Hotel
The Reverie Saigon
An opulent five-star hotel in the Times Square Building between Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi, home to the Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Long Trieu.
A refined luxury hotel on Lam Son Square with 245 rooms, a pool and spa, steps from the Opera House, the Central Post Office and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Good to know
Park Hyatt Saigon is a luxury hotel set on Lam Son Square in the heart of District 1, a quick walk from the Saigon Opera House, the Central Post Office and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The hotel has 245 rooms, including 23 suites, and Hyatt describes a sophisticated design with handcrafted details and modern comforts.
Food and drink are a major part of the experience, with nine restaurants and bars in all. Among them is the Park Hyatt Terrace, a climate-controlled outdoor venue serving Italian aperitivo-style small plates and cocktails, which makes a pleasant spot for an early evening drink without suffering in the heat. A local business directory also lists Opera, an Italian restaurant, Square One, serving Vietnamese and French dishes, the Park Lounge for afternoon tea and 2 Lam Son for nightlife. There is an outdoor pool and a spa with treatments based on traditional Vietnamese rituals and ingredients, as well as a fitness centre.
The hotel suits luxury travellers, couples and business visitors who want a calm, polished base right in the centre. Families will appreciate the pool after a day of sightseeing in the heat. With the Opera House on the same square, it is especially convenient for anyone planning to see the A O Show or another performance.
The hotel's position on Lam Son Square puts it at the start of the classic walking route through District 1: from the door you can walk to the Central Post Office and Notre-Dame Cathedral, then on to Independence Palace, or head the other way down to the river. Taking a drink on the Park Hyatt Terrace before an evening performance at the Opera House is a simple way to enjoy the hotel without staying.
A few practical points apply to most hotels in central Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is about 7 kilometres from the centre, and taxis, ride-hailing cars and city buses all make the trip; many hotels can also arrange a car on request. Rooms facing busy streets can be noisy, so ask for a higher floor or a quieter side if you are a light sleeper. Rates rise around Tet, the lunar new year, and at weekends, so book early for those dates, and check whether breakfast, taxes and service charges are included in the price you are quoted.
245 rooms, including 23 suites.
At 2 Lam Son Square in District 1.
Yes, there is an outdoor pool.
Yes, with treatments based on traditional Vietnamese rituals and ingredients.
Nine, including the Park Hyatt Terrace.
The Saigon Opera House, the Central Post Office and Notre-Dame Cathedral are a quick walk away.
Yes, the pool and central location suit families.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport is about 7 kilometres from the centre.
Restaurant
Chef Peter Cuong Franklin's Michelin-starred restaurant in a narrow tube house in the Old Market, reworking Vietnamese street food with modern technique.
Thing to do
The covered market of central Saigon, in its clock-towered building since 1914, selling food, coffee, crafts and clothing, with a night market on the streets outside.
Bar
One of the city's longest-running rooftop bars, on level 26 of AB Tower, with 360-degree views, DJ nights and a strictly enforced dress code.
Café
The flagship café of Marou, the Vietnamese bean-to-bar chocolate maker founded in 2011, serving chocolate drinks, cakes and French-style pastries on Calmette Street.