Between frazzled expats trying to balance work and the stresses of life in a tropical country and visitors looking to cram an impossibly long list of must-sees, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is not exactly known as a restful destination. Situated on the famous Dong Khoi street and just a short walk to the Ben Thanh Market and stunning Reunification Palace, The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers is a perfect place to chill, do business and get away from this vibrant city when searching for some respite.
Reception
The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers reception area is very vibrant in colour and also inviting. It’s large in size and a perfect place to also entertain outside guests. I had access to the business lounge on the 5th floor, so that is where I checked in, greeted by friendly staff and in a very quiet atmosphere.
The Lounge
The lounge is a huge area with many comfortable seating areas to chill, eat and also work. The contemporary setting mixing blue floral coloured floors with a soothing earthly colour scheme of orange, browns, tans and beiges created a very vibrant feel to the lounge.
There is a dedicated desk area tucked away from the main seating area. This is an excellent working environment for those needing business requirements and work to be done. There is access to endless drinks and nibbles, with one of my favourites being white chocolate with pistachio’s nuts, which was very welcoming during my working time. The food generally served here is excellent and the best is the delightful L’Aperitif experiences.
In the evening there are options of freshly made Vietnamese Pho hot soups, fish and stir fry’s, this is very unusual regarding a business lounge. It’s for this reason The Sheraton Saigon Hotel is very well known in Ho Chi Minh City as one of the best business lounges regarding food, beverages and services.
There are a variety of options to choose by regarding cocktails, mocktails and good Australian wine. The staff are very attentive and go the extra mile regarding specific food requirements.
What is also convenient is the large swimming pool and gym which is also on this level. I liked this because I could work, eat sushi, rest and play. The views overlooking the city especially at night made my night swimming very interesting.
Breakfast
There are two kinds of people in life, those who plan and those who embrace the spontaneity of the unexpected. I fall into the second category and find myself conquering the wonderfully formidable endless options of the freshly presented buffet at the Sheraton Saigon.
The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers prides itself on serving both local and international food in a spacious open concept restaurant with various seating setups. I liked sitting by the window enjoying softer mood lighting and peeking out to a modern ever-changing, booming Saigon.
The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers kitchen showcases its gorgeous food displays conveniently arranged on islands and by the open kitchen and grill sections. These are sectioned off into different food sections. I like this as you can see how the food is being made and also interact with the individual chefs.
However, the crown jewel of the buffet is the fresh meats and vegetables cooked to order. Taking in the cooking methods of the famous Pho soups being made. To wake up to the smell of Vietnamese lemongrass and bird’s eye chillies. Also having the choices of locally grown fresh basil leaves, bamboo shoots, ginger to name a few, this is why I regard Vietnamese food as one of the best when it comes to Asians cuisines. And for the adventurous out there was also crocodile meat to be had.
Grand Tower Junior Suite
I was greeted by two partial divider rooms with a total size of 65 m2. Accented with sleek furniture and dark wood the suite resembles an older styled Saigon. The two spacious rooms offer the comforts required for a restful stay. I like the dedicated large glass working desk, this is not common and it was a brilliant area to catch up on work. The ergonomic chair was brilliant as I could adjust the positions to avoid back-breaking moments and in this case, I had none. The lounge had ample storage space and it reminded me of my working office back in the UK.
The TV’s three being in total allowed me and my family to watch as they pleased in separate zones, one being the bathroom and I could continue on working. The Bose docking station with complimentary bottled water, coffee and tea maker was an enticing way to spend late nights working.
Bed and Linen
Lying in my king size bed I could enjoy some of the inspiring urban scenes thanks to the large window. I loved how the city light towers were illuminating my suite. It is not common to sleep next to fresh yellow roses at hotels and this was just divine for me. My sleep during the night can be restless so to have fresh yellow roses, smiling at me is wonderful, especially after seeing Amal Clooney trending the same tone of yellow at the Royal wedding. This just confirms that the Sheraton is bang on-trend when it comes to seasonal colours and prides itself when it comes to attention to detail in serving its guests.
The plump pillows and crisp white linens smelt and felt lovely.
Bathroom
I am a big fan of marble bathrooms, this one was huge with a separate rain shower and large bath. This was spacious with ample large towels and room amenities.
Conclusion
I was greeted by several Sheraton staff as I entered the building and for me, this was a warm message of what was to come. This is not easy to master wherein such a large hotel, one can feel lost. Never once did I feel lost at The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers. The hotel overall has a brilliant customer service ethic and nothing is too much to ask. When I needed anything the staff in the whole establishment were excellent, I noticed this for other guests too. When it comes to club lounges there is nothing in Saigon that can beat the Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers.
View from my Junior Suite over Ho Chi Minh City.
Details
- Room reviewed: Junior Suite
- Website: www.sheratonsaigon.com
- Address: 88 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
- Phone: +84 28 3827 2828
