Located in the heart of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it’s known to the locals, the Park Hyatt Saigon makes a great base to explore the city. There are 245 rooms including 23 suites and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout. Service is of the highest standard, starting with the uniformed staff who open the doors, to the speedy check-in and the porter who carries your luggage.
All rooms have tall windows framed with white wooden shutters, wooden floors, with custom-designed carpets, and elegant handcrafted furniture, including a king-sized bed with plush feather pillows. I liked the white marble bathroom with a walk-in rain shower and there’s a French colonial feel to the space, even though everything is bang up-to-date. Technology includes a large-screen LED TV, a Bose Bluetooth speaker, a Nespresso coffee maker and a mini iPad.
Outside, there’s a garden in the inner courtyard complete with beautiful arches of flowering vines. You’ll find the 20m pool here where you can swim and relax after a tiring day sightseeing. Of course there’s a spa, with four private single treatment rooms, an indoor whirlpool, steam room and an extensive fitness centre
You might need to work out after sampling the extensive breakfasts here. There are Vietnamese, Chinese and Western dishes on offer and I enjoyed delicious noodle soup every morning. The flagship Square One restaurant serves the best local and imported seafood and prepares them in a traditional Vietnamese style. What’s slightly unexpected are the Kobe beef dishes on the menu, perfect if you fancy a traditional steak.
But I prefer to eat Vietnamese and I particularly liked the clay pot dishes including chicken and sweet potato curry, caramelised pork and boiled egg and the eel and green papaya. Don’t think you’re going to be just drinking beer here as there’s a large floor-to-ceiling wine case featuring more than 1,200 bottles of international wines.
Mind you, if you fancy hanging out at the bar, 2 Lam Son is where the fashionable Ho Chi Minh locals enjoy their cocktails. Martinis are good here and a DJ spins the decks from Wednesday to Saturday until the small hours. You can also get drinks in the elegant Park Lounge but their speciality is Afternoon Tea with scones and generous portions of homemade jam and clotted cream.
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Rooms at the Park Hyatt Saigon start at £258 per night.
Vietnam Airlines offers the UK’s only nonstop flights to Vietnam, with daily Dreamliner services from Heathrow T4 to Hanoi or Saigon.
Experience Travel Group (0203 468 6268) can tailor-make 7 night holidays to Southern Vietnam from £2,101 per adult, including 2 nights at the Park Hyatt Saigon, 2 nights at the Victoria Can Tho, 3 nights at La Veranda, Phu Quoc, including daily breakfast, a Saigon city tour, private guides and transfers and return flights with Vietnam Airlines. Upgrade to Premium Economy from £728 per person.
