In a city where traffic can and often does overwhelm visitors, Paragon Saigon Hotel offers an easy launching spot for exploring the bustling Vietnamese city. Located in the heart of District 1, the hotel caters to business and leisure travelers, offering unexpected perks like a spa and rooftop swimming pool perfect for beating the mid-afternoon heat or enjoying a bird’s eye view of the city skyline.
The hotel’s 173 rooms attract an international crowd, and for the most part do a nice job of eliminating language barrier issues. Along with Vietnamese, English and Japanese, French and Spanish are spoken. I spent two nights in a Deluxe Room with two double beds on the 7th floor.
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Traveling with a teenager, the room had plenty of space for both of us to spread out and get comfortable after close to 17 hours of flying. The room gets bonus points for the perfectly placed electrical outlet atop the table separating the two beds, making plugging in and recharging, easy.
The bathroom only had one sink, but the vanity area was large enough for a mother and daughter to peacefully co-exist.
It’s small, but the 12th floor Rooftop Pool offers an escape from warm afternoons while providing nice views of the Saigon skyline. (If jetlag wakes you up at the crack of dawn, the pool is also a nice spot to be at sunrise.) A living wall of plants and strategically placed umbrellas provide shade for anyone hoping to squeeze in a quick nap and neighboring McQueen Lounge makes the pool a popular spot to grab a drink on warm evenings as well.
On-site Fusion Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is open from 5:30am to 10:00pm. Breakfast, which is typically included in the nightly room rate, is served buffet style with numerous options. Japanese, Vietnamese, and American staples like sushi, pho and made-to-order omelets are served, along with a selection of cereal, fruit and breads.
The hotel’s Ho Chi Minh City location gives visitors easy access to many popular attractions. The Opera House is less than a 10 minute walk. Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Square and the Saigon River are a little further, but still within walking distance.
The Paragon Saigon Hotel neighborhood is loaded with a variety of restaurant choices offering traditional Vietnamese dishes including pho and banh mi. If you’re feeling less adventurous there are also a number of well known fast food options. If you need cash, there’s an ATM just a few doors down from the hotel.
In light traffic, the hotel is about a 30 minute drive from the hotel to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Internet is complimentary. It was reliable throughout the property, except at the rooftop pool, where it was non-existent.
Rates for a Deluxe Room start at $146, including breakfast. You can also make your reservation through agoda.com or Booking.com.
Review and photos by Dana Rebmann.
