Hilton Saigon — Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Let’s start off by saying this review is a reflection of the Hilton Saigon location and how it was managed the past few days, and NOT a reflection of the staff (maybe not the upper management) (everyone has been extremely nice and wonderful).

I have been visiting Vietnam since Saturday 02/15/25 and will fly out to visit Japan on Sunday 02/23/25. This is my first time visiting the motherland again since I was 9 years old (I’m 35).

I love the Hilton and that’s why I am currently a Hilton Honors Diamond member. It doesn’t matter what country I’m in, I will stay at a Hilton hotel. When I was in Italy last September, I stayed at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria. But let’s get back to my stay at the Hilton Saigon since this is what the review is about.

My stay at the Hilton Saigon in District 1 was good. My room was clean and spacious except for this huge problem. In the toilet area, there’s a piece of the wall that can be opened and closed. The door is a giant slab of marble. God forbid that thing fell and crushed my wife or I while we were using the restroom.

The gym is small but it had enough machines and weights for me to get my workouts done, so I can’t complain about that.

The free breakfast was good and it offered a lot of varieties. It was good to see that the staff had food to catered to all different cultures and taste buds. I would’ve been mad if I had to eat western food when I’m in another country lol.

The location of Hilton Saigon is in the middle of a lot of places and it’s not too loud at night……until Friday 02/21/25 when important delegates decided to stay at the Hilton Saigon. I know this is something that the staff can’t control, but they should’ve managed it better.

There were security and police everywhere. They blocked off the entrance and exit to the hotel and the surrounding streets. It caused so much traffic and hassle. Guests had to check in their luggages and remove everything from their pockets at a checkpoint. I felt like I was at an airport again. Staff should’ve had a special entrance and exit for the important delegates, and not forced their guests to share the same paths as the delegates. Oh yeah, they also put security right outside of the elevator to where my room was located. It was weird leaving and entering my room with security right there.

I had to walk 30 plus minutes AWAY from the Hilton Saigon to catch a Grab ride (Vietnam’s version of Uber).

The elevators take FOREVER and if you miss your chance to get on one, it would be another 5 minute wait.

Lastly, my room key was blocked out of nowhere. It was embarrassing standing there trying to get into the gym. Thank God someone opened the door for me. Once I finished my workout, I couldn’t even use my room key in the elevator to go to my room, so I had to go down to the reception area. I heard the employees talking to each other about my room key being blocked. I asked them why was it blocked and they never gave me an answer.

I still have one more night at the Hilton Saigon since my checkout is on Sunday 02/23/25, but I’m just going to check out early one night and stay somewhere else.

Overall, I’d give my experience and stay a 2.5 to maybe 3 Star experience. Staff members overall were great, nice, responsive and respectful. I’d say it’s more of a reflection for upper management who planned out the details of the arrival of...

This place is not ready for you. I am a diamond member and checked in today March 5th at 4:30pm. A gentleman checked me in and told me that he appreciates my loyaltay and have upgraded me to a partial river view room. I ask if they have a room with a king size bed, since I had a twin. I was checking in alone. He says no, I told him that this was not an upgrade. It was not on a higher floor or a different room type. No response. As I am checking in, he tells me if I want WIFI I need to put my last name and room number. i go to my room and try it for 20 minutes. No such person exists, wifi cannot connect. I call the guest services, they tell me they will send someone, no one came. I go down stairs, and another lady, the gentleman was not there, says, you cannot use your last name and room number, you have to use the code, VIP. I ask her why I was told to put in my last name and room number. She says she feels bad. I return to my room, and go down to 10th floor for happy hour. No greetings or welcome, the lady downstairs wants to know my room number, I tell her promptly. Why would I go down to 10th floor restaurant for happy hour if I am not a diamond member? I travel all over the world, it takes many nights and stays to be a diamond member. This place does not even have a executive longe - supposely it will open next month, they you should at least greet your vip customers. It would have been nice just to say hello. Then I get a text on WhatsApp from Hilton about my stay, I tell them it's not good, they tell me they will make it right. I ask myself how? I am here for about 14 hours. I just want to eat something, sleep and leave in the morning but looks like this will be challenge. I get back to my room, the TV does not work. The remote does not work. By this time, I am to exhausted... I call guest services, they feel bad. I tell them don't bother coming. I am going to bed. Look this is new hotel with a "soft opening." But if you are not ready to open then don't open. When we are booking a high priced hotel, we are expecting premium service. There is no premium service here, then just smile and give us a descent service. And when we have status, it takes many nights and stays, I am also Platinum with Bonvoy, and i have stayed at many different 5 star hotels in Vietnam, I just came back from 5 night stay at the Sheraton in Nha Trang which was very good, and last time I was in Ho Chi Minh, I stayed at the Le Meridian - which was much better in service and room quality, we expect decent service. Next time I am in Ho Chi Minh City, I will not be back at Hilton Saigon. There are many better hotels...

NOT READY TO OPEN OR OPERATE

I have stayed at many soft opening places or 1st day of many hotels but simply this hotel is too rush and not ready to operate. It ruined my year end staycation.

Prior arrival: I emailed the hotel and had no response.

Pros: Nice view and good location. New hotel. In room dining food is great so I assume the F&B team is ready to operate.

Cons: 60k HH points or 7mil per night for this hotel? I think it is overpriced for Saigon's market. The room has smell of paint, and the bathtub/ floor is full of fine dust. No welcome amenity. Still weak recognition for Diamond member. Very small swimming pool. No turndown service. Fitness Center has 3 treadmills. For weight training, there are dumpbells, 1 cable machine, and 1 leg press. A completely under standard gym. There is no sauna and steam room and it is the first International hotels in HCMC without those facilities. A/C turn off whenever you leave the room. The room becomes a sauna whenever you return. They also said they can't set it below 20 degree. Club Lounge is still closed, there is no all day alternative for Diamond but you can only get 2 drinks each from designed time. (2 hours). Front desk is nice but totally unable and not ready to handle incidents. All power sockets in my room were not working, and the engineers blamed my devices that made everything shutdown. Later he realised its not my fault after I told him many times. In room dining menu is on TV, but TV was not working. It took an hour for the staff to solve and sent me digital menu. After I ordered (late night menu only 5 items), they called me and said the item were not available. They replaced me with another dish but again it took 2 hours for the meal.

Lastly they could not fix the AC and the power outlets. So I decided to leave at 2a.m to the Renaissance nearby. Until now no follow up or any call/ email from the management. I'm still waiting for the solution and the full refund of ~6.7 mil that they requested me to pay at check in. I look forward to return many times as I'm HH member however you still need to refund the money as the room was almost unable to stay.

Simply the hotel is not ready to stay now and I recommend to avoid until they grand opening. The atmosphere of the first day is quiet and everyone seems not excited to work. With this high price, you may get unpleasant experiences and less perks than any other nearby hotels.

Note: The hotel has contacted via email on 3rd Jan and proceeded the full...