happygolucky_nomad

I stayed in Both Pullman and Sofitel last month as a Platinum member. Split between these 2 hotels for a week stay in HCMC. I will take Pullman anytime. Sofitel is currently having renovation. I cannot sleep during day time due to the noise from renovation. Regretted my move to Sofitel. Sofitel did not indicate that they are undergoing renovation at all.

Pullman Saigon ^
Good :

1) Great service from door man all the way to club lounge staff and the fantastic Manager (Mr Thieu/Dennis)
2) This is the best Pullman I ever stayed (around 10 or so in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, China etc)
3) Excellent customer service even prior to check in. Hotel sent a list of club lounge benefits to inform me of my entitlement as a Platinum member. I wish more hotels can follow such example
4) Mr Thieu (Dennis) is very helpful with his recommendations about restaurants, clubs etc. He always make a point to visit the guests during the Club Lounge Happy Hours to greet and speak to all the guests and he is so helpful, forthcoming and sincere. He even printed out 3 pages of restaurants recommendation and 1 page for clubs for me. This is epitome of great customer service
5) Good recognition of Platinum member and benefits with free laundry (2 pcs) daily. Choice of complimentary breakfast either in the main restaurant or club lounge
6) Welcome drink can be redeemed on the rooftop bar and the staffs at the rooftop bar are polite and friendly
7) Walking distance to Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien Street for some cheap beer bars and people watching
8) I checked out after staying here for 3 nights to move into Sofitel nearby which I utterly regret
9) Overall, the hotel is blessed to have such a young, energetic and compassionate team

Bad :
1) Location is off the main District 1 area but taxi is plenty and cheap so this is not an issue
2) The restaurant located next to the Club Lounge was closed for renovation. I was told that this is a popular and high rated restaurant in HCMC which serves very nice food

I rate my stay to be 8.5 out of 10.


Sofitel Saigon Plaza
Hotel is under refurbishment. Noisy and Pathetic Bathroom
Good :
1) Service was good all rounded from doorman to front desk and club lounge

2) Club lounge staff was responsive and helpful when I feedback that I dislike the toilet as it was an old type bathtub standing shower. It's extremely small space and dangerous to stand and take a shower. The female staff (forgot her name) recommended me to change to another room on the second day but I have to pack and unpack my luggage and it will take another 1 hour so I declined her kind gesture

3) Breakfast was good

4) Good recognition of Platinum member benefits although I did not use many of the benefits. Welcome drink coupon, option to have breakfast either in the main restaurant or club lounge etc

5) I left some items in the room after checkout and I received an email on the same day that they found my items. I commended the hotel for their honesty and speedy gesture


Bad :
1) The hotel did not indicate or state in the website prior to my booking that they are undergoing refurbishment. I will not book if I knew that the hotel is under refurbishment as I hate noise. The drilling and knocking from the renovation made me unable to sleep during the afternoon. As a result, I have to resort to spending most of my time outside the hotel since I was not able to rest in the room

2) Hotel also did not indicate that the toilet is small and that the shower is just an old type (70s to 80s) bathtub standing shower. I will not have booked this hotel if I knew that the toilet is such pathetic bathtub standing shower type. Having just checked out from the nearby Pullman Saigon Center hotel which have separate bathtub and standing shower, this toilet is just like heaven and hell feeling. I hate such shower because it is extremely dangerous (slippery, small area and difficult to have a proper shower). I had several bad experiences in the past when I slipped and fell and hurt my back when taking showers in such bathtub. Thus, I went to the swimming pool toilet to take a shower on the first day but just have to accept and adapt to this bathtub on the second and third day

Overall, the services from the staffs are good. However, I feel that I have been let down by the lack of information prior to my booking. The hotel should indicate on their website that they are undergoing refurbishment etc and that noise is expected. Some hotels such as Pullman King Power Bangkok clearly mentioned that they are undergoing refurbishment so that guests can make informed decision whether they can accept the noise.

I will not have stayed here if I know that there is ongoing renovations and that there is constant drilling and knocking. This is pretty frustrating since I was not able to rest and sleep in my room during the day time. I have to resort to spending my time walking aimlessly in the city.

The toilet is also pathetic. Again, I will not have booked if I knew that it's an old type standing bathtub shower due to safety concern.

I rate my stay to be 4 out of 10 since I was not able to enjoy my stay due to the lack of information provided by the hotel prior to my stay, the incessant noise and the pathetic small toilet, resulting in extreme inconvenience for me.

I will not return to this hotel since there are many better options available