Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers

Firmly targeting business travelers and tour groups, the decor at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers has little notable Vietnamese influence. The hotel looks like it could be practically anywhere in the world, but it does deliver the Sheraton brand’s dependable consistency. The hotel’s high entrance, with stone pillars and a glass-and-steel roof, makes a grand impression. The classic, spacious lobby has patterned marble flooring and a dark-wood reception desk with green and gold detailing. Large floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with light, and indoor balconies feature ornate railings. Hallways are elegant, if slightly dated, and decor in the restaurants is mixed. Li Bai has a sultry and elegant look with framed modern prints and a mix of booths and tables. Level 23 restaurant is dark and sparsely furnished. By comparison, the contemporary Level 23 wine bar has an attractive wooden deck, partially open to great views of neighboring buildings, and the long bar counter has an eye-catching black-and-orange spotted frontage. The Grand Tower Lounge’s cheerful modern design incorporates plentiful purple and orange sofas and geometric designs on the walls and carpets. The Club Lounge is more subdued and formal but no less elegant, with lots of tan-wood paneling and neutrals. 

The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers is centrally located on busy Dong Khoi Street, one of District 1’s most prestigious roads. It’s well regarded for its upscale shopping, and there are ample local and international restaurants and bars around. Numerous popular attractions are within walking distance: Ben Thanh Market, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the Reunification Palace, are all 10 to 15 minutes away on foot. Other sights are closer still -- it's just a three-minute walk to the Opera House, and four minutes to the People’s Committee Building and City Hall. In eight minute's walk are the Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. The War Remnants Museum is a little farther, a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is a 25-minute drive away.

Rooms are spacious and elegant, but more dated than some of the hotel’s renovated public spaces. Grand Tower rooms are the most stylish, but also cost more than the older-style Executive Suites which have large, comfortable beds and dated bedside tables against white walls sporting old-fashioned framed prints, and tired-looking neutral-colored carpet. A spacious walk-in closet leads to a handsome, if also somewhat dated, bathroom, with beige marble walls, black-and-white tiled flooring, and a vanity with built-in sink and black marble countertop. The built-in bathtub is big and it has an overhead power shower. There’s also a separate walk-in cubicle with fixed showerhead. The large living room’s big windows let in natural light, and there are an office desk and chair, plus a comfy sofa and chairs in shades of gold and purple.  

Grand Tower Junior Suites feature wood detailing on accent walls behind the beds, and carpets sport a lively geometric design. There are old-fashioned elements, though, like the dark coat stand and mahogany built-in closet. More compact bathrooms are still spacious, with cream floors and walls, and modern rectangular sinks. Attractive bathtubs are built into black marble surrounds, and there’s a chic walk-in cubicle with power showerhead. Living rooms have separate work and relaxation areas, each with a large glass-topped desk, and a chic gray sofa and armchair, respectively. A step down in size, the Grand Tower Studios pile everything into one room. The more compact bathroom features a bathtub and shower in one combined cubicle. The Grand Tower Suites, meanwhile, have more spacious bedrooms, and living rooms come with Lavazza coffeemakers. Bathrooms incorporate walk-in closets and feature double sinks, elegant white bathtubs built into black marble, and separate shower stalls. 

Rooms come with up to three flat-screen TVs and telephones; some have Bose surround-sound systems and iPod docks. Both plush and silk bathrobes hang in the closets, and slippers, safes, and ironing facilities are also housed inside. There are coffee/tea implements, including silver teapots and hot water kettles, and extensively stocked minibars. All rooms have individual air-conditioning. 

Pleasant city views are on offer from most of the rooms, while others look out on the river or pool. Some smoking rooms are available. Rooms on all but the highest floors suffer from street noise, and the highest floors are the priciest. Some guests have complained of inconsistent housekeeping.

The Sheraton Saigon has all the top-range amenities expected of the brand. The large, bright gym is extensively equipped with TechnoGym cardio machines with individual TV screens. Weight lifting machines, stability balls, and free weights are also provided. The gym overlooks the quiet and heated outdoor pool. The pool deck is lined with plentiful modern sunbeds and parasols. Aqua Day Spa offers Thai-style treatments in a chic setting with pebble-fringed wooden floors and whitewashed walls in the hallway. The hotel has a number of in-house shops. 

The ground-floor Mojo cafe has a street-facing terrace, and there are a poolside bar (with cocktails, smoothies, and light fare) and lobby lounge bar (with live music and sushi), too. The hotel’s three restaurants include Western-style fine dining at Level 23 restaurant; the attached rooftop bar has epic city views. Li Bai serves Chinese cuisine, and there’s an all-day buffet at the Saigon Cafe. The buffet breakfast is also served here; it offers a wide variety of local and international dishes, but isn’t included in all rates. Guests staying in the Grand Tower, Club Rooms, or Suites can also eat breakfast in the excellent lounges, where free snacks and drinks are served throughout the day. Level 23 Nightspot, the indoor rooftop lounge, has a nightly DJ, a dance floor, and lots of seating and standing space where guests can sip cocktails. Efficient room service is available 24 hours. 

Wi-Fi is free in the lobby (where workstations and printing facilities are available 24 hours), and in the Club and Grand Tower Lounges for guests staying in pricier rooms. There’s a hefty charge for internet access in rooms and in the chic business center -- and the Wi-Fi can be unreliable, too. Personal computers, printing facilities, and free meeting rooms are available in both lounges. Guests staying in the Grand Tower get free mobile phone and iPod rentals. The property's 18 function rooms include a grand ballroom with space for 1,100 guests. There’s free self-parking, and valet parking is available for a fee.