This luxurious, colonial-inspired grande dame sits right at the historic heart of Ho Chi Minh City, with contemporary comforts including a world-class spa. The hotel was a base for the US military during the war and DJ Adrian Cronauer made his daily broadcast from it, made famous in the film Good Morning, Vietnam.
Location
A 25-minute drive from the airport and a 10-minute walk to District 1’s most iconic landmarks, including the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace, the high-end shops and galleries of Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi streets, restaurants and cafés.
Style and Character
The elegant lobby is filled with giant vases of fragrant flowers, while light floods the Park Lounge, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and glittering chandeliers. The work of local artisans, original paintings – such as The Royal Lady dating from the 19th century – and antiques, including painted lacquer chests, are a nod to the city’s history. Bespoke handwoven carpets feature birds, thought to bring good luck.
Service and Facilities
The staff are friendly, attentive and effortlessly efficient, with a concierge on hand to make restaurant and shopping recommendations. The large outdoor pool sits in the middle of landscaped gardens, where you can lounge in a cabana or dine al fresco. The award-winning Xuan Spa is inspired by the riches of the Mekong Delta, offering all kinds of pampering treatments, from an all-natural Vietnamese papaya body polish to massages with lotus essential oils. There’s also a 24/7 fitness centre.
- Bar
- Fitness centre
- Laundry
- Parking
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Spa
- Steam room/hammam
- Wi-Fi
Rooms
Neutral-toned rooms are light and bright, channelling the old-world charms of colonial Saigon, with polished wooden floors, louvre windows, ceiling fans and embroidered silk cushions, while hi-tech additions include Bose Bluetooth speakers, iPads and a Nespresso coffee maker. Plush king-sized beds are covered in crisp white linens, and sparkling white marble bathrooms come with tubs and separate rain showers. Park Deluxe rooms have their own private terrace with direct access to the pool and the extra-spacious Park Suites have their own separate living area.
Food and Drink
Signature restaurant Square 1 serves up a gourmet mix of Vietnamese – including clay pot dishes and fresh, wok-fried lobster – and French-influenced dishes from its five show kitchens. An expansive buffet breakfast is served at the all-day Opera – from fresh fruit to pastries from the in-house boutique, and Vietnamese and international classics – with an Italian menu at lunch and dinner. Snacks are served in the Park Lounge, followed by afternoon tea of Vietnamese-inspired savouries and delicate French pastries, which morphs into cocktails and live piano music every evening. The bar boasts a 1,500-bottle wine cellar, while 2 Lam Son attracts a glamorous crowd with its signature martinis and live DJs.