202 Le Thanh Ton, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | (937) 315-4602
Located right across the street from Ben Tranh Market
Within walking distance of many tourist sights and office towers
Tasteful modern guest rooms with a French Colonial influence
Rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, docking stations, and coffeemakers
Executive Deluxe category boasts balconies with city views
Rooftop restaurant with alfresco terrace seating
Breakfast and hotel-wide Wi-Fi included in room rates
On-site tour desk and small business center
Welcome drink and fruit basket on arrival
Rooms can be cramped (the smallest are 237-square feet)
Front-facing options pick up street noise
No on-site spa or fitness facilities
Housed in a very narrow building opposite Ben Tranh Market, this three-pearl boutique hotel has a downtown location that’s convenient for both business and leisure travelers, plus 21 gracious guest rooms that recall the city’s colonial past without sacrificing contemporary comforts. All include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, docking stations, coffeemakers and, in the case of Executive Deluxe Rooms, petite balconies. But, size-wise, most are a tight squeeze, and ones that face the front are prone to pick up noise from the busy street below. In terms of features, the Anpha has an elegant restaurant with a rooftop terrace (where breakfast is served at no extra charge), along with a tour desk, a small business center, and free Wi-Fi throughout. However, if on-site amenities are high on your must-have list, you’d be better off booking the mid-range Bong Sen Hotel Saigon instead: this nearby property comes with three eateries, a small spa and fitness room, as well as assorted meeting spaces.
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Scene
A small, sophisticated hotel that’s popular with tourists and business travelers
Wedged between other commercial operations, the Anpha Boutique Hotel occupies a slender eight-story building across from the bustling Ben Tranh Market. Ascending a short staircase, guests enter a little lobby with marble tiling in café-au-lait tones and a French-style paneled reception desk that’s positioned in front of an intricate fretwork accent wall. The combination gives this space an attractive East-meets-West look. Appropriately, the accouterments -- like Buddha statues and a vintage gramophone -- are drawn from both cultures. A mixed bag of business and leisure travelers gather in the cozy seating areas, where classic rolled-arm couches and tufted side chairs upholstered in earthy shades are offset by funky lights and other contemporary elements.
Location
A convenient but busy location, close to tourist sites and the Central Business District
This District 1 hotel faces famous Ben Tranh Market, though dodging the traffic to reach it sometimes takes a force of will -- especially after dark when the touristy outdoor stalls set up. Other top sights within walking distance include Independence Palace, the Opera House, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the War Remnants Museum, all of which can be accessed on foot in 15 minutes or less. Since the surrounding area also has loads of restaurants and shops (the luxe ones inside Union Square Mall among them), this boutique property is a smart choice for vacationers; however, proximity to the Central Business District, anchored by the 68-story Bitexco Financial Tower, means it is convenient for corporate types, too. Note that day- and nighttime city excursions can easily be arranged at the hotel’s tour desk, as can airport transfers and outings to the Mekong Delta’s floating markets, the Cu Chi Tunnels or other outlying attractions.
Rooms
Tasteful vintage-look rooms that have more style than space
The rooms here -- covering 237 to 333 square feet -- certainly aren’t big, but they do have a gracious decor that calls Old Saigon to mind. Creamy papered walls with ornamental moldings, classic furnishings finished in rich mahogany and fitted wardrobes with plantation-shutter doors are all a nod to the French Colonial era, and evocative artwork only heightens the nostalgic mood. Modern conveniences, however, haven’t been forgotten: rooms in all categories include air-conditioning, safes, minibars, coffee/tea-making equipment, flat-screen LED TVs with international channels, clock radios with iPhone/iPad docking stations, and free Wi-Fi. The beige tiled bathrooms, meanwhile, have combination shower/tubs, vessel sinks, and appreciated extras like robes, magnifying mirrors, and hairdryers. Executive Deluxe Rooms (the largest of the lot) add Juliet balconies with city views; like all of the front-facing rooms, though, they are subject to street noise.
Features
An on-site restaurant with outdoor seating, plus free breakfast and free Wi-Fi
This hotel's standout feature is its elegant restaurant with a pretty rooftop terrace overlooking the city. For breakfast (which is included in rates), it offers à la carte dishes ranging from traditional pho to tasty scrambled eggs; Vietnamese and Western dishes again share space on the menu when it reopens for dinner. Guests also receive a welcome drink and fruit plate on arrival. Other hotel features include a 24-hour front desk; a transportation/tour desk; a little lobby business center with a public computer and printer; laundry/dry-cleaning and twice-daily housekeeping services; and free Wi-Fi throughout.
