The Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon is centrally located, with many attractions and restaurants nearby. The hotel has a general atmosphere and an impressive inner atrium. It has a rooftop pool and bar with views of the city and the river.
Booking
As I did when I booked Le Meridien Saigon, I booked with cash at first. But like Le Meridien Saigon, the Renaissance Saigon was also more valuable with points stays. After I learned this, I canceled my cash reservation and booked with points.
I spent 12,800 Marriott points on the day of my stay. A standard room for cash is 4.06M VND (173 USD) including tax, so the stay with points on that day is worth about 1.35 cents/point (USD). According to the 2023 Hotel Point Value Chart, this stay is worth more than a regular point redemption.
Check-in
We grabbed a cab and headed to the hotel. When we arrived at the entrance, the doorman opened the car door and gave us a warm welcome. Throughout my stay at the hotel in Saigon, the warm hospitality of the doorman always brought a smile to my face. I love it!
The receptionist recognized me as a Marriott Titanium member and allowed me to check in at the Club Lounge. I had to wait for a lift to get to the club lounge, but the place smelled so strongly of perfume that it made me sick. So I tried not to wait in front of the lift as much as possible during my stay.
We arrived at the hotel at about 2:00 p.m. but were told that they had rooms available, so we checked in early. While checking in, we received welcome juice. They also have cakes when the lounge is open.
Privileges as a member of Marriott Titanium
- Lounge Access
- Room Upgrade
- Complimentary Breakfast for Two
- Early Check-in/Late Check-out
- Choice of Welcome drink(Alcohol) and snack or 1,000 points
R Club River View King Guest Room
I had reserved a deluxe city view room on points, but thankfully, as a Titanium member, I received a room upgrade and got a river view room with access to the club lounge. And that room is on the 18th floor, the same floor as the Club Lounge.
The lines of the skirting and surrounds, which match the colors of the sofa and desk, give the room a classic look.
From the room, you can see Saigon’s iconic tower “Landmark 81” and many buildings under construction on the other side of the river.
In the drawer, a coffee and tea(Dilmah) set were provided.
The bathroom was a bit old-fashioned and compact with an integrated bathtub and shower.
Toothbrushes, shaving kit, shower caps, vanity kit, comb, and body cream were provided.
Facility
The small pool is on the rooftop, but the view is outstanding and you can relax at the SkyBar just beside!
There is a well-maintained steam room and sauna, but it was a bit dated.
What surprised me was that there was a lot of functional exercise equipment. It’s a bit dated, but there are Smith machines and chin-ups that will definitely give you a good workout.
Evening Cocktails at Club Lounge
Evening cocktails began at 5:00 p.m., unlike the Le Meridien, there were few guests and the seats were never filled. If you prefer a less crowded lounge, the Renaissance might be a better choice.
The evening cocktail hot meal variety alone was enough to finish a satisfying dinner. Sushi was available too, but don’t get your hopes up.
There is a wide selection of spirits, including rum, vodka, and whiskey, with staff who can make excellent cocktails if you ask them to.
Breakfast
For breakfast, we had Vietnamese and Western cuisine at Viet Kitchen on the ground floor.
There weren’t many kinds of dishes, but there were many types of bread, and I especially liked the coffee bun.
They also have Korean food, but the taste wasn’t that recommended.
My Verdict
| Room | 6.5/10 |
|---|---|
| Service | 8.5/10 |
| Breakfast | 7.5/10 |
| Pool | 5/10 |
| Gym | 9/10 |
| Lounge | 8/10 |
| Design | 7/10 |
| Wi-Fi | 10/10 |
| Location | 8.5/10 |
| Value for Money | 8/10 |
| Overall Experience | 8/10 |
Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon tour on YouTube
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Bottom line
Despite the room for improvement of the smell in front of the lift, the hotel has many good points, including its proximity to Ho Chi Minh city center and a comfortable lounge. There are restaurants and a 7-Eleven near the hotel, which could be ideal for long or short stays.
Have you stayed at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon? If so, please share your thoughts with me in the comments section below.
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