Hotel Continental Saigon

This is the higher end of accommodation in Saigon / HCMC but you get what you pay for and the charm and ambience of this hotel far exceeds the generic experience provided by the Hyatts and Sheratons of this world. The rooms are exquisite, spacious and a perfect blend of antique charm and modern facility. The beds are creaky but comfortable. The buffet breakfast is a varied mix of western and eastern food and of good quality. We stayed over Chinese New Year and there were nice little touches that the hotel laid on for its guests, such as a calligrapher writing free messages and a dancing dragon troupe.

I wished to relive the ambiance of the Continental I had in my memory, when I first stayed at the oldest hotel of Saigon 33 years ago, while reading again A Quiet American on the spot it had been written. In this respect my expectations were entirely fulfilled. Beside a lovely and attentive staff, we were pleasantly surprised by the renovated facilities, amenities, equipments and sound isolation from the road. While this would probably not match those of neigbouring recent fives stars international chains establishments, they absolutely guaranteed a fives nights comfortable stay in Saigon. You will nowadays not find a room of equivalent size in recent hotels. 3.5 or more meter ceiling, Over 40 sqm room size. Just wonderful. And the location! Right at a historical centre. Just perfect, unless you would insist on river view and would then need to stay at the Majectic or on a rooftop bar and then stay at the REX, with the Continental all three owned and well managed by Saigon Tourist, i.e the (local) government. After all Vietnam is still a communist country... Highly recommended unless you are fan of modernism and adverse to the smell of old fashioned decor and ambiance. Warning: I may be a bit biased because of my attraction to the past and history... ps: Graham Greene's room was the 214....

The rooms are excellent, really atmospheric and some of the staff are exceptional in their helpfulness. A guy from the reception (don't know his name unfortunately) really went extra lengths to help us with finding the right room for us. I forgot some items at the hotel, they kept them for me for 2 weeks safely and returned swiftly and carefully daringly. Thank you again Continental!!

Location was perfect and it's a great historic building. Room was large, and the air conditioning was very effective. Breakfast in the courtyard was a real treat.

We booked a room overlooking the Opera House. I messaged if it was possible to stay in the Graham Greene room where he wrote 'The Quiet American'. On booking in, I was delighted and surprised when they said we had been put in there. I had read 'Travels with my Aunt' years ago, so this was special. It was a very comfortable stay. The room was palatial. The pillows and bed were divine. The breakfast was delicious, and Vietnamese dishes, particularly tasty. If you like treating your gut microbiome and want to savour a coffee under spectacular trees and to the sound of birdsong, then this is the place to breakfast. We were also treated to nature's power shower the first morning, which the staff took in their stride. As we were leaving, I was very impressed when their cleaning staff messaged a photo of a silly tiny pink inflatable ring (that came with a bathbomb) that had travelled with me from Malaysia, to check we hadn't forgotten it! It gave the reception staff a laugh anyhow. All in all, it was a wonderful stay with the typically very high standards of Vietnamese hospitality.