Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City [Master Thread]
Jan 16, 2018, 9:14 pm
#121
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
The hotel was good. Modest upgrade from City View Deluxe to River View Deluxe. Staff very friendly. Room was as expected (made over but a little too dated - bathroom v poor/1980’s). Club Lounge was efficient & a decent place to relax (apart from some loud types who had clearly had one too many during the 2nd hour of evening drinks
) - the evening snacks were, meh. Lobby & Viet Kitchen were refurbished to a modern fresh standard - hopefully rooms will follow this design. Brekkie in Viet Kitchen was excellent. Fresh, tasty, efficient ^Would return, although I note the new Saigon Hilton under construction just across the street...competition in a couple of years time!
Feb 23, 2018, 5:10 pm
#124
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 13
Currently at the REN on 3rd nt
Just take a taxi or Uber to the hotel. Cost us less than $8. When you exit the airport, go immediately to your left and keep walking until you see the Vinasun company taxis. Avoid anyone asking you if you are looking for a taxi as these may be the scam ones. Vinasun taxis will be marked with their company phone number as 38.27.27.27
Originally chose city view but was "upgraded" to river view. I would stick to city next time as river view wasn't much of a view imo. You can see the river view in the lounge.
Sky bar and the pool are in the same area. Do go at night for some amazing city light pictures.
Lounge access was given as a gold status holder. Had adequate food that you can make into a meal. Hors d'oeuvre served from 1730-1930. Make good use of these hours as a self served full bar was available. I sure did.
Location was okay. Very close to time square. I think the Sheraton had a better location to the more cheaper foods. Made use of those annual free nights here so can't complain. Can always walk and explore or Uber/taxi to anywhere for a couple bucks.
Just thought I'd finally contribute my two cents. Will periodically check this forum if anyone has any questions.
Panorama of the city at the sky bar/pool area.
Just take a taxi or Uber to the hotel. Cost us less than $8. When you exit the airport, go immediately to your left and keep walking until you see the Vinasun company taxis. Avoid anyone asking you if you are looking for a taxi as these may be the scam ones. Vinasun taxis will be marked with their company phone number as 38.27.27.27
Originally chose city view but was "upgraded" to river view. I would stick to city next time as river view wasn't much of a view imo. You can see the river view in the lounge.
Sky bar and the pool are in the same area. Do go at night for some amazing city light pictures.
Lounge access was given as a gold status holder. Had adequate food that you can make into a meal. Hors d'oeuvre served from 1730-1930. Make good use of these hours as a self served full bar was available. I sure did.
Location was okay. Very close to time square. I think the Sheraton had a better location to the more cheaper foods. Made use of those annual free nights here so can't complain. Can always walk and explore or Uber/taxi to anywhere for a couple bucks.
Just thought I'd finally contribute my two cents. Will periodically check this forum if anyone has any questions.
Panorama of the city at the sky bar/pool area.
Jul 29, 2018, 6:01 am
#125
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 2,317
Background:
Due to an urgent matter, I had to book the day before. As a Marriott Gold and due to the vile World of Hyatt, I decided to book the Renaissance Saigon. The fact it has a club lounge added to the compelling factors.
Check-in:
I was escorted upstairs to the lounge. Check-in was efficient and I was given a late checkout. I was told I was allegedly upgraded although I doubt it. I was given a river view room and note that there are "R Club Rooms" in the property too.
Room:
Welcome amenity (I don't know who Mr. Wang is):
Club Lounge - Happy Hour:
The Happy Hour food was decent and the lamb moussaka (below) was especially nice.
Afternoon tea in the lounge:
Breakfast in the main restaurant:
I can't remember whether as a Gold I was offered breakfast in the main restaurant - it wasn't charged in the end. The chef station items (e.g. banh mi sandwiches and pho) were enjoyable and appreciated.
Gym:
Conclusion:
This was a competent stay with friendly staff. The breakfast and Club Lounge offerings are more than decent. The rooms are not modern which is unfortunate and will be a big consideration for many.
Due to an urgent matter, I had to book the day before. As a Marriott Gold and due to the vile World of Hyatt, I decided to book the Renaissance Saigon. The fact it has a club lounge added to the compelling factors.
Check-in:
I was escorted upstairs to the lounge. Check-in was efficient and I was given a late checkout. I was told I was allegedly upgraded although I doubt it. I was given a river view room and note that there are "R Club Rooms" in the property too.
Room:
Welcome amenity (I don't know who Mr. Wang is):
Club Lounge - Happy Hour:
The Happy Hour food was decent and the lamb moussaka (below) was especially nice.
Afternoon tea in the lounge:
Breakfast in the main restaurant:
I can't remember whether as a Gold I was offered breakfast in the main restaurant - it wasn't charged in the end. The chef station items (e.g. banh mi sandwiches and pho) were enjoyable and appreciated.
Gym:
Conclusion:
This was a competent stay with friendly staff. The breakfast and Club Lounge offerings are more than decent. The rooms are not modern which is unfortunate and will be a big consideration for many.
Jul 29, 2018, 7:29 pm
#127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
It has been a couple years since I stayed here, but I kind of liked the Brady-Bunch looking controls on the bedside table....kind of kitschy. I see they are still there...
