More Traveler Reviews of Majestic Ho Chi Minh City
The Majestic is majestic
from Nige and Jane on 2006-01-18
The Majestic has a striking external presence in a superb location at the end of Dong Khoi and overlooking the Saigon River. It has recently had a complete facelift, but has lost nothing of its colonial character. It is a historical landmark and feels it in a very positive way. The lobby area continues the impression of majesty, and the rooms are superb - a great combination of character and modern comfort.
The staff are genuinely helpful and welcoming, and the usual opportunist cyclos and hawkers outside are nothing more than a minor irritant. The 5th floor bar is superb, with a tremendous view of the river and its boat life, and if you have read Greene's "Quiet American " you can imagine yourself there as Fowler and /or Phuong.
Rooms are tremendous value, and we enjoyed the whole experience. Finally, a lot of rubbish is written in guidebooks about safety in HCM generally and Dong Khoi specifically. It feels much safer than an English city, I understand crime levels are low and that the warnings are about 10 years out of date.
N.B. If you want a fabulous dining experience, get the Concierge to book you a table at the Mandarine ( about 5 mins by taxi ).
Good Hotel, Great Location
from A TripAdvisor User on 2006-01-05
I really liked this hotel. I really liked the location. I really liked the people. I really liked the room. I really liked the bar upstairs. Elevators are small but that is OK. I see where people talk about noise. It took me a few days to understand the noise but what I think it is.....is when someone is staying on the 4th floor, the bar and on the fifth floor is outside and has tile floors and maybe the kitchen and other meeting space is there and the noise consist of tables and chairs being moved. It is not bad and not upsetting or anything, but that is what I heard. The bar closes fairly early so it is not bad and even with the noise, you can fall asleep quickly. Maybe ask for a room on the 3rd or lower. But I really liked this hotel. Go to the bar on the top floor at night and sit and watch the river and ferries cross.
Classic colonial Hotel in perfect location
from A TripAdvisor User on 2005-12-28
Ok place, but not cheap. The location is very good, right in old town Saigon in front of the river. The Hotel itself is a wonderful building from the colonial french times. Stay away from the rooms facing the river (-road), it's terribly loud. The pool is small but relaxing. The massage parlour is ok too. The tour desk is useful, they even speak japanese. Good restaurants are around, hotel breakfast is ok, but nothing special. Overall a good hotel, with clean and safe rooms, maybe a little bit overpriced for Viet Nam, but we will return next time.
Choose your room!
from A TripAdvisor User on 2005-11-19
Like most "colonial" hotels in Vietnam (that is hotels that were built by the French) this one has a lot of charm. But like all these hotels, it has also a new wing (in order to have more rooms), and in there, it is not what you expect. Although rooms in the new wings are perfect, they are *modern* and boring (i.e. the kind of thing you'd find in any Hilton).
So make sure your room is not in the new wing if you are looking for old colonial charm. If you book through a tour operator, it worths giving a call to the hotel for that. I stayed two days with my wife and she was not pleased with that modern room the first night but the hotel was full. We were moved to a room on the executive floor the following night in a *stunning* room (35 m2, 4m high ceiling, frescoes) the thing we were looking for. But beware, rooms facing the avenue are very noisy. The traffic is like a highway and although quiet at night (you'll sleep without problems), it will probably wake you up at 7am despite the double glaze double windows!! So if you want quietness, ask for a room on the pool, which is delightful.
Service is good and laidback like everywhere in Vietnam. Food is alright.
It is very well located and a convenient base to explore Saigon.
Location, location, location
from dancer62 on 2005-10-02
We stayed at this hotel twice during our Vietnam tour. The first time our room was facing the road and rather loud, but the second time we were upgraded to the Executive floor, with a lovely quiet room overlooking the pool (which, by the way is finished now!).
The hotel oozes old world charm. You either love it, or want a modern US style hotel. The 5th floor bar is the better of the two (and cheaper for some reason....). Fabulous views over the river.
Service was OK - getting help with our luggage at checkout took a while.
The biggest let down here is the food (rather restricted breakfast choice), but that doesn't matter with so many fabulous resturants nearby.
However, the biggest plus is the location. Right on the riverfront, in the old town, near great shops.
