The Park Hyatt, Saigon is one of the most luxurious (and expensive) hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and so I decided I must have a look around it. I also wanted to have a chat with their staff about the rest of my time in Vietnam.
| The Park Hyatt, Saigon is around the corner from the Continental Hotel, where Graham Greene came up with the idea for The Quiet American, and close to the Caravelle hotel (with its bullet-proof glass) which played a key role, as a communications hub, during the Vietnam War. I met Brian Lai from Events (as Ms Mai Phuong, their PR Manager, had flu) ). I was keen to ask him about the 'Burj Al Arab over the top style' decor at The Reverie, Saigon. He explained this hotel had local owners who wanted it to look uber luxurious. Lobby Brian began the tour by explaining that their 2015 refurbishment had lightened the colours in the lobby and added the crystal chandeliers. The first thing that strikes you in the lobby is the imposing vertical wine 'cellar'. I commented that the lobby looked very 'Park Hyatt'/international 5 star and wondered if guests were hoping for a more 'Vietnamese look'. This led Brian to point out Vietnamese art etc. The Park Hyatt is all about low-key luxury. Opera Restaurant We then viewed Opera, the ground floor breakfast/Italian restaurant with an outside seating area overlooking the Saigon Opera House. Brian explained that the hotel tries to make the most of Vietnam's favourable weather, with many outside seating areas for a city hotel. Pool Next we viewed the beautiful 3rd floor pool. A wedding was taking place in the Pool House and I was shown the imposing outside BBQ area, popular with Vietnamese guests. Room Seeing one of their rooms was next on the agenda. Furnished in French colonial style you can open the windows and use a ceiling fan. The technology/facilities in the room were impressive with a hotel iPad, Bose bluetooth speakers and a Nespresso machine in a standard room. Conference/Events Brian explained these were now arranged as 'Houses', with open kitchens in each meeting room, Drawing Rooms etc. Walls can hide the kitchen areas and the kitchens are fitted with cameras, so images can be shown in the meeting room. Square One Restaurant This is the darker mezzanine level Vietnamese, Asian & Western restaurant with live cooking stations, another vertical wine 'cellar', tanks of live lobsters & other seafood and more outside seating. Park Lounge/2 Lam Son We ended the tour in the lounge off the lobby, where afternoon tea is served. I was also shown 2 Lam Son, often referred to as the Martini Bar. 🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 (5 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - while the Continental Hotel & Caravelle have more history, and The Reverie more gold/marble, the 2015 refurbishment of the Park Hyatt, Saigon puts it in a refined league of its own. Tips:- One Square looks like a great restaurant for dinner. |  All the signage at the Park Hyatt is low-key, in keeping with the restrained style of the hotel.  The lobby, with Opera's vertical wine 'cellar' in the background.  Opera's outside seating, with views over the Saigon Opera House.  The 20 meter pool, probably the most beautiful in Ho Chi Minh City.  A standard room, decorated in French colonial style.  One of the Bose bluetooth speakers, which are in all rooms and suites.  Two entrances to the standard room bathrooms give them a feeling of space.  Birds are regarding as a good luck symbol in Vietnam and so 3D birds appear in many of the Park Hyatt, Saigon carpets.  One of the new style meeting rooms, with its open kitchen in the background.  The live food preparation and cooking stations in atmospheric One Square.  One Square's outside seating area.  Some of the Vietnamese art in the Park Hyatt, Saigon's public areas. |
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