Jun 20, 2020, 8:50 pm
#129
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HKG
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G
Posts: 3,062
I stayed last year (2019), no change from the very accurate pictures from Singapore_Air. Your obvious Marriott branded alternative is the Le Meridien (newer hotel and rooms, but less friendly staff / not as good club lounge selection). The two hotels are around 200 metres from each other. I would tend to choose based on room price, which means the Renaissance is normally a bit cheaper and marginally better location.
Aug 19, 2022, 8:19 pm
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,166
I just had my second stay here in 2022.
Both times I was upgraded to a suite pre-arrival without applying SNAs. First time a suite fully facing the river, the second time a corner suite over the entrance with a great view of the river and the new skyline.
View from the living room. The bedroom looks in the same direction.
The lounge is open from 10am, cocktail hours is from 5pm to 8pm. Breakfast is in the main restaurant. The evening food is quite good, and very much possible to make a meal out of it. The staff is serving the drinks, and are quick to ask for refills.
Generally, the staff is one of the really good sides of the hotel. They will come by to ask about your stay, and are very genuine and helpful. It does not seem forced.
The breakfast is still great, there are a few items that seems to have disappeared from pre-pandemic, most notably the fresh coconuts. Maybe you can still ask for them, they are just not lined up and ready?
I really like the location, it is good for walking to the main parts of district 1, or short taxi rides away. Morning and evening traffic can be a bit hectic around the hotel. So think about whether you get your taxi right in front of the door, or at at the corner where they wait as it will matter for the direction you can go in rush hour.
In the suites they use Aromatherapy Associates as amenities which is a good choice. Not sure if that has spread to the rooms as well, or is just the suites.
On the downside, the rooms are a it in need of a refresh, and I don't know if they are in the process of doing that.
Pre-pandemic I did also stay at Lê Meriden just down the road. The rooms were a bit newer, but otherwise I would say mainly same same. Though Lê Meriden tends to price higher. For where I go in the mornings, traffic works out quite badly for Lê Meriden, which is another reason why I prefer the Renaissance.
Both times I was upgraded to a suite pre-arrival without applying SNAs. First time a suite fully facing the river, the second time a corner suite over the entrance with a great view of the river and the new skyline.
View from the living room. The bedroom looks in the same direction.
The lounge is open from 10am, cocktail hours is from 5pm to 8pm. Breakfast is in the main restaurant. The evening food is quite good, and very much possible to make a meal out of it. The staff is serving the drinks, and are quick to ask for refills.
Generally, the staff is one of the really good sides of the hotel. They will come by to ask about your stay, and are very genuine and helpful. It does not seem forced.
The breakfast is still great, there are a few items that seems to have disappeared from pre-pandemic, most notably the fresh coconuts. Maybe you can still ask for them, they are just not lined up and ready?
I really like the location, it is good for walking to the main parts of district 1, or short taxi rides away. Morning and evening traffic can be a bit hectic around the hotel. So think about whether you get your taxi right in front of the door, or at at the corner where they wait as it will matter for the direction you can go in rush hour.
In the suites they use Aromatherapy Associates as amenities which is a good choice. Not sure if that has spread to the rooms as well, or is just the suites.
On the downside, the rooms are a it in need of a refresh, and I don't know if they are in the process of doing that.
Pre-pandemic I did also stay at Lê Meriden just down the road. The rooms were a bit newer, but otherwise I would say mainly same same. Though Lê Meriden tends to price higher. For where I go in the mornings, traffic works out quite badly for Lê Meriden, which is another reason why I prefer the Renaissance.
Mar 30, 2023, 10:44 am
#131
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ELP
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLAT, Marriott Titanium/LT PLAT
Posts: 4,120
Dated rooms but good service and solid location
Just completed a 5 night stay with a friend in a twin/double room city view. Was upgraded to a river view twin upon check in. The beds are actually twin beds but these were the best beds of my entire trip which included stays in Dubai/Chennai/Mumbai. The room is pretty dated and needs an upgrade.
The bathroom is small but we made it work for two people.
Breakfast was included in the lounge but they let us eat in the main restaurant every morning which was the better choice as it had more variety. The evening spread in the lounge was plentiful and we made it our dinner one night with stir fried noodles, stir fried beef and pastries with free beer/wine/liquor from 5-8pm.
Service was good at the hotel but I think they could use more a bit more refining. Some requests were done quickly (like water to the room) and some requests (like not getting powdered creamer in the main restaurant while it was available in the room) just couldn't be done.
Location of the hotel is fantastic and it walkable to plenty of restaurants around the area.
Good stay and I would recommend this hotel for travelers to Saigon.
The bathroom is small but we made it work for two people.
Breakfast was included in the lounge but they let us eat in the main restaurant every morning which was the better choice as it had more variety. The evening spread in the lounge was plentiful and we made it our dinner one night with stir fried noodles, stir fried beef and pastries with free beer/wine/liquor from 5-8pm.
Service was good at the hotel but I think they could use more a bit more refining. Some requests were done quickly (like water to the room) and some requests (like not getting powdered creamer in the main restaurant while it was available in the room) just couldn't be done.
Location of the hotel is fantastic and it walkable to plenty of restaurants around the area.
Good stay and I would recommend this hotel for travelers to Saigon.