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For my summer family trip I was looking for a family friendly upscale hotel in Ho Chi Min City (also called Saigon). It was the starting point of our two-week trip through Vietnam. After a short search Le Meridien Saigon, member of Starwood, came up. Le Meridien is a brand I tried once before during a business trip. This new hotel with a modern design seemed like a great place to stay and I can tell you know it was great to stay. In this review I take you around the hotel and share my experiences but lets start with a short video impression:
The hotel
Le Meridien Saigon is a 22 story building on the banks of the Saigon River. Just 7 kilometers from the international airport and the historical center is just a 15-minute walk away. I recommend using Uber for your transportation needs (sign up to receive a free ride here) as it’s up to half the price compared to regular taxis. You will also avoid taxi scams this way. When I arrived with my family the staff warmly welcomed us and directly took care of the luggage. The lobby, or Hub as Le Meridien calls it, is a spacious place full of light. The silver colors represent the water and golden colors the trees. Water drops make up the ceiling lighting. As I booked rooms with access to the club lounge we were escorted there for check in. Just 5 minutes later we had our key cards and could enjoy our rooms. Due to the fact that we would be in Ho Chi Min City just two days we asked the concierge some information on where to go. He knew all the insights and made our stay more pleasant and efficient.
VIETNAM – Must see things in two weeks; a sample Vietnam itinerary
The rooms at Le Meridien Saigon
I booked two rooms for my family of four. Le Meridien Saigon has the option for connecting rooms which is ideal for families. We had one king-size bedroom for my wife & I and one twin bedroom for the kids. The beds are very comfortable with crisp sheets. The air-conditioning, which is a must in Vietnam, was quiet and working well so we all had a good night sleep. On the wall, behind the beds, is a stylized map pointing to the location of the hotel. Le Meridien in French means the line on the globe pointing to a location. You will see in the rooms also the exact GPS location of the hotel on the walls. The furniture is modern with a flat screen TV with HBO access. Rooms come with both city and river view. The bathrooms have a separate bath and rainforest shower. My daughter enjoys always a bath in the evening before sleeping. With the quality amenities she really relaxed and slept even better.
If the classic connecting rooms are too small for you then I suggest booking a grand deluxe or suite. The style is the same but the room is larger. Perfect if your stay is a bit longer or if you might spend more time in the room; we were only in the city all the time exploring. If this is not enough then the presidential suite should be your choice. It’s also suitable for kids as you can see my daughter enjoyed reading a book at the large desk.
Facilities at Le Meridien Saigon
The Meridien Saigon has various facilities: a half indoor-outdoor pool, a gym and SPA. After a long flight a SPA treatment is a great way to rejuvenate and I surprised my daughter with one of the signature treatments at the Explore Spa. I love those father daughter moments. Just next to the SPA is the modern gym and the swimming pool. After the SPA treatment my son and wife joined for some pool time before we would be picked up for our food tour in Ho Chi Min City. Each one of us was fully relaxed.
VIETNAM – Must see things in two weeks; a sample Vietnam itinerary
Dining & Drinking at Le Meridien Saigon
The rooms on the higher floors have club access which I always book if available. It’s a private place to have breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails. During the day it’s a perfect place to do a bit of work or have a coffee. The quality of the food is outstanding with perfect taste and textures. My daughter’s favorite was the fried fish and my sons the fresh sushi. Kids are welcome in the club lounge and the staff was very kid-friendly. Although I prefer to have my breakfast in a private area I always go one time to the regular breakfast during multiple night stays. I had breakfast at the Latest Recipe restaurant once just to give you a better idea of the hotel. The choice is larger but most things can be ordered in the club lounge as well. It’s more crowded of course but the staff still serves you with a friendly smile.
The restaurant serves in the evening a delicious buffet which I personally didn’t taste during this stay. The reason was that I did try the Bamboo Chic restaurant with its eclectic Asian ambience; the other night I did the food tour downtown. The food served is a fusion between Chinese and Japanese dishes. It’s not your standard hotel restaurant; it’s a great place to go for dinner. They took great care of my son’s allergy for lactose. He loved the sashimi and my daughter’s favorite was the Peking duck sushi rolls. On the ground floor next to the hub is Latitude 10 which name refers to the location of the hotel. It serves delicious coffee and fresh-baked pastries. We loved to go there after a morning tour of the city for a coffee and share our experiences with each other.
Conclusion
If you plan or are visiting Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) then I highly recommend staying at Le Meridien Saigon. Whether it’s for a business trip or a leisure trip with the family. The rooms vary in size but are all comfortable and made for the smart and demanding traveler. High quality tasty food is served at the various restaurants and club lounge. All the facilities are present including a beautiful pool with Saigon River view. The staff is friendly and there to assist you with anything you would require. I enjoyed my stay at Le Meridien Saigon and so did my family. I would choose it again if I visit Ho Chi Min City again in the future. I do need to return to Vietnam some day in the future as 2 weeks in Vietnam were not enough.
If you would like to know what you can do in and around Ho Chi Min City then see one of these options: Ho Chi Min City and check out my recommended full 2 week Vietnam itinerary. I will add more destination information over time.
VIETNAM – Must see things in two weeks; a sample Vietnam itinerary
For more hotel information and booking options please visit the website of Le Meridien Saigon:
Website: http://www.lemeridiensaigon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lemeridiensaigon/
Gallery of Le Meridien Saigon
** All opinions are based on a genuine stay, flight or experience. I’m not affiliated with the hotel, airline or tour operator but I might be (partially) sponsored – or paid. **
