26 Best Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This is a great option if you're looking for a bit of glamour slap-bang in the middle of local life, and a stylish alternative to the big downtown hotels. It's a cute boutique hotel with compact rooms, an artsy black-and-white color scheme, friendly staff, and a huge bookcase in the lobby—hence the name. Rooms are comfortable and bathrooms have rain showers.

Extensive renovations in 2019 have freshened up this iconic hotel, which opened to the public on Christmas Eve 1959 and has entertained VIPs from around the globe throughout its storied history. When Saigon was the capital of South Vietnam in the 1960s, the Caravelle was filled with embassy staff and journalists, many of whom would gather at the hotel's famed Saigon Saigon Bar to share information and rumors. Today the Caravelle's original 10-story building has been joined by a newer 24-story building.

Minimalist contemporary design, attentive staff, a daily spa treatment included in the room rate, and an "anywhere, anytime" breakfast policy, this all-suites hotel is something quite unique in Ho Chi Minh City. The suites are spacious and stylish and the daily spa treatments will add a touch of decadence to every stay.

Although more modest than the Majestic or the Continental hotels, this pleasant old colonial establishment evokes a bygone era of Francophone Saigon in the heart of the old Rue Catinat, where it's been since 1930. Unfortunately, like the other colonial-era hotels here, the Grand is state-owned and suffers accordingly compared to some of the international chains. The rooms are light and airy, with wooden floorboards giving them some old-world charm and the higher floors have lovely views of the river.

History buffs head for this French-colonial-style hotel, where Graham Greene's classic The Quiet American was set and the author himself stayed (in room 214); it was also the meeting place of journalists and diplomats during the Vietnam War. The unique outdoor courtyard garden and dining area dates from the late 19th century—a delightful place to relax with a drink beneath frangipani trees, some of which were planted in 1880. Sadly, the government-owned Continental is only a shadow of its former self, and its interior style and the quality of the finishing lack the finesse of its international counterparts.

Part of a Malaysian-owned chain of five-star hotels, the Equatorial has spacious rooms, an excellent Pan-Asian restaurant, and impeccable service. The rooms are welcoming and modern, with individual temperature control and a bedside control panel for the in-room electronics. Public areas include a cozy café, a sophisticated lounge, and a bar alongside the inviting outdoor pool, which is lit up at night (do try the swim-up bar). The spa and health club are among Ho Chi Minh City's best, and the Thursday night free-flowing wine and seafood buffet should not be missed.

On the waterfront overlooking the Saigon River, this is one of Vietnam's truly great colonial hotels, steeped with nostalgia and old-world charm that has been accumulating since 1925. Rooms, with their high ceilings, art deco touches, and marble bathrooms, strike a delicate balance between airy and intimate, while the pool offers a great vantage point to lie back and soak in the tropical colonial vibe. Be sure to sip a drink at the rooftop bar at night when the city lights sparkle below.

Minimalist Japanese elegance and attentive service are the hallmarks of this hotel, right on the border of District 1 and District 5. Rooms are stylish and comfortable, the pool is a welcome oasis from the chaos outside, and the excellent Chinese/Taiwanese restaurant does some of Ho Chi Minh City's best dim sum. The hotel provides a regular free shuttle bus service to downtown areas, including the Reunification Palace and the Opera House.

This luxe hotel wows with a flashy lobby and world-class amenities, but the rooms are warm and inviting, with understated elegance in neutral tones and floor-to-ceiling windows. Amenities include a spa, restaurants, and a 30-meter outdoor swimming pool that puts you at eye-level with the spires of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Fresh orchids and stunning photography feature through the hotel. The weekend brunches at the Intercontinental's Market 39 restaurant are among the best in town, with all-you-can-eat seafood and free-flowing Champagne.

Part of the Marriott family, the well-located Le Méridien ticks all the boxes with its superior service, excellent club lounge facilities on the 22nd floor, ninth-floor pool deck, and comfortable rooms. Thoughtful design touches are evident throughout the hotel, from the window art displays and the 24-hour soundtrack curated by French new wave band Nouvelle. Regular activities are scheduled for children, such as eclair-making classes.

Pleasant and luxurious, this riverfront business-centric hotel, part of the giant Korean-owned Lotte chain, has fancy marble bathrooms and spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows for great views. The oversize lobby atrium is opulent, with a stained-glass ceiling, marble from top to bottom, and two huge bronze horse statues. The ground-floor pool is one of Saigon's largest.

A small family-run boutique hotel outside the city center, Ma Maison is an affordable alternative to the city's international properties and a comfortable retreat from downtown that's ideal for solo travelers or couples. The in-house restaurant Little Bistro offers Asian and European cuisine in an understated and comfortable space.

