Best Hotel in Saigon: Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as it is sometimes called, is home to hundreds of hotels, hostels, and other places to stay. A visitor to the city will never lack for accommodation. However, choosing the right hotel can be almost overwhelming – there is such choice and variety that picking out any one single place can seem nearly impossible. However, there are a few things to keep in mind that can make the process easier.
Are you interested in the location or the price? Saigon has a number of budget hotels that provide clean, bare-bones accommodation. You may not have much beyond a bed in these hotels, but you won’t pay more than $7 per night or so. On the other hand, there are five-star hotels that cost nearly $250 or more per night, yet have every amenity you can possibly imagine.
Finding the right hotel for your stay is a matter of understanding the layout of the city. Saigon is divided into 24 different districts. The most active parts of the city are in District 1 and District 3, and this is also where the most expensive hotels will be. For instance, the Hotel Nikko Saigon and the Pullman Saigon Centre Hotel are both found in District 1. Both are high-class, highly rated places to stay in the city that are located nearby many of the major attractions.
However, if the cost is an obstacle, consider staying in one of the outlying districts. Five of Saigon’s districts are strictly residential, populated mostly by locals and non-English speakers. Living in this area will be much less expensive, as tourists do not usually visit that area of the city. Prices are much lower there.
For the budget traveler, the best neighborhood is Pham Ngu Lao, where you can find a number of inexpensive but reliable and clean guesthouses. These Pham Ngu Lao guesthouses are usually multi-bed structures, similar to a hostel in that all guests will sleep in the same communal area. Although it lacks the privacy of a hotel room, the costs are much lower and present those staying there with the chance to meet a number of new people and learn from those experiences.
If you aren’t quite ready to commit to shared sleeping quarters, consider exploring the Dong Khoi area a bit. It’s still not the most expensive option, but is a step up from Pham Ngu Lao in both the quality of amenities as well as the price. It’s located near the major Chinese population of the city and their Big Market, one of the major attractions in Saigon.
Ultimately, where to stay comes down to what you are looking for. If you’re willing to pay for higher costs, five star hotels in Saigon are much less expensive than equivalent accommodations anywhere else in the world. The hotels in Saigon give off a clean, sophisticated vibe, with many catering to a younger, more hip group. If you’re interested in seeing the sights of the city and immersing yourself in the culture, make sure to stay in either District 1 or District 3, although staying in a nearby district can make it a less expensive trip overall.
Remember, even if you spend a large portion of your budget on a hotel, other costs are small. Food prices start at just $0.35 cents for a meal, especially if you shop from a street stall, and it doesn’t cost much at all to spend a good bit of time exploring all the nooks and crannies of Saigon.
