Rex Hotel Saigon

The Rex Hotel is one of the most famous buildings in Ho Chi Minh City, standing at the corner of Le Loi and Nguyen Hue boulevards in the centre of District 1. Its history is remarkable. It opened in 1927 as the Bainier Auto Hall, a two-storey car showroom and garage, and in 1959 it was converted into the 100-room Rex complex, with cinemas, a cafeteria, a dance hall and a library. During the Vietnam War it hosted the daily press briefings of the American military command, nicknamed the Five O'Clock Follies by the journalists who attended, and its rooftop bar was a gathering place for officers and correspondents.

After 1975 the hotel was renamed the Ben Thanh Hotel, becoming the Rex again in 1986. It was extended and renovated in 2003 and is owned by Saigontourist. Today it is a five-star hotel with 286 rooms and suites, from Deluxe rooms up to the Governor, Imperial and Presidential suites. There are five restaurants plus a café and bar, including the Hoa Mai and Cung Dinh restaurants, the Paradise Coffee Lounge and the Vertical Garden, as well as the famous Rooftop Garden Bar, which Newsweek named one of the best bars in Southeast Asia in 1996. Guests have a gym, outdoor swimming pools and beauty and health treatments.

The Rex suits history enthusiasts and travellers who want to be in the very centre, with Nguyen Hue Walking Street at the door and City Hall, the Opera House and Ben Thanh Market within walking distance.

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.