I’ve been lucky to have some great hotels during my time in Vietnam; the Paragon Saigon was no exception to the rule. Saigon was an incredibly eclectic city combining modern and colonial aspects alongside a few chaotic motorbikes. A blog post detailing what I did in Saigon is here.
The Room
Usually, city hotels have small and cramped rooms because they focus more on location than wanting guests to stay in the hotel all day. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find the size of the room in Paragon Saigon was huge. I would go as far as to compare my triple room with a suite because I had three double beds to choose from (I let my photographer have the corner of one bed). All of the beds were incredibly comfortable and spaced out perfectly.
The room was spacious and well laid out. I had an area with a wardrobe and space to store my suitcase. Inside the wardrobe was a safe, bathrobes and slippers for use in the hotel room. I loved this feature because I reorganised my backpack after days of travelling and moving hotels.
I also had a full-size desk, combining a dressing table and workspace in one. The Wi-Fi connection in the room was fast, and I could get a signal almost everywhere in the hotel, a great addition to the room for anyone working whilst staying in this hotel. The desk was well organised because it had several drawers. Staff in the hotel kindly filled one drawer with tea, coffee and complimentary bottled water on the desk. I always love these touches from a hotel as I can relax in the comfort of my room. Humidity and heat in Saigon are no joke, and the hotel ensures their guests stay hydrated while exploring the city.
The Bathroom
The recently renovated bathroom was big, bright and airy. I’m happy to report there was no window into the bathroom, so I enjoyed showering in privacy (for anyone wondering what I am talking about, visit any of my Vietnam hotel reviews).
The shower was powerful, had no steps to get in and a wide door, making it accessible. Under the sink were drawers filled with every amenity you could want and extra towels. I loved this as I didn’t need to search the hotel for a spare toothbrush.
The view
Unfortunately, Paragon Saigon wins the worst view award. I was not only able to look at a wall out of my building, I could practically touch it. It made me laugh because I made several friends each time I went to look out of the window.
The lack of view in no way affected my stay at this hotel; it just meant I had to go to the swimming pool on the roof of the other building or outside onto the street to see what type of weather was happening each day. But, I was travelling around Vietnam during the rainy season, so I was guaranteed humidity and rain on an afternoon.
The Food
I was pleasantly surprised by the food in the hotel because they had a small vegetarian menu (happy dance). My Photographer and I made our way through three of the dishes and loved two of them. The stir-fried noodles with vegetables were delicious and were big enough to feed three humans (or one dinosaur). My favourite dish was the clay pot tofu with mushrooms because it was perfectly seasoned. The Thai Green Curry was spicier than the surface of the sun, which rendered it inedible but it was filled to the brim with veggies.
Breakfast was a buffet affair with many different cuisines available. There was a range of Western and Asian dishes available, alongside pastries and fresh fruit. Sadly, the coffee wasn’t great, though plenty of juices and tea were available. I am slowly converting to watermelon juice.
The Facilities
Paragon Saigon had a rooftop pool with a beautiful view over District 1. The pool was small, but I thought it was a nice escape after a busy day of exploring. It was worth going to the swimming pool for the view as it shows how vast and populated District 1 is. My favourite time of day to come up to the rooftop was dusk to watch the city lights begin to twinkle. On the level below the swimming pool was a small but basic gym, a great addition to the hotel but I didn’t feel the need to do any extra exercise after walking around the city.
A bar with an indoor and outdoor seating area was adjacent to the lobby. I really liked how this was a nice area to enjoy a drink before bed.
The location
The hotel is in District 1, a short walk from many tourist sites. I loved the location as it meant I could explore on foot rather than using Ho Chi Minh City’s public transport network.
Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Post Office are a 15-minute walk from the hotel along a flat path. Walking the same distance in the opposite direction takes you to the Opera House and City Hall along a park divided by a park where you can find McDonald’s and the Café Apartments.
The Independence Palace and War Remnants Museum are slightly further away but are within a 25-minute walk. Saigon Zoo is also within a 15-minute walk from the hotel via the Japanese area of Saigon. The popular Bui Vien (pedestrian street) is also within walking distance, definitely worth visiting at night as it is reminiscent of the cyberpunk signs of Shinjuku.
Opportunities for shopping are easy to find in District 1. I found this useful to keep my photographer entertained during the rainy afternoons. Vincom shopping mall is 300m away from the hotel and is filled with many Western brands, whereas the designer brands of Dong Khoi are a little further down the same street. The bargains of Ben Thanh Market are just over a kilometre from the hotel, past several other shopping malls.
Ho Chi Minh’s international airport is 9km from the hotel, the bus station is 2.5km away, and the train station is 4km away. Making the hotel a great stopping point for a trip to Saigon.
Overall
I was pleasantly surprised with this hotel, especially the location because it was within easy walking distance of the main sights and many restaurants. I stayed in a quiet and spacious room, ensuring I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to explore the city. I would use this hotel again on future trips to Saigon.
For a daily dose of dinosaur, feel free to visit my Instagram Vegan0saurus.