Our Favorite Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
• 5-star: The Reverie
• 4-star: PARKROYAL
• 3-star: Amanaki
• New: La Siesta
• Boutique: Hotel des Arts
• Cheap: Vy Khanh
• For families: InterContinental
• Couples: Hotel des Arts
• Pool: The Reverie
• Near Airport: PARKROYAL
HCMC Hotels – My Advice
- The best place to stay in Ho Chi Minh City is the neighborhood of District 1, stretching a little into District 3. Any further out and sights may not be within walking distance, and nearby shops and cafés are not likely to have English-speaking staff.
- District 1 is extensive, with three main hotel areas: around the Opera House (the classiest area, with expensive hotels and many sights within a short stroll), along the Saigon River (facing the Saigon River with riverside cafés and cruise offices nearby), and Pham Ngu Lao (the epicenter for budget travelers; one square kilometer bursting with hotels, cafés, shops, travel agencies and nightclubs).
- An exciting alternative is to stay at the beach resort town of Vung Tau, which is 75 minutes away by hydrofoil from the Saigon River downtown. This is far more appealing during the week, as it bursts with day-trippers and overnighting city-dwellers on weekends.
- Taxis are common and cheap, and all use meters. Vinasun is the best taxi company. If time is short, you can quickly ride on a Grab motorbike taxi (with a passenger on the back). Use the excellent ride-share app (similar to Uber) for a set fare rather than deal with drivers directly on the streets.
- The airport is only 8 km away, but depending on traffic, it can be a 20-45-minute ride. Taxis are the best way there and back. Book one through your hotel or a travel agency.
- Travel agencies in Pham Ngu Lao sell tickets for comfortable tourist buses and minibusses traveling all over Vietnam.
- The train station is reasonably convenient, servicing rail lines as far as Hanoi.
- Well-stocked minimarts are everywhere. Numerous upscale boutiques are around District 1, while malls are a little further out in the suburbs.
The 18 Best Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
1. The Reverie
Hotel phone: +84 28 3823 6688
Lavish in a prime location. The Reverie does not hold back when it comes to decor. The lobby contains a gold-plated clock over 6 feet high and elevators lined with polished agate. No expense has been spared with the rooms, either; they’re jam-packed with handcrafted Italian furniture. They feature cushioned walls, electric curtains, and state-of-the-art coffee machines. Suites have mosaic-tiled walls and bathroom floors. Offices, apartments, and shops occupy the lower levels, so all views from the full-length windows in the rooms and suites are excellent, not so from the pool/jacuzzi area. Somehow, the hotel is almost hidden along a broad boulevard between City Hall and Saigon River, and it’s walkable to many attractions and popular cafés.
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2. Hôtel des Artes
Hotel phone: +84 28 3989 8888
Uniquely swanky and arty boutique hotel. A bland exterior belies a graceful Indochine-style lobby of ornamental chandeliers and traditionally dressed staff. The delightfully chic and colonial decor continues throughout, with plentiful arts and artifacts personally curated by the owner. Rooms are elegantly old-fashioned yet functionally modern, with polished wood paneling, floor-to-ceiling windows, and picture-framed televisions. Spacious and stylish suites ooze charm and class. The infinity pool has glass walls and magnificent city views. High tea is served in a decadent art-filled piano lounge that’s straight out of a 1930s film set. It is on a quiet, tree-lined street with banks and embassies and close to District 1’s museums and restaurants.
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3. Park Hyatt
Hotel phone: +84 28 3824 1234
Graceful, old-world charm and a superb location. With a vibrant front garden and likable Colonial-style design, this distinctive low-rise hotel sits opposite the Opera House in the heart of fashionable District 1. The elegance continues throughout, where recent renovations ensure that everything is stylish and old-fashioned without being outdated. Rooms have an understated Colonial charisma, marble bathrooms, rain showers, and all the latest gadgets. Bright and airy suites feature welcoming lounge areas, pleasant old-style bedrooms, and separate fully-equipped kitchen and dining rooms. The 3rd floor has a delightful garden courtyard with a pool flanked by shaded cabanas and waterfalls to buffer the traffic noise below.
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4. Caravelle
Hotel phone: +84 28 3823 4999
Historic, central, and classy, with ideal city views. Facing the exquisite Opera House within a fashionable district of restaurants and boutiques in the city center, the Caravelle has two distinctively different buildings: the Heritage Wing, built in the 1950s, and the taller and newer wing that offers outstanding views from all rooms of the city and, from a distance, the Saigon River. All rooms are bright and airy, featuring a pleasing blend of light colors. The sparkling pool on the 7th floor has a thatched-roof bar and plenty of potted palms but no views; these are best enjoyed at the legendary Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar, frequented by journalists and generals during the War. The recently renovated modern rooms still maintain the rare historical ambiance.