This was the first modern high-rise hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, and though it's looking a little tired these days, the central location, business amenities, gym, tennis court, and pool make it a good choice for business travelers. The lobby is glitzy, but the glamour of the rooms—still spacious and with high ceilings—has faded somewhat.

Arguably one of the top international luxury hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, the Park Hyatt Saigon has a hard-to-beat location close to the major downtown attractions. French colonial–inspired interiors, high teas under the soaring ceiling of the Park Lounge, a lush tropical pool area, and a world-class spa—all of these amenities, and the excellent restaurants and bar, provide guests with a soothing escape from the bustle outside. The Opera House is right next door, Dong Khoi Street is a block away, and it's a short walk to Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Ben Thanh Market.

One of the newer hotels in town, Pullman Saigon Centre has large, comfortable, and stylish rooms with great views, well-trained staff, and a convenient location close to the central business district and tourist sights. The on-site restaurant, Mad Cow Wine & Grill, is well worth a visit.

Part of the Marriott group, the Renaissance Riverside offers comfortable elegance in a central location; its relaxing pool area on the 21st floor has panoramic views of the city. The rooms are welcoming, and have spacious bathrooms and all the modern conveniences you could need.

If it's history you're after, the Rex has it in spades: it played a major role in the Vietnam War, hosting the American Information Service's daily "five o'clock follies" press briefings, and the 1976 unification of North and South Vietnam was announced in the same room. Nowadays it's an upscale and slightly kitsch state-run hotel that has a uniquely quirky charm. Even if you don't stay here, stop by for a drink at the rooftop bar, with its view of downtown, decorative lights, and the "five o'clock follies" cocktail containing Bacardi, cucumber, and lemon.

True to its name, these riverside apartments house a mix of long-term expat residences and short-term visitors, and can be a great deal for families. The complex has a pool, children's playground, expansive grassed areas, tennis courts, a café, a convenience store, and a fitness center on-site. There are regular shuttle boats and buses to District 1. The views of the Saigon River from the river-fronting apartments are great, and the complex manages to maintain the feel of a boutique resort while maintaining home-away-from-home comforts.

In this luxurious, peaceful, and private complex on Thanh Da Island, a 20-minute boat ride from downtown, apartments with one to four bedrooms come with a full kitchen and a washing machine, and there's a range of resort-style, family-friendly amenities including restaurants, bars, a swimming pool, children's play areas, a library, and a gym. Breakfast on a floating pontoon on the river is a great way to start the day. Thanh Da Island is considered one of Ho Chi Minh City's last green vestiges. There are regular boat and minibus shuttles into District 1 and apartments can be rented on a nightly or monthly basis.

An older, but scrupulously maintained hotel in one of Ho Chi Minh City's premier streets, the Sheraton Saigon has all the amenities and standards of service you'd expect from a top international chain. Most of the rooms were renovated in late 2019 and there's an excellent pool on the fifth floor. You can enjoy exquisite yum cha (dim sum and tea) at Li Bai Chinese restaurant. Best of all, a host of the city's best shops, sights, and restaurants are within walking distance.

This superstylish hotel has elegant French and Vietnamese influences throughout, from the imposing lobby to the tasteful rooms to the sultry Boudoir Lounge on the ground floor. The views of the city from the pool on the 18th floor are spectacular, and the hotel's fitness center is one of the city's best. As you would expect from a Sofitel property, the service is five-star, as are the dining options.

Serviced one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with fully equipped kitchens, only a short walk from the zoo and with on-site recreation amenities, make this a perfect choice for families. The resort-style pool, barbecue area, landscaped grounds, children's playground, daily housekeeping, and 24-hour reception all make for a great alternative to a hotel room, especially during the rainy season when a heavy downpour can mean staying indoors for hours on end.

Part of the scenic riverfront Thao Dien Village complex, this welcoming boutique hotel on landscaped grounds is a celebration of textures, with a giant knitted installation in the lobby and rooms combining corduroy cushions, muslin drapes, and polished cement floors. The outside areas of Thao Dien Village are just as lavish, enticing you from one section to another, leading you through the ficus trees, past ponds and fountains to the Italian restaurant, the Vietnamese restaurant, and the seemingly secret table settings overlooking the river.

Depending on your point of view, The Reverie's Italianate design is sumptuously ornate or completely over-the-top; nevertheless, the hotel, inside the landmark Times Square building, is bedazzling, and each of the spacious and comfortable rooms has glamorous bathrooms and stunning views of Saigon. The on-site spa and restaurants are, as you would expect, as decadent as the design.

Channeling the elegance of the French-colonial era with soaring ceilings and wooden floorboards, the three-story Villa Song is an ode to art and interior design and is a favorite with discerning travelers. Each room is unique and features classic wooden furniture, art from the owner's private collection, unusual light fixtures, and graceful bathrooms.