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HOTEL REVIEW: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

06 Jun 2022 Asia, Blog, Ha Noi, Hotels, Vietnam

In April of this year, I was finally able to make my first visit to Hanoi, Vietnam. Previously, I had lived in Ho Chi Minh city in the south and always wanted to visit. I always heard that the culture in the north and south were very different and I was curious to experience it for myself. Upon further research, and conversations with the locals, I quickly learned that the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi was known as the best hotel in the city. Therefore, I was incredibly excited to learn that I would be staying there during my media trip with the Vietnamese auto maker, Vinfast.

For those of you who didn’t know, Vinfast is a car company owned by Vingroup, the largest Vietnamese conglomerate. Vinfast is in the process of releasing their electric cars in North America and I was invited along to learn more about the company. I had a great time with them during the press trip, and have become really excited about their new cars.

Anyways, on with the hotel review of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi!

Click HERE to get a special rate at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi!

Historical Importance

The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is a historic five-star luxury hotel which first opened in 1901. It’s incredibly famous in the country and one of the most prominent buildings in the French colonial style within Hanoi. It had several notable moments in history including being the first venue in Indo-China to show motion pictures in 1916. Later, in the 1940s, Ho Chi Minh used it as a meeting place After that, in the 1960s the Vietnamese government used it to host loads of important guests. This property has prestige!

Arrival and Lobby

I’ve been in tons of historical hotels, and therefore, when I entered, I felt a strong sense of familiarity. The interior was luxurious as you would imagine and I was impressed by the attention to detail. Whether it was all of the beautiful woodwork, the chandeliers, or the floor tiling, it was all magnificent. The check-in process was very smooth and I before I knew it, I was in the elevator heading for my room.

Historical Wing Grand Luxury Room

My room for the night was a Historical Wing Grand Luxury Room with queen bed. I loved the cohesive design of the room with its wooden floors, beautiful wallpaper, working desk, lounge chair, and all of the useful cabinets. Although it was a hotel room, because of the style, it felt a lot more like a home than a hotel. Little added touches such as the tea pot and cups helped with this!

Welcome Amenity

The welcome amenity at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi was a mix of fresh and dried fruit presented in miniature baskets. The styling was very quaint and really brought you into Vietnam’s culture. This was because these baskets were just like the ones you see being carried around the streets of Hanoi by venders.

Bathroom

The bathroom was very modern, spacious, and elegant. It was completely covered in marble except for the red accent tiles on the vanity. There was a combined shower and bathtub unit with Balmain Paris toiletries. All in all, I found it to be a very comfortable and stylish bathroom.

Courtyard with Outdoor Pool

One of the design features that really made this property shine was it’s glorious center courtyard. Inside the courtyard, I found the magnificent outdoor pool, bar, and restaurants. It had rich greenery and was much more peaceful than the bustling city streets outside the building. Consequently, it was a perfect place to relax, assuming you actually had time to do so.

Food and Beverage

During my stay at the hotel, I did get to experience both an extravagant dinner as well as buffet breakfast. To be honest, I was incredibly impressed with the quality of food at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Not only the quality of food, but the variety was truly amazing. The dinner had one of the best buffet spreads that I have ever experienced in recent memory. Everything I bit into was flawlessly executed and I loved the mix between local cuisine and foreign. Looking at the pictures now is making my mouth water! To top off the food, they also had lovely wine available. All of this was accompanied with great staff who were very well trained.

Fitness and Relaxation

Just next to the pool was the gym and spa. I had a chance to work out in the gym as well as use the sauna within the changing rooms. All of the equipment in the gym was top-notch and modern. Overall, I loved all of the facilities, they were great!

Conclusion

In conclusion, it was very easy to see why so many people rave about the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Every part of my visit was a delight and I can’t wait to return. This hotel exudes quality! There were actually no hiccups during my stay, which is something special to take note of. Once again, all in all, I would happily recommend you to stay at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. It definitely lives up to the hype!

Reserve YOUR room at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi now!

The Nitty Gritty

Taste - 9.7

Value - 9

Feng Shui - 9.2

Convenience - 10

Service - 9.3

9.4

Quality!

