The ChiMi Homestay & Coffee

We stayed in the Zen room at Chimi Homestay, and it gave my partner and me a comfortable base for exploring Saigon. The owners were lovely and quick to respond, from the booking message to our request for an extra desk. They welcomed us with a snack and cut fruit, too. The room matched the photos: spacious, clean, and nicely decorated. Leaves outside the window gave us privacy and made it easy to forget we were in the middle of HCMC. The bed was especially comfortable. I often struggle to sleep, but some of my best nights on this trip were here. The mattress is thicker than it looks because the frame sinks in, and the silk blanket and pillows didn’t irritate my eczema. The AC also doesn’t blow over the bed, so no sniffles the next morning. One thing to know about the Zen room: there’s frosted glass between it and the hallway. During the day it brings in natural light, but at night the motion sensor light outside can shine through when people walk past. It wasn’t harsh and my basic sleep mask blocked it well, though I’d bring one. The homestay sits at the end of an alley, away from street noise. There was some daytime construction outside, which seems hard to avoid in many places in Vietnam. It started mid to late morning and wrapped up around 4pm, so it didn’t bother us. The place is between the airport and District 1. The main attractions, including the War Remnants Museum, aren’t walkable, but Grab is very affordable and easy to get. There are lovely cafés and dessert shops nearby. Thanks to Chimi Homestay for making our first visit to Saigon stress-free and special.