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5. Amanaki
Hotel phone: +84 823 634 488
Thoughtfully decorated boutique hotel along the Saigon River. Beautifully carved wood headboards and antique furniture and art fill the rooms. With wood floors and twin or queen-sized beds, the rooms feel homey. There’s a family room and a Premium Executive Room with a balcony. All rooms include an antique wood desk and free wifi. On the 10th floor is a small fitness center, sauna, steam room, and an outdoor hot tub. The hotel doesn’t have a pool, though. There is 24-hour reception, and the restaurant serves a beautiful breakfast buffet style. It’s close to the river and a short walk to Union Square Shopping Mall.
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6. InterContinental
Hotel phone: +84 28 3520 9999
Spacious and functional – better suited for business than pleasure. One in a cluster of multi-story hotels within elegant District 1. The InterContinental sits only 200 meters down a bookshop-lined road from the cathedral, surrounded by trendy cafés and fast-food outlets. Inside, plushly carpeted corridors lead to a variety of accommodations. Suites are particularly roomy, though a little charmless. They feature plenty of seating, a dining table, and full-length windows offering unobstructed city views. The best vistas are from the bathtub. Standard Deluxe Rooms are more appealing, furnished with a stylish desk and decorated with interesting photos. The 3rd-floor outdoor swimming pool is a decent size and has aquarium-like glass walls but no views.
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7. The Myst
Hotel phone: +84 28 3520 3040
Riverside location, unique design, and personality. The angular glass exterior of this boutique hotel, with foliage spilling over the balconies, is striking among typically bland high-rises nearby. This intriguing Viet-chic design continues inside, with brightly-colored corridors, arched ceilings, and asymmetrical room design. Rooms vary considerably, but all are comfortable, featuring funky furniture, potted plants, and lovely Vietnamese paintings. The rooftop pool has glass walls, infinity edges, cabanas, and views – but these, like those from all rooms facing the Saigon River – are severely limited by the Hilton in front. The location remains ideal, however: sitting within meters of the river and an easy stroll to the attractions and facilities of District 1. Connecting rooms and personable service make this a decent option for families.
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8. Sheraton
Hotel phone: +84 28 3827 2828
High-rise hotel just a block away from the Opera House.
With many options, including rooms for families and executive suites, the rooms are modern, with mostly neutral tones and pops of color. Spa treatments are available at Evolve Wellness Center on the fifth floor. The fitness center has Technogym cardio equipment, saunas, and an outdoor swimming pool with lounge chairs. There are two restaurants, a lounge with afternoon tea, and an outdoor wine and cocktail bar on the 23rd floor, perfect for sunset views.
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9. Silverland Yen
Hotel phone: +84 28 3823 6789
Boutique hotel in the city center. The hotel is themed after the concept of “bình yên,” which translates to “peaceful” and is apparent with all the stone, wood, concrete floors, bamboo, and blue tones throughout the space. In the lobby, there’s a living wall with green plants. Most rooms are quiet and have nice-sized windows, but some have smaller ones, so pay attention when booking. As a respite from the city, the rooftop terrace has a small infinity-edge pool with views. There’s also a bar and a small workout room. Yen Restaurant serves a breakfast and afternoon tea buffet. The hotel also offers transportation to and from the airport.
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10. PARKROYAL
Hotel phone: +84 28 3842 1111
Large hotel in Thanh Binh, about 10 minutes from the airport, but quiet and a good family option. Staying here is an excellent option to be close to the airport or a good base away from tourists. Rooms are nice, and extra cribs or beds are available. The Orchid Deluxe and Executive Suite offer complimentary airport transfers. Garden Brasserie has lavish buffets featuring local and international cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lotus Bar offers cocktails, coffees, teas, and light bites. A large outdoor pool with sun chairs and a fitness center are on the ground floor. St. Gregory Spa is next to the pool, offering body massages and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy. It’s about a 20-minute drive to the city center.
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11. SILA
Hotel phone: +84 28 3930 0800
Boutique apartments in District 3. With contemporary studios to two-bedroom apartments, all with kitchenettes, SILA is a great choice for couples and families, and short- or long-term stays. The one- and two-bedroom apartments offer washing machines. Next to the restaurant, bar, and large 24-hour gym with Technogym machines is the secluded outdoor pool with lounge chairs. There’s also a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and yoga studio. If traveling for work, there’s a boardroom available. It’s close to the War Remnants Museum.
