Saigon Staycation at The Reverie Saigon
This week I had the opportunity to stay at luxury hotel The Reverie Saigon in District 1 Ho Chi Minh City. It was perfect timing, as I’d been busy with work even during winter break, and I needed a little Saigon Staycation.
The Reverie has been open for about a year, with the official opening just in September 2015. I’ve walked by the Times Square building where The Reverie is housed several times during this period, and I had no idea this hotel was inside. The lobby is on the 7th floor, and the rooms start at the 27th floor. I’ve been to many of the skybars in Saigon, and the view from my Panorama Deluxe Room on the 28th floor beat all of them.
The rest of the building houses office blocks, top-end restaurants, and an exclusive shopping mall featuring products used in the hotel. I’m tempted to go look at the pillows and the bedding because the bed was definitely the most comfortable I’ve slept in during my travels in Southeast Asia.
I’ll let the photos tell the rest of the story.
The location is off Nguyen Hue “walking street” which turns into a pedestrian only area later in the evenings. It’s a festive and fun area with lots of local people coming out to play guitar, dance, eat ice cream, and watch the water & lights in the fountains. Along the street you’ll find lots of bars, restaurants, and interesting little boutiques and cafes down small alleyways. Since I usually only go to Nguyen Hue with a destination in mind, I spent some time wandering around. Patriotic music blared from the loudspeakers and lots of families were out with their kids. Last time I wandered around this area, I saw some local hip hop dancers.
The thing that set The Reverie Saigon apart from other high-end properties I’ve visited in Vietnam was the service and the attention to detail. It was as if the staff could anticipate I was going to sneeze, and they’d bring me a tissue. But at the same time, I didn’t feel they were staring at me. It often seems one way or the other in Vietnam: you have to jump up and find a waiter or they’re standing awkwardly close staring at you. This may seem like it should be a given, however even at top-end restaurants in the city sometimes the service aspect is severely lacking.
The Reverie Saigon has a Cantonese restaurant, French restaurant, Italian restaurant, the longest bar in Saigon, and a fabulous deli with wood-fired pizzas and freshly made sandwiches. I can definitely recommend the pizza at The Deli and the French toast (with whipped cream and caramel) at Cafe Cardinal.
For a taste of The Reverie style without the $300+ price tag of a room, head over to the romantic Romeo & Juliet Italian restaurant. If you want to pamper yourself and indulge in luxury in Saigon, book yourself into The Reverie, and don’t forget to use the spa and wake up early enough for the fantastic breakfast. Complete with champagne.