Step back in time ...
from A TripAdvisor User on 2005-08-16
at this glorious hotel! Recently rennovated, this hotel is the best HCMC has to offer. It's situated in the center of town -- on the river -- and within walking distance to most museums and places of note. The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly, willing to make reservations, give travel tips, help make phone calls and arrange deliveries. Upon arrival, the hotel upgraded us to a two-room suite with a large bathtub for two at no extra charge. They also included a full buffet breakfast and tea (daily) in their garden cafe. Their roof top bar, with sweeping views of the river, is a much better place to relax with a drink at sunset than the much talked about Rex hotel. One minor setback -- while we were there (August 2005), the pool was being rennovated. They gave us passes to the Grand Hotel (across the street) so it wasn't too much of an inconvenience but it would have been great if the pool was finished.
Overall, this hotel is a gem. But note: it's really a place for people who appreciate turn of the century architecture, marble and moulding, high ceilings and don't mind that they don't have the latest tvs and radios. If you're looking for shiny and new, you're better off at the Caravelle or Duxton Hotels.
Unbeatable position, stunning outlook
from Lemniot on 2005-03-19
For the cost - comparing other hotels in Vietnam - this is unbeatable value though it is not perfection. However the position and atmosphere cannot be faulted.
Its situation is right out of the Quiet American, that great book by Graeme Greene in which it features. The best possible outlook over a great river and we were blessed with a lovely room, not large but fine with a good clean bathroom and facilities. We were blessed with two small balconies that opened out to the river.
The hotel itself, perhaps lacks some refinement but makes up for it with masses of atmosphere and excellent value restaurants that all have magnificent views over the city itself. The staff are courteous in an understated way but do not over patronise you and at times you could wish for a little bit more Western style pampering. Some were not too happy with this especially the American clients we met who seemed to expect the sort of over fussy attention one might get at the Rex (which we greatly disliked for its awful pseudo modern tacky ambience) or the Caravelle (more expensive but deservedly so).
Breakfast is ok though perhaps not comparable to the Ana Mandara in Nah Trang or many of the 4-star and 5-star hotels we have stayed in elsewhere in Asia. The breakfast room on the ground floor itself is however so well positioned for people watching that you can forgive it other shortcomings.
If you like old colonial style luxury as against more modern hotels like the Pan Pacifics then this is for you.
Great place in a great city
from A TripAdvisor User on 2005-03-16
Stayed at the Majestic after backpacking much of north and coastal Vietnam and this place was heaven sent. Beautiful rooms, great location, fulfilling breakfast, lovely pool area, great views from the rooftop bar and an awesome bath.
I left my passport, tickets and cash in the lobby of the hotel and arrived at the airport without it all. I placed a call back to the hotel and they had not only found it, but already started arranging for a porter to bring it out to me at the airport. Amazing service and only cost me $5US for the taxi and I made my plane with an hour to spare!
Only thing I would change is the band at the rooftop bar, it's a beautiful place for pre or post dinner drinks, but the band was so loud that we left as no one could the other talk!
Lots of history and lots of noise
from GabriellaLondon on 2004-11-30
This is a splendid historical hotel in a wonderful location. We had a suite - an up grade as we had arrived at 9.00 am and our standard room was not ready. The bath room was nothing short of luxurious ( great bath robes too) and the dark wooden flooring exquisite. Oddly some of the other furniture was a bit clumsy and not in keeping with the hotel's character.
But and this is a bit of a big but - the noise, we checked that our windows had glass in them- it was that loud and non stop, all day and all night. In fact I slept more on the plane home. If you do stay here - ask for a room by the pool and if that's not available prepare for a long night or think again.
Also when we phoned to book we were told a price for a deluxe room which when we phoned to confirm they would not honour saying it was a mistake, and the hotel was full. When pressed they said they did have a room - reservations didn't really seem that on the ball.
Great Location
from A TripAdvisor User on 2004-11-19
We spent 3 nights at the Majestic hotel in a deluxe room which over looked the river.
The room was lovely with wooden flooring and very large bathroom, dressing room and balcony.
The staff were fantastic, we arrived early in the morning and were checked straight into a room (even though check in is not until 2pm, we arrived at 8am) and were even given vouchers for breakfast free of charge.
The hotel was in a fantastic location and I would definately stay here again.
- This is a top pick!
