Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Saigon

Arriving in Saigon on a flight from Singapore, I had arranged a hotel car to pick my husband and I up and take us to the Park Hyatt Saigon. The driver was one of the first guys I saw in the arrivals area, and he was holding up a sign with our names clearly written on it. He greeted us warmly, took our luggage and quickly ushered to where the car was waiting right out front, which was already cool inside in contrast to the steamy temperature outside. Chilled towels and bottled waters were provided, and the gentle strains of a classical music station were softly heard.

The city was filled with motorbikes, and they zigged and zagged this way and that. The driver calmly navigated the streets, and when we were a few minutes away from the hotel he quietly used a radio to inform the hotel that we would be arriving shortly. As soon as we pulled up to the hotel two gentlemen were waiting to open our doors, and a third to take our suitcases from the trunk.

Stepping out of the car we were met by a smiling check-in hostess who greeted us by name and led us through the lobby and straight to the elevators so we could take care of the formalities right in our Park Suite King. I had paid for 3 nights in a regular room, and used a confirmed suite upgrade.

Along the way I noticed some beautiful artwork.

The room to the suite was open and someone was waiting for us. The check-in process was quick and efficient, and we were soon left to settle in. The luggage had somehow been whisked into our room and was already set up on the racks. What smooth and wonderful hospitality!

One of the first things I noticed was the fresh flowers. There were gorgeous yellow roses on the table in the foyer, and also on a chest just inside the sitting room. They smelled wonderful. Next to the flowers were three glass jars filled with little snacks. Flavorful toffee, creamy chocolate, and some crunchy salty cheese straws.I popped one of each in my mouth, and they were fresh and delicious!

Each morning and evening the snacks were replenished, and after sightseeing and coming back to the room I found myself eagerly looking forward to the next batch since each one was different and tasty. Sesame sticks! Brownies! Sugar cookies! What would be next?

There was also a bottle of wine waiting for us, along with two bottles of cold still water which were also replenished frequently.

The description online of the suite said it was just 750 feet but it felt at once both larger than that and cozy. The sitting room was decorated in a French Colonial style, and everything was spotlessly clean. There were wooden floors that had large rugs placed on top, and high ceilings with crown molding.

The couch was comfortable, and just the type to sink down into. I liked the wallpaper and rugs in muted colors that were neither garish nor dull.

On the table was another flower, floating in water. There was also a large bowl of fresh fruit.

A table of convenient height sat right in between the couch and armchair, and it too had bottles of water on it.

There were French wooden shutters on the windows, and the room was positioned to offer a glimpse at the bustling city outside.

I would have expected to hear the beeping of vehicles, but everything was very quiet. There were several panes of glass, which surely helped.

Across the street there was an interesting daily ritual that employees of that building followed. A large flag hung overhead, and everyone sang and stood around for several minutes before starting their day.

The bedroom had a four poster bed that featured a super soft feather duvet and four feather pillows in addition to the decorative ones. There were two more bottles of water on the nightstand, and the lighting controls were on the wall right by each side of the bed.

The windows had sheer blinds as well as the shutters for different levels of light blocking. At night, the shutters worked great and there were no glaring lights that needed covering in the room. A cozy chair with ottoman was positioned to the side of the bed so that just turning it a bit offered a great vantage point for gazing out the windows.

At the foot of the bed was a large chest of drawers that had plenty of space, and a luggage rack had been set up to the side for our suitcases. A well-sized LCD was at the perfect height for watching from the bed or armchair.

A desk was well-placed near the entrance to the sitting room, and yet out of the way. Near to the desk was a sliding door to the white marble bathroom, which had a separate soaking tub and walk in rain shower.

The bathroom had double sinks and more fresh flowers. All the flowers in the suite were watered or replaced so that they constantly looked as if they had been picked just hours ago.

When getting ready for bed, I noticed that since it was not recommended to use the tap water for tooth brushing and drinking, two more bottles of Evian still water were thoughtfully provided. I slept great and the room was silent. In fact, I never heard any noise from any surrounding rooms during the stay. There are 244 rooms and 21 suites at the property, but service was impeccable. Calling down to reception, the call was always answered immediately. Arranging a tour with Concierge? Great advice, with attention paid to my specifics. A request from housekeeping? They picked up the phone right away and were at the door so quickly it was as if they had been right outside the door. I was called by name around the property, which was a nice touch.

Breakfast in the mornings was served at Opera (named that because the restaurant overlooks the Opera House across the street), the hotel’s renowned Ho Chi Minh all-day restaurant down on the lobby level. I had my choice of either indoor or outdoor seating. Since the weather was hot and humid, I chose indoors.

In 2012 it was named one of Vietnam’s top 100 restaurants, and lunchtime offers homemade Italian specialties including wood-fired pizzas and pastas.

Breakfast (included with Diamond status) was amazing. There was a buffet that included egg tarts, fresh pastries, fruit, Vietnamese specialties like Pho noodle soup, pancakes, french toast, and eggs made to order from the menu.

There were Italian meats and cheeses, and a man stood behind the counter waiting to slice them at your request.

There was even a piece of Honeycomb and tray of honey similar to the one at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

I had no idea what kind of fruit this was, but it looked recently cut.

There were delicious smoothies and even Bircher Muesli, one of my favorites.

After breakfast I went to go check out the spa up on the 3rd floor.

I was assigned a locker which offered yukata garments (a light kimono) and slippers.

The spa had a Jacuzzi, steam room, and a relaxing area.

The spa offered access to the outdoor swimming pool, and there was a Suitmate which you could use to dry your swimsuit. What a great idea, since I usually have to seal my wet one in a plastic ziploc bag when leaving a hotel.

Outside, the staff was constantly cleaning the grounds of leaves, tidying up chairs and bringing guests towels, drinks and food. As soon as i walked outside, someone came up alongside me and asked if I would like some chairs set up? I did, and he quickly covered them with towels and gave me a menu and towels to dry off with. As I lounged, members of the staff came around every so often and offered melon balls, water with lemon, and light bites. All of which was complimentary!

The pool was clean and the water was refreshingly cool but not too cold. A waterfall gently cascaded down into the pool. Since the pool was open from 6am to 10pm, it was a great place to unwind after a day of sightseeing. As darkness approached, the staff lit candles around the area and along the path that led back to the hotel doors.

The food and drink menu was both extensive and inexpensive, so one afternoon I ordered a bunch of things that ranged from smoothies to chips. Everything was brought out in a timely fashion and was tasty.

All too soon, the stay was over and it was time to leave. A taxi back to the airport was arranged, and we were seen off by several members of the staff.

This hotel stay was absolutely flawless. From the efficient airport pick-up to the friendly service to the kind send-off, they did an outstanding job of making me feel as if I had been a VIP or family member rather than just a guest. I may not go back to do more sightseeing since I did a lot during my days there, but I am almost tempted to visit just for the hotel experience alone. Your experience may vary as all hotel stays differ, but I think this is absolutely one of the gems of the Hyatt network, and a steal at just a Category 4.

Hyatt Category 4. 15,000 points for a free night, or 7,500 points + $100 Cash & Points redemption.

Park Hyatt Saigon