Amanaki Saigon Boutique Hotel

Breakfast was delicious, with live cooking if you wanted pho or eggs, and they kept our luggage for two days while we went on a tour, no problem. We also used the nicely equipped gym. We stayed one night in a Deluxe room on the 6th floor. It was new, neat, and very clean, including the freshly ironed sheets. There were snacks, tea, and coffee in the room, which was a nice surprise. The hotel is attractively designed with oriental accents and natural fragrances like pineapple and lemongrass. When a bat flew in through the open window, staff dealt with it right away. Saturday night was quite loud even with the windows shut, though that’s something we could expect in the city centre. I’d recommend the hotel.

The staff were very friendly, and the location made it easy to walk to Saigon Centre, the opera house, and nearby food options. We stayed five nights and got some laundry done free, which was great. We only ate breakfast there twice, and it was okay. Our tours started before breakfast opened on two days. On another day the breakfast room was full, so we went to the sister hotel for its a la carte breakfast. We also had the complimentary afternoon tea there, which was nice.

The service was excellent. Staff replied quickly when we chatted and asked questions on WhatsApp, and they made us feel welcome. The rooms and interiors are beautiful. Some things pulled the stay down for me: the jacuzzi water wasn’t warm, the steam room smelled as if it hadn’t been cleaned properly, and the AC looked dirty and smelled a bit moldy. There was nowhere to hang towels in the room or spa, and the gym could use a couple more machines for legs and upper body. Noise from outside or the corridor can also be an issue, since the inner walls don’t seem well soundproofed. I’d like to rate it higher for the wonderful service, but these issues bring it to three stars.

The rooms are fresh and lovely, with wooden details and a boutique feel that I appreciated as a Scandinavian. The staff are great, the location is awesome, and sustainability seems to be the hotel’s guiding idea. The walls are very thin, though, and noise from other people and outside can be a problem. Across the street, at a bar-style establishment, a guy stood with his bike selling things and playing a tune. It went on deep into the night, so we struggled to sleep and used earplugs. Light sleepers should keep this in mind, especially for a weekend stay. Otherwise, it’s a very nice hotel.