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12. Holiday Inn
Hotel phone: +84 28 3948 5050
Large hotel in Thanh Binh, close to the airport, and a good choice for families and those who want to stay outside the city center. This tall building offers rooms with city or pool views and standard rooms or one-bedroom suites. The Olympic-sized outdoor pool has lounge chairs with a separate kids pool on one end. Off of the pool is the large fitness center. Manja Manja Restaurant offers a breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner, and live music on Friday and Sunday nights. Poolside Lobby Lounge has light fare and a daily happy hour. There’s also a 7-Eleven right next to the hotel.
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13. Little Saigon
Hotel phone: +84 28 3521 8464
Tucked away boutique hotel around the Opera House. Historic photos of 1960s Vietnam hang in the smallish rooms, though the Junior Suite with Terrace is larger and has an outdoor balcony with lounge chairs in the sun. There’s no pool or fitness center, but it’s in an excellent location, about a 5-minute walk from the Opera House, Square, and City Hall. There’s also an on-call doctor. The charming Coffee Shop has a breakfast buffet and a la carte menu serving pastries, drinks, and beer.
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14. Silverland Sakyo
Hotel phone: +84 28 3829 5295
Boutique hotel in Little Tokyo in the City Center. Experience Japanese culture, food, and environment at this charming hotel. The smallish rooms feature a bathtub in the open and a Japanese toilet. Some rooms don’t have windows, so pay attention when booking, but the Sakyo Signature room has a balcony with chairs. KL Spa has sliding doors, or ‘Shoji,’ and offers beauty treatments and a variety of massages from Swedish, Thai, and Vietnamese to hot stones. On the rooftop is a petite Zen garden-inspired jacuzzi pool with lounge chairs, a bar, and city views. There’s a weight bench, stationary bike, and treadmill by the pool. Sakyo Restaurant offers breakfast and an afternoon hi-tea buffet. The hotel also provides an airport shuttle service.
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15. Sofitel
Hotel phone: +84 28 3824 1555
Large luxury hotel with French-influenced design in the City Center.
Rooms feature wood floors and city views, and the 2,400 square foot Presidential Suite has two bedrooms, a patio, an office, a living room, and a dining room that can seat 10. On the 18th floor is the outdoor pool with lounge chairs and city views. The large fitness center has Technogym equipment, certified trainers, and yoga classes. Create your own suit at Nhut Bespoke Tailoring, which has over 50 years of experience in tailoring. There are five restaurants (including one by the pool), three lounges, and a Cuban cigar and whiskey bar. Barbaard is a traditional gentleman’s barbershop and lounge decorated with rich colors and ornate details. It’s close to the Opera House and Notre Dame.
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16. The Hammock
Hotel phone: +84 28 3636 3621
Boutique hotel around Phạm Ngũ Lão. The compact and contemporary rooms all feature a hammock or chair hammock swing. For families, there’s the Family Nest room, and the hotel has an area with washing machines. Though there’s no pool, it makes up for it with activities like rooftop movie nights. The game room has a pool table and board games, and there are weekend yoga classes, or you can just lounge in their namesake hammocks in the room or on the roof. There’s an ala carte brunch until noon. It’s close to the Ben Thanh Market, the Fine Arts Museum, the War Remnants Museum, and the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City.
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17. Renaissance Riverside
Hotel phone: +84 28 3822 0033
Trendy and convenient, riverside, but noisy. The lobby is ultra-chic, but guest rooms are far more welcoming, with matching carpets, luggage rack, and cushioned headboards. Those above the 10th floor offer the finest possible views of the city and/or river, but no rooms have a balcony. Any river view overlooks the chaotic main road, although effective double-glazing primarily blocks traffic noise. The pool is undersized but located way up on the 21st floor, with panoramic views from three sides – bettered only by the rooftop bar one level above. Situated on a corner facing a tiny park and the Saigon River, it’s surrounded by cafés and shops and within an easy stroll to the various attractions around District 1.
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18. Adora Art
Hotel phone: +84 28 3636 2929
Boutique hotel around Bến Thành Market. These charming French-inspired rooms are great for couples. They have hardwood and tiled floors, but some don’t have windows, and some are only available for 2 hours during the day, so pay attention when booking. There’s a smallish adults-only rooftop pool and bar with lounge chairs and views of the city. The Fitness Center has a sauna, steam room, and hot tub. There’s also a daily breakfast buffet. It’s within walking distance of Ben Thanh Market and the Opera House.
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