Saigon Kiko Hotel

We had a clean, cozy room and a delicious breakfast during our two nights and three days at Saigon Kiko Hotel. It was much better than I expected, and feels underrated. The staff were friendly, the setting felt safe for families, and many attractions were within walking distance. Very affordable too, highly recommended.

Ben Thanh Market and the post office are both under 2 km away, so you can walk there. The hotel is in a good spot, with a public garden across the road where Vietnamese people jog, sit and chat on benches, or play badminton. Along the same row there’s a 7 Eleven, Burger King, Mc Donalds, massage places, and food shops. Walk around the back of the shops and you’re near Bui Vien street, where you can go out at night for a drink and some fun.

The hotel is well located, but breakfast choices for vegetarians are limited. There are a few beggars who seem to have made a home near the entrance. The tourist information centre was closed, and the front desk staff didn’t have information to guide tourists.

The location was a real plus. Bars, clubs, and restaurants are about a three-minute walk away, and the subway stop is six minutes on foot. The buffet breakfast was OK, nothing special, and the coffee came from a pot with sugar already in it, so there was no plain black coffee. The lobby had no AC, which felt odd, and sitting there or in the open-plan upstairs brunch area was hot. The room had no windows, though I guess I should have read the fine print. The safe’s code didn’t work, so I had to get a metal key. The shower drain kept clogging and water collected while I showered. A side lamp was broken; after they fixed it, switching it on made the bathroom light flicker. The cleaning staff were loud, with the walkie-talkie sounding like it was screaming, and I could hear furniture being moved in another room while trying to nap. It’s a very basic hotel. I’d give it two out of five, but the nice staff brought it up to three. It was fine, but I wouldn’t stay again.