Park Hyatt Saigon: The Perfect Retreat in Ho Chi Minh City

After spending three weeks in Bali sharing rooms with friends, I was pretty excited to unwind all by myself for two nights in the Park Hyatt Saigon upon my arrival in Vietnam.

Before my trip, I had heard some mixed reviews about Ho Chi Minh City in general. Some said not to spend more than a day, while others really loved it. All I knew is that I’d want a cozy place to escape the bustling city at the end of the day — and the Park Hyatt couldn’t have been a more perfect choice.

The entire hotel is absolutely breathtaking and I love that it feels super luxurious without the stuffy and exclusive vibe of some other 5-star establishments. From the receptionist to the telephone operators, the staff were some of the friendliest I’ve met. Upon check-in, the personnel at the front desk personally escorted me up to my room for an introduction on everything I would need to know about the space, and the staff out front were more than happy to give directions to my cab and Uber drivers (ps- use Uber scooter!) so I always knew I was headed in the right direction.

Location

The hotel is about a 45 minute drive from the main airport in Saigon and located in a convenient part of the city close to many restaurants, tourist sites and the Saigon River. I never felt that any destination was inconvenient or too far to get to from the Park Hyatt, and even if you decide to take a tour on your own two feet, there’s plenty of things to keep your eyes occupied right outside of the hotel.

The Vibe

The entire property was renovated and reopened recently in 2015, so all of the French colonial decor feels traditional yet modern and up-to-date. The rooms are immaculate, comfortable and every detail feels luxurious and elegant without being too over the top. Also, one of my least favorite things is arriving to a hotel to the lingering smell of smoke in the rooms and halls, which is why I love that the Park Hyatt is entirely smoke-free (aka smelling fresh at all times)!

The Rooms

If you told me I could move into one of the rooms at the Park Hyatt, I’d be packing up my things for Ho Chi Minh City in a heartbeat. The rooms are outfitted with handcrafted traditional furniture but are juxtaposed with modern elements like an iPad and sensor lighting (no more fumbling around in the dark for the light switch).

The cozy, white bed with quilted headboard was fit for a princess and the bathroom was like another apartment in itself with a mini hallway leading to the vanity, a closet and then separate rooms both for the toilet and bathing area which includes a shower AND a tub — hello, heaven. Other awesome features include in-room adapters so you can skip the mini mart, a personalized Park Hyatt map of Ho Chi Minh City and some of the best Wifi I’ve had in Asia yet.

Dining

With only two days to explore the city, I unfortunately didn’t get to take advantage of all of the Park Hyatt’s amazing dining options, but I did order the traditional Saigon breakfast for room service one morning. Let me tell you, it was divine. Chicken pho and the freshest tropical fruit, paired with some coconut water and Vietnamese iced coffee to wash it down? So, so good.

Amenities & Services

I got to take advantage of the fitness center during one of my mornings here and while I don’t typically describe my workouts this way, let me just say that it was delightful. The fitness area is light and bright, and is outfitted with modern exercise equipment. Plus, the treadmills are situated in front of a row of white-shuttered windows that look out onto views of the city streets below, so you can distract yourself during your grueling workout.

The pool was another beautiful oasis from the city streets and the lounge chairs were more like mini beds — so comfortable and cushy! I literally could have layed there all day if I didn’t have a flight to catch. Until next time. Other amenities to check out are the full-service Xuan Spa, cooking classes and popular Saturday afternoon tea that includes a buffet of yummy treats and imported teas from France.

The Final Word 

Between the amazing service, beautiful decor and comfortable rooms, the Park Hyatt is definitely one of my favorite hotels I’ve ever stayed at and I can’t wait to go back. Also, while the room price might be steep for the budget traveler, you can stay here for free with Hyatt points or with your free nights for opening up the Hyatt credit card through Chase like I did. You get 2 free nights at any Hyatt property with your card bonus after meeting the minimum spend AND an additional one free night per year. You can learn more here.

Other bonuses of being a Hyatt Gold Passport member? Late checkout, 15% of all dining, and extra points earned by using your card at Hyatt properties — basically a no brainer.

Have you stayed at the Park Hyatt Saigon before? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

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