Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam, the former capital of capitalist South Vietnam, and is still a great draw for executives and tourists alike. The conquering French left behind a Francophone tendency to wide boulevards and grand architecture, most especially around the historic District 1 area.
Visitors who’d like to explore Ho Chi Minh City for themselves can check into one of the hotels we’ve listed below. The hotels we feature here represent a wide range of budgets and accommodations, and have been selected for their proximity to either the Airport or the City Center.
First Hotel
Price: From US$102
Address: 18 Hoang Viet Street, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Telephone: +84-8-8441199
The First Hotel’s proximity to Tan Son Nhat International Airport makes it an ideal choice for visitors who need a convenient staging point to the rest of the Mekong region. Its 108 guestrooms are clean and comfortable, but the real value is in the hotel’s other facilities, like a health spa that offers a cheap full-body massage and a swimming pool (which, strangely enough, is in a separate building).
Try getting a room overlooking the pocket park outside the hotel, where locals can be seen doing tai-chi early in the morning.
Metropole Hotel
Price: From US$81
Address: 148 Tran Hung Dao Ave., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Telephone: +84-8-9201939 to 40
Metropole’s 75 rooms are neutrally if pleasantly furnished, and offer a choice of a pool view or a city view.
Budget-minded travelers looking for some extra value will appreciate the little extras that Metropole offers its guests. The hotel’s facilities are surprisingly good for the money: Tropicana Health Spa’s wide repertoire of massage services might offer something new for the jaded traveler; a rooftop pool; and an excellent breakfast buffet with a great selection of cold cuts and cheeses.
New World Hotel Saigon
Price: From US$159
Address: 76 Le Lai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Telephone: +84-8-8228888
If you’re looking for an ideal staging point for exploring Ho Chi Minh City’s shopping scene, you can’t go wrong with the New World Hotel. The Ben Thanh Market is just a ten minute walk away, and the rest of District 1 is easily accessible by taxi.
The New World Hotel has 526 rooms, and the extras are exactly what you’d expect in a hotel of this price range: tennis court, a Nautilus-equipped health club, a steam room, and a jogging track. The outdoor pool is the best part of the hotel – set amidst a cozy patio area littered with chaise lounges and umbrellas, with the pool water quite level with the patio floor.
Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon
Price: From US$189
Address: 8-15 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Telephone: +84-8-822-0033
Located on the banks of the Saigon River, the 21-storey Renaissance Riverside Hotel is a short stroll away to Dong Khoi Street, the Reunification Palace, and Ben Tranh Market. The hotel itself has over 330 rooms, including one handicapped-friendly room. Guests have a choice between riverside views and street views, although the riverside view is the only view worth seeing!
The pool and the adjoining terrace are disappointingly small, but this is amply compensated by the delicious buffet, with all the fresh seafood you can eat. One of the best Chinese restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, Kabin, is located on the premises.
Asian Hotel
Price: From US$54
Address: 148-150 Dong Khoi St., Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City -, Vietnam
Telephone: +84-8-8296979
A budget hotel with a great location, the Asian Hotel is a short walking distance away from the War Remnants Museum, the Saigon Opera House, and the Reunification Palace. Next door, the Parkson Shopping Center has a supermarket, food hall, and ATMs at the traveler’s disposal. Across the street, the SaigonTours office offers tours to the Cu Chi tunnels and the Tay Ninh temple.
The hotel itself is geared towards business travelers: its 47 rooms are plain but quite sizable, with TV, refrigerator, and free Wifi. Light sleepers might find the street sounds bothersome, as the rooms are quite un-insulated from outside noise.
Park Hyatt Saigon
Price: From US$359
Address: 2 Lam Son Square, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Telephone: +84 8-824-1234
The Park Hyatt Saigon overlooks the Opera House, and is a few minutes’ walk away from the city’s many historical sights. Guests can choose from 252 spacious rooms, decorated tastefully in a French Colonial style with an Asian twist.
The hotel's dining choices don’t disappoint – from the Restaurant Opera’s casual Italian dishes and wine selection, to Square One’s authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Guests can beat the tropic heat at the Hyatt’s large swimming pool, situated in the midst of a garden. Once you’re in, the green surroundings make you forget you’re in the middle of the city!
Rex Hotel
Price: From US$170
Address: 141 Nguyen Hue, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Telephone: +84-8-8293115
Before the War, the Rex Hotel was a favorite haunt of the US Information Service. In the days following reunification, the Rex Hotel was turned into a Renault garage. These days, the Rex has been taken over by the Vietnamese government and fully refurbished into a decent three-star hotel.
The hotel's history is apparent in its layout – it's just not built like a hotel, and the rooms are rather kitschy and frayed in places. In-room amenities include fax machine, safe, minibar, and surprisingly, free broadband Internet.The rooftop bar is the Rex's main draw, with its great sunset view overlooking the Saigon River.
Sofitel Plaza Saigon
Price: From US$190
Address: 17 Le Duan Boulevard, Ho Chi Minh City 0, Vietnam
Telephone: (+84)8/8241555
On top of its convenient District 1 location, the Sofitel provides everything a business traveler could want: free Wifi all around the hotel, free workouts at the attached Calrk Hatch gym, free shuttle to Ben Thanh and the Russian markets, and a decent choice of eats at the in-house L’Oliver French restaurant, the Café Rivoli, and two bars.
The hotel is a bit far removed from downtown, but the free shuttle to the city center compensates for that. The Sofitel is only a ten minute walk away from the Notre Dame Cathedral, which is another ten-minute walk to the Independence Palace.
Marco Polo Omni Saigon Hotel
Price: From US$98
Address: 253 Nguyen Van Troi Sreet, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Telephone: 84-8-8449222
The Marco Polo is a lot closer to the airport than it is to the city center, but the city center is easily accessible through a free shuttle.
The hotel's rooms are just OK, but the food comes highly recommended: the restaurants offer excellent buffet selections, with arguably the best bread in town. Downside to the food: the breakfast menu hardly changes from day to day.
The hotel’s Continental Club offers some key extras for extra-special guests: a private lounge, butler service, and broadband Internet workstations. Other interesting touches include the ATM at the lobby and a casino (Club 21) with high-tech gaming options.
Kimdo Royal City Hotel
Price: From US$120
Address: 133 Nguyen Hue Ave, Ho Chi Minh 00000, Vietnam
Telephone: 84-8-8225915
Guests for the Kimdo pay for the central location and clean rooms – the rest of the hotel is rather average. Executive suites have Jacuzzis built in. However, the water pressure in the rooms can be weak, and the walls don’t block off sound very well.
The friendliness of the staff service goes a long way at compensating for these difficulties. The hotel’s other services need work – the tour desk’s guide speaks rather unintelligible English, the gym’s machines are quite old, and the health club massage is just not that good.
