CityHouse - El Pino Realm

The patio studio gave us a great view over Ben Thanh square, especially at night when the colorful building looked amazing. The balcony was a nice touch. Inside, the hotel feels brand new, with beautiful interiors and everything very clean. The kitchen was fully usable, including a stovetop and kitchenware. The staff were incredibly helpful and accommodating. We also peeked into the room across the hall: it had two rooms, living and bedroom, and floor-to-ceiling windows instead of a balcony. It felt larger, with a slightly bigger kitchen counter, though the balcony and view in our room were better. Daily laundry is free, which was excellent.

Truc helped us with everything we asked for and even arranged a group photoshoot with great photographers and makeup artists. Quoc, the bellman, was also happy to help whenever we needed something. The rooms were spacious and clean, and the staff were friendly. Really good value for money, and we had a great stay.

We ended up cutting our stay short and moving to another hotel at the same price, with better facilities and no construction or strange smells outside. We had told reception we were leaving early because of the noise, but after saying they would check with the manager, staff offered us a couple of pastries from a bakery. At least someone less fortunate outside the hotel benefited. We gave up the remaining nights and got no refund. The hotel should have warned us about construction before we arrived. It started at 7 AM, even on Saturday, while road noise and microphones carried on past 1 AM. The surrounding area also smelled like a mix of pee and garbage every night we walked back. The place feels more like an apartment or Airbnb than a four-star hotel, and three stars at best. The walls and furniture were poorly maintained, shampoo and shower gel labels were peeling off, and the sheets were stained, though they smelled clean. The rubber slippers for indoor use did not seem clean either.

Getting around was easy, with the main attractions close enough for a short walk. Our room was spacious and clean, and the air conditioning was cold and comfortable. The staff were friendly and helpful. The laundry service was especially useful and made the trip more pleasant. A wonderful stay.