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Hotel

15 Ngo Quyen Street, Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam

Phone: +84 24 3826 6919

Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront: Hotel Review in Nha Trang

14 May 2022 Asia, Blog, Hotels, Nha Trang, Vietnam

During my recent trip to Vietnam, I got to experience hotels all over this magnificent country. While I was in the city of Nha Trang, I stayed at the Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront. The hotel is located right along the main Bai Tranh Beach. It was incredibly convenient as you could walk to almost anywhere in the city very easily.

The city of Nha Trang surprised me a lot with its beauty and by the warmth of its people. Not to say that the people in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi aren’t lovely, but when you step into some of these smaller cities, the atmosphere definitely changes and there was a lot more local charm. Without further ado, please enjoy this luxury hotel review!

Click HERE to get a special rate at the Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront!

Lobby and Arrival

Like with several of the other Vinpearl luxury hotels I’ve visited recently, the Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront’s lobby was grand and luxurious. The tile work was simply gorgeous, the ceilings were incredibly tall, and everything just felt like it was made of high-quality materials. To top off this beauty was the warm and friendly service of the staff.

The staff were already expecting me so my check-in process was very smooth. My plan was to stay at the hotel for three nights before eventually departing to Ho Chi Minh. The reception informed me that I had secured a very special room and I was excited to check it out!

Grand Studio Facing the Sea

As the name would suggest, the rooms of this condotel are more than simply standard hotel rooms. These felt more like luxury apartments and were equipped with kitchenettes which were perfect for an extended stay in the city. What made my Grand Studio Facing the Sea room so incredibly special, was because there was only a handful throughout the whole building that had a grand balcony like my room. The luxurious room included a comfortable lounge seating area, dining room table with chairs, massive king size bed with comfortable bedding, and of course the glorious balcony! When I say comfortable bedding I really mean it, I slept great each night.

This luxury hotel bathroom was also lovely with a single shower stall and single sink vanity. Lots of beautiful white marble was used in the bathroom. The shower had a lot of pressure and the toiletries smelled great.

The Vinpearl includes quality slippers and robes at all of their properties, and here at Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront it was no different. Also something special at the property was the complementary minibar items including soda and nuts. In the kitchen there was also a kettle, instant coffee, and Dilmah tea.

Breakfast

For the Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront hotel breakfast there was a massive buffet. When I was staying at the property, I didn’t realize how many guests were actually there until I went to breakfast in the morning to see a packed dining hall. This massive buffet breakfast was equipped with all kinds of food, both local and international.

As with most of the Vinpearl hotels, the food that shines the most was the local Vietnamese cuisine. It’s possible to get several items made to order. Not only was the food good at this hotel, but there was a beautiful beach view to enjoy while dining.

Facilities

The most notable feature at this Nha Trang luxury hotel was the rooftop pool. Just above the breakfast was the massive rooftop pool with both covered and uncovered sections. Just next to the pool was the bar and restaurant as well. This floor also looked out over the beautiful beach below, and was just a great place to spend time relaxing.

I was quite impressed with the quality of the food that was available from the poolside restaurant. Everything I ate was tasty and bursting with flavor. With this relaxing atmosphere, it would be a hard place to beat.

During my stay, I used their fitness facilities as well as their spa. The fitness center had a great variety of workout equipment that definitely got the job done. During my stay, I enjoyed a massage which also was a great value and a lovely overall treatment. In the changing rooms of the spa it was possible to use the relaxation facilities such as steam room, sauna, and whirlpool tub which were complementary.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this hotel review of another incredible property! In the end, my stay at the Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront Nha Trang, Vietnam was incredibly smooth. I was assisted by the lovely staff from beginning to the end with the utmost of care. I loved the fact that this property was so modern and conveniently located right in the center of the city.

It was the perfect place to come back to after a day of exploring the beautiful city and surrounding areas. The facilities and service were also top-notch, making this a very complete offering. In conclusion, I can easily recommend the Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront for your next stay in Nha Trang!

Reserve YOUR room at the Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront now!

The Nitty Gritty

Taste - 8.8

Value - 9

Feng Shui - 9.2

Convenience - 9.7

Service - 8.6

9.1

Quality!

