Is The Park Hyatt Saigon Still Tops?

There are hotels that truly provide an oasis from the hustle and bustle of cities. After landing, and then wading through another few hours of entry processing, not to mention the crazy motorbike traffic from the airport into Saigon, I caught my first glimpse of the Park Hyatt Saigon. It was love at first sight! My Park Hyatt Saigon review reveals this hotel as a gem of a property.

The historic Park Hyatt Saigon.

From that first impression something about the elegance and architecture told me I discovered an oasis. As I entered, I was delighted by a big beautiful lobby decorated with fresh flower arrangements.

What a lobby. Image by Park Hyatt Saigon.

Perhaps the most intriguing feature of the Park Hyatt Saigon is the memorial that has pride of place at its entrance. The site was a U.S. military accommodation from the early 1960s known as the Brinks Hotel Officer’s Quarters.

On Christmas Eve 1964 a Viet Cong car bomb exploded near the lobby as part of an escalating campaign of violence across the city against the US aligned South Vietnamese regime. Thirteen Vietnamese and two American servicemen were killed in the attack. The memorial here commemorates the Viet Cong action against U.S. Forces. The Brinks building was later demolished to make way for the Park Hyatt Hotel.

How I Paid and My Room Assignment at the Park Hyatt Saigon

Don’t think for a minute that I’ll go easy on the Park Hyatt Saigon as I pen this hotel and hotel room review. I may be a Hyatt fan girl, but that often means I hold Hyatt properties to a higher standard. After all, first impressions matter and if you’ve not yet stayed here I want you to have the best and most informed impression possible.

I’m not writing to promote Hyatt. I’m writing to inform readers!

The Park Hyatt Saigon was my choice on a six night stay in Saigon. I had high expectations for this hotel based on what I’d heard from others and I was not to be disappointed. In fact, my expectations were exceeded.

For one night I used my World of Hyatt free night award, that comes with my Chase Hyatt credit card when I renew it each year.

• Learn more about this card here.

For the remaining nights I used a cash and points rate of 7500 points and $97. The all-cash rate was $378 per night. When I  pay cash for a hotel stay,  I let Pruvo monitor my rate for price drops! It’s a free service, and who doesn’t like saving cash?

I’ve actually had a few stays at the Park Hyatt Saigon, so I’ll be telling you about both the Park Executive Suite and the Park Suite.

I had a nice surprise at check-in. Because of my Globalist status with Hyatt, I was upgraded to a Park Executive Suite. They are large and gorgeous, and feel like you’re in someone’s home. The hotel has  245 rooms and 23 suites.

Sweeping view of my suite. Image by Shelli Stein.

The quaint, unique and historical living area was a true charm. Image by Park Hyatt Saigon.

The Park Hyatt, Saigon, located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, in District 1, is a World of Hyatt Category 5 property, meaning free nights start at 20,000 Hyatt points per night. When it was a category 4 property, it was an awesome choice for your World of Hyatt free award night certificate that comes with your yearly renewal on your Chase Hyatt credit card.

But alas that is no longer the case.

The average length of stay at the hotel is for two nights. November through March is the leisure travel season for the hotel. All year long it’s a business hotel. I can confirm this because on all of my Park Hyatt Saigon stays the hotel has been filled with business travelers, many of whom are attending conferences at the property.

On any given day about 10% of the guests are Hyatt Globalists and 50-60% of the guests are Hyatt members.

Using my Hotel Room Scorecard I broke down the individual elements of my Park Executive Suite at the Park Hyatt Saigon, which scored a 36 of 40 points.

Location (5/5)

The location of the Park Hyatt Saigon was perfect. Saigon is a great walking city. It doesn’t have a metro system. Its reputation as a crazy place where every single local uses a motorbike is true. Taxis are available, of course, but I found that they are often penned in by the throngs of motorbikes and I’m just better off on foot, anyway.

The hotel is in District 1, right near the Opera House, so within thirty minutes you can walk to almost all of the sites you’ll be visiting. The Park Hyatt Concierge team will offer you a wonderful map of the area. Take a few of them, keep them handy, and you’ll be good to go.

Lighting (5/5)

Both the bedroom and the living area of the suite have beautiful natural lighting, with almost floor to ceiling windows.

The Park Hyatt Saigon underwent extensive renovations in 2015 refreshing the look and room amenities. The architecture, both in the rooms and throughout the hotel, is both historic and yet elegant and modern, a truly wonderful combination.

Throughout the suite there are overhead lights that provide good lighting and I liked that you could dim them as well. Once a hotel has been renovated it baffles me when I stay in a room where the lights haven’t been switched out to include dimmer switches. This suite however is a “smart” room with controls available on an iPad. I found all the lights, windows, and switches easy to use.

In the Park Suite the lighting isn’t nearly as good. There are still floor to ceiling windows but the lamp and overhead lighting wasn’t nearly enough. I did request  extra lighting, and within minutes a few floor lamps were delivered to my suite. Made a huge difference for me!

Window Access (4/5)

The Park Hyatt Saigon is located on a very busy street with car, motorbike, and general street noise.  Because of the hotel’s location, I would imagine that most of the rooms have a city view.

The hotel is right in the thick of it. You could manually open the windows, yet with the windows closed it was amazingly quiet from the fourth floor room where I was staying.

There are two levels of window shades, one for sun/privacy and shutters for black-out darkness.

I really like both the look and function of shutters, and to see them in a hotel room seemed unusual and special. They gave the whole room a different look and feel.

