Here was yet another case of this being the best hotel of the whole trip, despite the higher category of the Intercontinental hotel I visited later on during this trip. I am quite fond of the Holiday Inn brand and this one did not disappoint. This big complex was located quite some distance from the airport and the shuttle took some time to get there. The exterior of the hotel is tastefully decorated with touches of the signature green Holiday Inn colour.

The huge lobby area, with its adjoining seating and bar, gave onto a large central courtyard where there are a couple of franchised cafes and restaurants, with a large swimming pool dominating the whole space. At check-in I received the usual welcome drink vouchers and found out that I had been upgraded to a suite on the 9th floor. This was a nicely appointed accommodation, comprising a separate living area with adequate seating, a mini kitchen complete with fridge, cooking hob, cutlery and plates, and a master bedroom with a huge bed. The spacious bathroom was a pleasant place to spend time in, although it could have used an air extraction filter.
The view out over Ho Chi Minh City made for a dramatic first impression, especially looking down at the street below in the early morning to admire the thousands of motorbikes scooting past.



The main room of the suite at the Holiday Inn Saigon


The kitchen area was rather nicely outfitted


The main bedroom, separated from the rest of the suite


The bathroom and shower facilities were rather good in the Holiday Inn Saigon


The breakfast was included in my rate and was excellent quality


The swimming pool in the central courtyard was really nice but I didn't get the chance to use it all that much - opening hours were a bit restrictive


The spacious lobby area of the Holiday Inn Saigon


Motorbike chaos on the street outside