Looking to stay in Ho Chi Minh city for about 3-4 nights- needing a room that will accomodate my husband and I plus son in extra bed.

Love the look of Renaissance Riverside, but more than I want to spend.

Considered The Grand, but have read mixed reviews.

Recent firsthand experience of a hotel between $100-150 a night close to markets etc ( don't want to use shuttle bus) would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

I had a totally good experience at the Grand last year...had a beautiful room around the pool, with also a sitting room...We both loved the hotel and the location...However, i know other's won't agree, but i recommend the hotel and would stay there again.

Others to look at would be the Majestic, Bong Sen and Palace Hotels. The first two are on Dong Khoi, the last is on Nguyen Hue. All are in prime locations.

A less expensive, but very well liked option is Indochine. It's located on Hai Ba Trung, also in an excellent location.

If you go to Indochine, be sure to get a superior room; the standard room (101) is on a very noisy stairway, with no window whatsoever..nice and dark at night of course, but VERY claustrophobic.

Other than that, it's a good value choice, mostly for its location.

The Grand is pretty nice, breakfast is included - but a bit overpriced if you get one of the rooms in the new block, which are bland, bland, bland. The older wing rooms (around the pool) looked lovely though.

We stayed at the Majestic on Dong Khoi in early December 2007. Excellent location close to shopping, restaurants, etc...and there are always taxis waiting at the curb. Nice lobby and the staff were very attentive and helpful.

http://www.majesticsaigon.com.vn/accommodation.php

Our room was delightful, with pale yellow walls, white crown moulding and trim, colonial style fixtures, hardwood floors and a large, lovely marble bathroom. Everything was in good working order and the room was quiet too! Nice thoughtful touches included fresh orchids, chocolates and a bedtime story rolled up in parchment tied with a ribbon.

We booked directly on the hotel website and paid $135/nt for a Colonial room which included breakfast and free wireless Internet access. I see they are now also offering free airport pickup, but the rates are much higher. You might want to email them to request a discounted rate and see what they can do for you.

I have stayed at both the Grand and the Majestic. I preferred the Majestic. Very good breakfast.
Desk people at the Majestic very helpful.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to post...still pondering!

What about the Duxton? Anyone have recent experience staying there? All the HCMC hotels seem to have raised their rates a lot over the past year. We were quoted $127 for Duxton from a travel agent.

Alison I also thought that HMC hotel prices seem either quite high or very low ( but too little comforts for my liking) but nothing really in what I'd call a "mid range"

I booked the Duxton through www.vietamstay.com and it cost about $75US 18 months ago. Very pleasant with an astonishingly excellent buffet breakfast - although the pool is on the smallish side. Vietnam Stay is highly reputable and can also arrange transfers from the airport (about $10). I used them throughout Vietnam and was never let down once.

Prices have increased dramatically in HCMC for hotels in 2008. The rate I used to get at the Sheraton in 2007 ($140/night) is now $180. You can expect the same at all the major hotels. Too many visitors and too few rooms available.

My dad stays at the Duxton on all his trips, about 3 times a year. We are also staying there in May this year based on his advice. He is a little older and likes his creature comforts so hopefully it will be good! We are booking through a travel agent in Brisbane and the rate we got was $100AUD night ($90USapprox)

We can get the Metropole HCMC for under $100, but it seems to be a bit of out the way. Any comments on that?
The agent also likes the Grand better than the Duxton....
anyone stayed at the Grand lately?
thanks.

I had mentioned earlier that i stayed at the Grand exactly 1 year ago...as long as u get a room in the old quarter, the rooms are gorgeous..Ours was set around the pool.

I'd forgotten about the Duxton but that was my other choice for HCMC. We didn't end up staying there but it sounded good and the price and location were right. You might want to give it a try.

Bisbee would you mind sharing how you got that rate at the Saigon Sheraton? Needless to say, I paid much more (I also checked out after one night and moved to the Park Hyatt)