LaLa The Opera Central City Residence

Avoid this place in Saigon. I’ve never encountered accommodation this disappointing or unhygienic, and the whole experience felt deceptive. We waited more than an hour at the advertised address with no one to check us in or even communicate with us. When someone finally turned up, they put us in another vehicle and took us somewhere else entirely. The apartment was filthy. There were insects, stains, and hairs on the sheets and blankets. The shower was coated in soap scum, hair clogged the drain, and the bathroom smelled strongly of urine from the drainage. We saw insects crawling around the space as well. The woman showing us the room was impatient and unwelcoming. When we asked her to replace the soiled bedding and towels, she acted annoyed, as if basic hygiene were an unreasonable request. The misleading location and awful cleanliness, along with the lack of care, made this a terrible use of our time and money. Do not stay here.

There are nice coffee shops nearby, and the night market brought the area to life after dark. We also enjoyed an evening walk close by. The apartment was great, though getting the host to open the gym and pool was a bit of a hassle. It seemed like an extra security step to keep non-residents out. The location is somewhat out of the way, so catching a Grab, Xanh, or taxi can be difficult.

This felt more like an Airbnb than a hotel. We waited outside for over ten minutes before the host gave us the keypass. I’d booked a suite, but the room we got looked like a major downgrade and nothing like the listing photos. There was no hot water either. Very disappointing.

The room was filthy and hadn’t been cleaned. Dirt was left on the walls and floors. It looked like all they’d done was replace the water bottles and supplies.