Hi Fiona,
don't have any personal recommendations but have read up quite a lot, the Caravelle is the best hotel in the city, also good reports in guidebooks of the Grand, Duxton and Majestic, also I believe the Rex is very kitsch
and has connections with the war - can't remember what the connection is though??
will have another read and get back to you on that.
love, shirleyV

Shirley
We have looked at the Caravelle, Majestic and Rex. We have definitley decide against the Rex. I don't think you go to Saigon for the standard of the hotels though- everyone seems to have something negative about it!
Hopefully we will have flights finalised tomorrow or Monday and can go ahead booking hotels etc. Looks more than likely that we are flying to Hong kong, spending 3 nights there, then on to Saigon for 4 nights and then Bangkok for 4 nights.

here are a few hotels listed as 'top end' in lonely planet, most of them are in Dong Khoi area which is where most tourists head for, they are: Continental Hotel - one of the city's most historic but not upgaded since 1989, Saigon Prince - glittering luxury rooms and best massage in Saigon, Norfolk Hotel - australian venture popular with business travellers, New World Hotel - luxury tower popular with chinese speaking tour groups, Riverside Hotel - close to Saigon river old colonial with good restaurant and bar, Renaissance Riverside - a new glitzy skyscraper, Sofitel Plaza Saigon - among the sleekest of HCMC's posher hotels.
Hope this helps, if you are anything like me you will spend absolutely ages deciding on your hotel - let me know your decision as I will be boking my next year's trip in a few weeks and I am starting to look around myself , love shirleyV

Funnily enough I have just emailed the Renaissance Riverside for next Aprils rates! Husband not too sure about it as he would like a more "colonial" hotel. Trouble is the older "colonial" hotels I have looked at have mixed reviews!
I know the argument about not chosing international chains but I do often chose one in a city but never eat there!! I love trying all the local restaurants. In fact, if in a city , I tend to use the hotel for the bed and to relax for a while between the end of the day's activities and the night out! I do like a nice bedroom though.

By the way- yes I do spend ages planning!!!! We have a good partnership here! I check out the flights, hotels etc and then when that it done I hand over to husband who then plans what will we do and where the best restaurants are etc!

Hi Fiona,

I agree with you as i find its best to do some spade work before hand and at least you have a fair idea of what you are letting yourself in for.

Let us know how you get on as i was looking at saigon but it did look expensive thou so it could be a few years down the line for me.

Missed your post until now Goamike!
Don't worry- I will def. post a trip report!

Goa mike
Vietnam is extortianate in brochures but if you can get a good price for a flight to Bangkok a flight to Saigon from there is £120 return. The rates for this "expensive" hotel I have picked in Saigon is £56 per night for an executive club room ( that is per room not per person) and I get breakfast, free soft drinks, cookies, pastries during the day and four hours of cocktails in the executive bar in the evening!( If I wanted them!!) For two people that is some deal!
You can get prices for a lot lower than that.

Fiona stop rubbin it in 'four hours of cocktails'

Well it's official now! We are going to Hong Kong, Saigon and Bangkok next April! Flights booked - now I have hotels to sort out!

sounds a great trip - please keep me posted on which hotels you decide on as I'm interested in all things 'far East' - thanks shirleyV

Shirley
I am booking two hotels directly- the Landmark in Bangkok and the Renaissance Riverside in Saigon. Hong kong - not sure about yet as many sites do not have availability yet( apart from the top range hotels and I am not spending £520 for three nights!!!!)

Great choice - The Landmark - absolutely love that hotel, stayed there for 4 nights in 2000 and 2 nights in 2001.
Stayed in Dusit Thani 2004 but still visited Landmark for meal on our 1st night - I think it is great value for money - will look up the Saigon hotel you have chosen, love shirleyV

Has anyone got any trip ideas for Saigon?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are very interesting . Check out the Central Post Office which is a very grand building for a post office. The Chinese Market I think it is called the Binh Tay Market is a large market with loads of things for sale. Some tour operators in Saigon offer day trips to the Mekong Delta, it's worth a visit but it's a very long way and I would think very tiring as it took almost half a day to get to the river.

when we went,we did the mekong delta,well worth doing.
also as judith has said,the cu chi tunnels.
also we visited the war museum,well worth a visit.i found it to be really interesting.some of the pictures,are pretty horrific though.if i remember rightly,this was actually in saigon,just a taxi ride away.
tracy

thanks for the ideas. I don't think we will be going to the Mekong Delta as we don't really have enough time. But I can see us doing all the others.

I think Fiona if you have 4 nights in Saigon you will have time to do the Mekong we only had 3 night's there and found plenty of time to go, but I really can't remember it taking half a day to get there.We are there again in April and I am considering doing it again.

I think that the previous post about being able to take a day trip to the Mekong Delta was probably correct, it took me a much longer time to get there because I was staying at towns on the river for a few nights and then taking a boat to Cambodia for four nights. So I probably had to go a lot further to my first overnight stop along the river. I think that My Tho on the Mekong is about 1 1/2 to 2hours drive away from Saigon.