooms are nice, and it's got the Bong Sen 2, a block away that's also fine and a tiny bit cheaper.

The bong sen runs about $55 a night.

there are bunch of reviews of vietnam hotels on tripadvisor.com

here's the one for the bong sen

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293925-d306259-Reviews-Bong_Sen_Hotel-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.html

I'm going with the Renaissance....or at least I'll find out in 24 hours if they've got room for me. I splurged for the river view at $106/night including taxes and breakfast. Thanks for the helpful posts.