Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Tips by mafi_moya

If like me you're an insufferable romantic and sucker for nostalgia then the Continental is Saigon's number one hotel. This is the old Saigon of Grahame Greene and The Quiet American, and the days-gone-by of French Indochina. It was also a main journalist hang-out during the Vietnam War. So come here to sip black coffee, breakfast on fresh croissants, breathe in the history and sit and watch the beautiful girls in flowing ao dais cycle through central Saigon.

Take away the nostalgia and character and what you're left with is a perfectly fine but nothing too spectacular 3 star hotel. An attractive 19th century French building, it offers good food, good rooms and a great city centre location off Dong Khoi - one of the liveliest streets in the city.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: 132-134 Dong Khoi Street

Directly opposite the Continental, on the other side of Lam Son Square, the Caravelle was another war-correspondent hang-out and setting for The Quiet American. But unlike the Continental little of that old character remains - the renovated and enlarged Caravelle is now pure five star luxury and one of the best hotels in the city. 24 storeys high, it dwarfs the Continental and towers over the Saigon Opera House next door. Unsurprisingly it offers probably the best views in the city.

Unless someone else is paying I don't tend to stay in many 5 star hotels when I'm on holiday so I can't tell you what the rooms are like. But I did have a nose around and it all looks super smart and has everything you expect a 5 star hotel to have.

Unique Qualities: Fortunately you don't have to be a guest to go all the way to the top floor. The Saigon, Saigon bar is a very glitzy bar/restaurant/nightclub and the outside terrace has an unbeatable 360 degree panoramic view of downtown Saigon and across to the Saigon River. Definitely worth a look, both day and night - just dress smart!

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive

Address: 19 Lam Son Square - just off Dong Khoi Street