Bed Comfort (3/5)

The bed was too hard for me, but not as hard as some other beds at Hyatt properties in Asia.

Beautiful master bedroom

Bathroom (4/5)

There are two bathrooms in the Executive Suites. One is just off the entry way to the right of the door. The other bathroom is the master bath.

Both bathrooms were large by any standard, but the master bathroom was downright huge.

In the Park Suite the bathroom wasn’t nearly as large. It only had a single sink. And let me mention the toilet room. It was SMALL. When seated on the toilet the wall was right up to your face. Anyone taller, wider, or with less than great mobility would be challenged by the cramped space.

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Entry way to master bathroom

Park Hyatt Saigon master bathroom area.

The master bathroom. Image by Park Hyatt Saigon

There were abundant hooks for towels, double sinks in the master bathroom, a separate tub and shower and a bidet. Just off the master bathroom area there is a large walk-in closet. I found the closet conveniently positioned along the walk from the bedroom to the bathroom.

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Plenty of space in the bedroom closet

Interior Appointments and Furnishings (5/5)

There are gorgeous antiques throughout the rooms. The suite was a luxurious space with wood floors and carpet and very little artwork on the walls.

The living room is paired with a dining area, with a table that doubled as a perfect workspace. I actually preferred the dining table to the desk because the desk was in the corner without much of a view.

Spacious living room and dining area

I found the couch to be a bit old and not so comfortable, so I avoided it during most of my stay.

One of my pet peeves in hotel rooms is when the front door peephole is placed too high. In this room, the door peephole is a good height for me.

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Electronics (5/5)

Plugs and outlets were plentiful and well-placed throughout the suite. There were outlets near the beds and universal plugs and USB charging ports at the desk.

Snack and Minibar (5/5)

The living room was attached to a full kitchenette, a perfect and totally appreciated surprise. This was perfect and I enjoyed using it every day. It has a small fridge, a sink, a Nespresso machine, and plenty of counter space.

In the Park Suite there was not a full kitchenette. There was, however, a counter and cabinets in the living room of the suite. This provided plenty of space for any snacks or beverages.

Great, well-equipped kitchenette. What a nice surprise!

Good stash of water in my room each day.

Hotel Service

I can’t help but mention the service at this hotel because it really does tie into my being so impressed with the Park Hyatt Saigon. Because of my Hyatt Globalist profile, I’m known as the dragon fruit woman. I love dragon fruit and it’s best when eaten fresh throughout Asia. Every day the staff delivered dragon fruit, along with other fruit, to my room.

A wonderful selection of fresh fruits — including my favorite, dragonfruit — were brought to my room each day.

I love dragonfruit!

Even eating fruit as fast as I could, the room looked like a fruit stand! Along with all the fruit, the staff also brought me delicious ice tea each day, water bottles galore, and every day they topped off my stash of Nespresso pods.

This Park Hyatt Saigon review shows why I could live in this hotel full-time!!

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Breakfast Options

For breakfast there is a restaurant area on the lobby floor. Hotel guests use the restaurant, as do many locals. It offers a full buffet. And I do mean full!

There was whole fruit (which I very much prefer over assorted fruit cups prepared by a hotel). There was also a large area with salad options—plenty of greens and veggies as well. I wish all hotel restaurants would offer salad for breakfast!

Naturally, fresh breads and baked goods (plenty of cold cereal options) as well as a cheese and assorted meats station. A large fridge had an assortment of yogurts. There were also fresh juices on offer.

There was also a menu to order from with many western options as well as Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese dishes to sample.

Nothing was missing from this buffet!

There was table service for coffee and whatever else you might need.

The price for the buffet breakfast is VND 930,000 per person if not included in the room rate. As a Globalist breakfast was included with my room. My sense is that if you enjoy breakfast buffets, you’ll be very pleased with the one the Park Hyatt Saigon offers.

There are many large common space areas at the hotel. There is a large cafe and bar just off the lobby. They are well used by hotel guests.

What Guests At The Park Hyatt Bangkok  Complain About?

When I review a hotel I always wonder what complaints hotel guests have, so I ask the hotel team. This hotel’s chief complaint is not one I’ve come across very often.

The chief complaint management receives is that people who stay at the hotel complain about the air conditioning. The air conditioning setting only goes to 19 degrees Celsius. Guests want to be able to make the room even cooler than that.

I’m not being unsympathetic, but I walked into my suite and the air was set at 19 C and I was freezing.  I immediately reset the air for a room that wasn’t an ice box. I recognize that Saigon can be hot and humid. I do wonder, though, if these same folks have their air set at 16 C at home. Just sayin………

Fitness and Spa Facilities At The Park Hyatt Saigon

There is a medium sized outdoor pool and lounge chairs at poolside. I did not use the pool or gym during my stay. There is a jacuzzi and steam room inside the women’s locker room. From my window I could see the pool and it was well used. The garden setting is lovely!

Final Thoughts on the Park Hyatt Saigon

Back in the day, the Park Hyatt Saigon was a fantastic value, especially using free award nights combined with points.

Now as a category 5 property, you’ll have to decide if it’s still a good value when you travel to Saigon.

For me it still is.

There is a delicious restaurant for breakfast, which is open for other meals as well.

The food and concierge service was spot on, and the suite itself worked very well for me. The location, amenities, and exceptionally attentive staff puts this hotel on my absolutely would stay here again list. Putting together this Park Hyatt Saigon review was truly a pleasure. I hope you’ll get to experience the Park Hyatt Saigon for yourself!

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