The French built several landmark hotels in Saigon’s downtown precinct during the colonial period that ended in 1954. In those days, the street was known as the Rue Catinat. Today it's known as Dong Khoi St (Total Revolution St). The Rue Catinat was at the centre of international intrigue through Vietnam's wars from the 1950s until the end of the "American War" in 1975. The strip was also the setting for Graham Greene's novel about 1950s pre-American war Saigon, The Quiet American.
If you’re expecting a Raffles-style colonial luxury experience at one of these colonial hotels, be warned. These are all still government owned and run. They have a state-owned feel. They're a long way off their potential. Committed history buffs and those with an interest in quirky hotels will still find them interesting. They are all perfectly located for an experience of Saigon.
The Continental Hotel Saigon
The oldest and best known of Saigon’s colonial hotels is The Continental. It’s probably the best bet for those seeking out historical ambience - though it’s the most modest in terms of facilities. The Continental's exterior has changed little since its glory days.
Built in 1880, The Continental is also one of the oldest colonial buildings still standing in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a handsome feature on Dong Khoi St - right by another colonial era icon, the City Opera House.
The Continental's interiors are a bit of a letdown - though they might come as a welcome break from the template interiors of most contemporary 5 star hotels.
Saigon's Continental should be one of the grand hotels of South East Asia - but it languishes with a mediocre 1990s interior refurb. Not sure how long we'll be waiting for a proper upgrade. It's been rumoured for decades but never seems to eventuate. It's perfectly comfortable and quite fun. Graham Greene lived here and wrote The Quiet American in Room 214 in the 1950s.
This is the best location in town.
The Majestic Hotel
Overlooking the Saigon River, The Majestic, is also a shadow of its former self. Like the Continental, it has a quirky state-run charm. Its current incarnation looks completely different to the building that found fame in the mid twentieth century.
A massive expansion is planned to the hotel that includes a huge tower that will further erode the original character of the place.
The views across the fast changing Saigon skyline from the rooftop bar, are worth a look.
The Grand Hotel
A little further up the road, The Grand Hotel is, like The Continental, a special piece of architecture. Known as the Saigon Palace hotel when it opened in 1930, it features a distinctive dome. It’s an architectural highlight of the street. But the Grand has also felt the heavy hand of state-owned refurbishment and a major expansion as well. The rooms in the original wing are worth a look. The "new" wing rooms look similar to mid-range rooms around the city.
There wasn't even a token effort made to give the "new" wing a feel that reflects the character of the original structure.
The Caravelle Saigon
The Caravelle and the Rex are two post-colonial hotels that carry some serious history.
The Caravelle, located directly opposite the Continental, is the only hotel in this list offering a truly international hotel experience. It's been internationally managed since its 1990s refurbishment.
The Caravelle was home to international news bureaus and many big names of journalism during the Vietnam War. The war-era Australian Embassy was also located in the Caravelle.
When it opened in 1959, The Caravelle was a symbol of Saigon’s new modernist architecture and a newly minted state - The Republic of Vietnam aka. South Vietnam. It played witness to the demise of that state as the Vietnam War took hold in the 1960s.
After the end of the war in 1975, the Caravelle became a state-owned property. In the 1990s foreign investors came aboard, added a new larger wing, significantly changing the character of the building.
The Caravelle remains the only one of the city's historic hotels with foreign investment.
The Caravelle rooms were renovated in 2019.
The Rex Hotel
The Rex Hotel sits on one of the city’s most prized pieces of real estate - right by the People’s Committee Building - the centre of government. It began its days as a garage and auto-dealership. In the 60s it was home to the US Government’s Abraham Lincoln Library. Regular US military press briefings known as the five o’clock follies, where officials would recite body counts were also held here. In a gesture of questionable taste, the Rex hotel rooftop bar has an overpriced cocktail named a cocktail the five o’clock follies.
The Rex is now a rambling structure devouring an entire block. Piecemeal renovations and additions over many years give the place a disjointed feel. Again though, high marks for quirkiness and a perfect location. The suites may be the best bet.
Check out our handpicked list of the best places to stay in Saigon here.
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