This The Reverie Saigon Review is from a recent trip to Vietnam, with stays in luxury hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh Hy Bay and Hong Kong.
For prior posts in this trip report, see
Review: The Centurion Lounge New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Review: American Airlines Old A321 First Class with Recliner Seats
Qantas First Class Lounge Los Angeles LAX Review
Review: Cathay Pacific 777 First Class
Review: Cathay Pacific The Pier First Class Lounge, Hong Kong Airport
Review: Cathay Pacific The Wing First Class Lounge, Hong Kong Airport
Review: Cathay Pacific's Renovated The Pier Business Class Lounge, Hong Kong
TravelSort Clients receive these Virtuoso benefits when reserving The Reverie Saigon:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests served in the restaurant
- $100 USD Equivalent Food & Beverage opr Spa services credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
The Reverie Saigon Arrival and Check-In
The Reverie Saigon is located at 22-36 Nguyen Hue Boulevard in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, about 30 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN), without traffic. There was quite a bit of traffic the evening I arrived, so it took closer to 50 minutes to reach the hotel.
Since my reservation included Club Lounge access, I checked in at the Reverie Lounge, located on the 38th floor, where I was offered a welcome glass of champagne.
The Reverie Lounge is actually quite understated, compared to the rest of the hotel. Even if you check-in at the Club Lounge, be sure at some point to have a look at the grand reception and lobby area, with its custom emerald green Baldi Clock:
And that purple ostrich leather Colombostile sofa with Baroque gilded accents? One of only two in the world, the other belonging to the estate of the late Michael Jackson.
On the entrance floor level, don't miss the hand blown Murano glass in the shape of Vietnam, with crystal egg shaped chandeliers:
Panorama Deluxe Room, The Reverie Saigon
My Panorama Deluxe Room was a spacious 570 square feet:
There was some fresh fruit as a welcome amenity: apple, orange, and dragon fruit.
These rooms are situated on the corner of the building, with floor to ceiling windows of the city skyline and river. It was dark when I arrived, but if anything, the view of the city lights is prettier then, since it can be hazy during the day. The blinds automatically close at the push of a button.
The bed linens are by Frette, and I slept fine, although as in much of Asia, I wished there was a softer mattress topper as the bed was too firm.
The bathroom featured dual vanities, with his and hers sinks on opposite sides.
The closet is part of the bathroom, which I found a bit odd, but at least there is a separate toilet chamber, with Toto toilet.
If you like a soaking bath with a view, the Panoramic Deluxe Room has a soaking bath right by the window, and also an LCD TV in case you want to watch TV while in the bath. There's also a rain shower if you prefer a shower over a bath. It did take awhile for the hot water to warm up, for the shower.
Bath products in rooms are by Chopard, which is well known for its Swiss watches but less so for its fragrances and bath products. For a hotel so focused on Italian luxury design, the choice of Swiss toiletries seemed a little odd; I think Ortigia bath products, which I discovered at Monastero Santa Rosa on the Amalfi Coast, and which are paraben-free and sodium laureth sulfate-free, would have been a better choice.
The Reverie Saigon Club Lounge
Access to the Reverie Lounge is included for guests staying in suites, including Junior Suites, although I was able to try it out while staying in a room, for purposes of this review. I was the only one there in the evening and early the next morning, so it was a very private experience.
The Reverie Lounge is open daily from 6:30am – 10pm, and the benefits, which include complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, and canapes and cocktails in the evening, were mentioned on a sheet placed in my room.
Unfortunately I wasn't informed at check-in that evening canapes/desserts were only available until 8pm, and didn't see the sheet until after my quick tour of the hotel, which ended just after 8pm, so the canapes had just been removed. Fortunately one of the Club Lounge staff was kind enough to ask if some of these items could be brought back, as I was famished, and had counted on being able to try some of the Club Lounge snacks before retiring for the night. These were beautifully presented:
In fairness, I have to say that the savory items in particular looked better than they tasted. Much better were these crisp and hot Vietnamese spring rolls, with dabs of Sriracha and hoisin sauce:
There were also cheeses and cold cuts, as well as fresh fruit, but the mango was a bit overripe–the kitchen probably needs a bit more quality control with the food that it serves guests, as it just wasn't very good.
Breakfast the next morning was much better. I particularly liked the yogurt with raspberries and homemade granola, and the fresh squeezed orange juice.
The pho was quite good, and beautifully accompanied with fresh herbs and chili sauce, but I was surprised at how oily the broth was. The broth makes or breaks the pho, and while the broth was quite clear, the oiliness made it inferior to many other bowls of pho I've had from far cheaper places, both in Vietnam and in California.
The cappuccino lacked any foam art, but was quite good, and the biscotti that accompanied it was stellar.
And while it's not part of the Club Lounge, I recommend checking out The Long @ Times Square, one of The Reverie's Saigon's multiple restaurants, because it has a huge variety of housemade gelatos and sorbets. I sampled a bit of the mango passion fruit, which was delicious.
The Reverie Saigon Outdoor Swimming Pool and Fitness Center
Given the tropical heat of Ho Chi Minh City, a great way to refresh is in the outdoor pool, on the 6th floor, which, as many other parts of the hotel, features Italian mosaic tiles; it also offers underwater music. There are also two adjacent jacuzzis and a small circular pool for kids.
Also on the 6th floor is the fitness center:
As well as the entrance to the spa:
The Verdict
The Reverie Saigon is a work of art, and I certainly marveled at the luxurious materials and design, from the gorgeous marble floors and pillars (including rare blue marble) to the Murano glass and other Italian crafted furnishings. I also appreciated the Frette linens and bathrobes, the beautiful outdoor pool, and the choice of dining venues.
While the privacy of The Reverie Lounge was very nice, the food offerings were somewhat underwhelming, and it was unfortunate that I wasn't informed at check-in that the evening canapes and desserts were about to be removed, although certainly nice of the staff to provide some again when I asked. Service was kind and well-meaning, but not nearly as polished as at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi in the Club Lounge.
Because of the stunning design and amenities, I still highly recommend The Reverie Saigon if you'll be in Ho Chi Minh City, as it is far and away the most luxurious option in the city; you won't find higher end room finishes or a nicer bathroom in another Ho Chi Minh City hotel. I would just manage expectations regarding the quality of the food in the Club Lounge, although by all means try the Italian food and gelato at The Long, or Italian cuisine at the more upscale R&J Italian Lounge and Restaurant.
Related Posts
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Review
Getting to Know Hanoi, Vietnam's Capital City
Vietnamese Feasts and Cooking Lessons in Hoi An
Virtuoso Hotels: Bookings with Upgrades, Complimentary Breakfast and VIP Perks
Disclosure: I paid a travel industry rate and the views expressed in this post are my own.
Need Award Booking Help? Our fee is as low as $75 per ticket if you book your hotel or cruise with us.
If you enjoyed this, join 200,000+ readers: please follow TravelSort on Twitter or like us on Facebook to be alerted to new posts.
Become a TravelSort Client and Book luxury hotels with Virtuoso or Four Seasons Preferred Partner Benefits!