Saigon Domaine Luxury Residences Apart-Hotel

The garden-facing view from my apartment was lovely, especially at sunset, and I enjoyed having breakfast brought to my room so I could look out at the water. I ordered the recommended beef stew with bread for dipping, fresh-squeezed OJ, and shrimp dumplings, my favorite dim sum. The Mekong Delta was visible from the hotel, and it seemed rooms on both sides had water views, some toward the road and some toward the garden. The grounds were a big part of what I liked: a pleasant seating area, a beautiful pool with no leaves in it despite all the surrounding greenery, and a garden my cat enjoyed walking around. He was why I chose this place, since it was the nicest pet-friendly hotel in town. He liked sitting by the window and exploring outside on his leash. At $80 a night, it felt like a steal. I wonder what it cost in its heyday, 8-10 years ago. My apartment was huge, elegant, and spotless. The place may be a little dated, but it’s very well maintained. I loved walking barefoot on the beautiful wood floor, even with a few scratches near the dining table. I get the impression the hotel used to be grander, so returning guests might see it as a step down. I was thrilled with it. Everyone I met, from the guard outside to the front desk, food service, and cleaning staff, was friendly and helpful. I picked it for the water and the views. Some people felt it was far from downtown, while others liked being away from the bustle. I came to think of the island as my neighborhood and crossing the bridge as coming home. Most of my dining and activities were on the island or just across from it. I also used Grab motorbikes to get around town. They zip through traffic in half the time and cost $1-2, so they’re very affordable. My cat had his first scooter ride. I’d return in a heartbeat and recommend it to friends. Nearby, I’d suggest the fresh Crab place Phong Cua a few doors down; the smoothie stand “Sinh to 79” in front of “bia set 188,” where a great smoothie was 20k; and the ACB ATM, where you can withdraw 3 million dong. Across the river, Massage Hong Ha was good, but I’d skip the cupping and get the hot stones. A great one-hour massage was 280k dong. Keep in mind tips are how the masseuse earns her money, so I’d tip 100k, or 150k for exceptional work. I used Google translate to ask her to go a little less hard and slower, and then it felt more like a regular Western massage.