Vinpearl Condotel Beachfront

Hotel

78-80 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa 650000, Vietnam

Phone: +84 258 3599 099

REVIEW: Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An Hotel and Resort

11 May 2022 Asia, Blog, Hoi An, Hotels, Vietnam

My 30 days in Vietnam was finally coming to an end and I finished it off with a stay at the Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An. Hoi An, Vietnam was actually a place that I had been wanting to visit for some time. Foreigners and locals alike told me that it was a magical place known for its Ancient Town that couldn’t be missed. Upon further research I had discovered that the city dates all the way back to the days of the Cham Empire, as early as the seventh century. Hundreds of years later, it came under the control of the Vietnamese. The city went in and out of importance as a major trading hub for spices throughout the years. I found all of this very interesting and was excited to explore!

Click HERE to get a special rate at the Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hội An!

The Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An is an incredibly modern luxury resort equipped with a golf course and amusement park. “Nam” in Vietnamese means “south”, so as you would imagine, the resort is about 17 km south of the ancient town of Hoi An. This equates to a 20-30 minute car ride if you want to explore the ancient town during your stay at the Vinpearl.

Private Car Transfer and Arrival

To come to the resort, I took a private transfer from their sister property the Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang resort. From the Da Nang airport to the hotel takes about an hour and from the Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang takes about 40 minutes. This scenic ride down the coast was incredibly enjoyable. I really didn’t mind the time in the car because it was almost like a sightseeing tour. Once arriving at the resort, I was impressed by the grand lobby with lots going on.

Villa 3-Bedroom

For my stay, I secured a three bedroom, four bathroom, private pool villa just next to the beach! The design was chic and modern, making for excellent photos during my stay. Both exterior and interior were very pleasing on the eyes. On nearly every corner of the building there were massive floor-to-ceiling windows, which offered beautiful views of the grounds. Outside there was a lagoon just beyond the private pool, and then the beach just after that. Seriously a holiday paradise!

On the ground floor of the villa was the living room, dining room, bar, kitchen, and one of the bedrooms. I want to thank the Vinpearl staff for a lovely welcome amenity which included sweets, fruit, and a bottle of wine. Thank you so much it made for such pleasant hospitality during my stay!

Stepping up the magnificent architectural staircase and you can find the two remaining bedrooms. Two of the three bedrooms of the villa were fairly similar but the master bedroom was definitely upgraded! Not to say that the others weren’t nice but the master bedroom felt a lot more luxurious. There were more extravagant decorations and it was the only bedroom which featured a balcony. The master bedroom also had interior windows to see the living room which I thought was an interesting touch. They made the room feel like a birds nest on the top of the villa. Truly fit for a king and queen!

The bathroom featured a dual sink vanity, large bathtub, large shower stall, and some very fragrant toiletries. These toiletries have been one of my favorites since I first experienced them back in the Philippines a few years ago.

All of the bedrooms featured large closets with lovely bathrobes, slippers, and sandals for the beach.

In the kitchen there was a very large refrigerator, stove, kettle, and instant coffee and tea.

Resort Facilities

The Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An has lot of notable features. The one that stood out the most to me was their large pool in the middle of their two large blocks of hotel rooms. Everyday, this is where I saw lots of guests spending time. It looked like a great place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere with friends and family.

The fitness center and Spa are located on the eighth floor of Building B. The gym is on the smaller side, but as I would expect, most guests probably don’t come to a resort like this to workout indoors when there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy. That being said, the gym still had everything I needed during my stay. There were multiple cardio machines, lots of free weights, and a few weight machines as well.

One of my favorite parts of the resort were the relaxation facilities inside of the locker rooms. There was a sauna, jacuzzi, and steam room. These facilities were great, just be sure to call ahead and make sure they turn everything on before you arrive unless you want to wait for things to heat up.

Food and Beverage

Out of all of the Vinpearl resorts and hotels I have visited during the 30 day trip in Vietnam, this one by far had the best food and beverage!

Latitude Rooftop Bar and Restaurant

From very early on, I realized that their Latitude Rooftop Bar and Restaurant offered something truly special. During my stay I got to have several meals there including lunches and dinners where I had the opportunity to sample a wide variety of their local Vietnamese dishes. Not only was the food and view fantastic at this outlet, but the service was top-notch as well.

I’ve eaten lots of great Vietnamese food over the years so it was easy for me to identify how tasty things were at Latitude. The chefs did a great job at balancing dishes with the exact amount of contrasting flavors. Well done! Also, as I mentioned, the food and beverage team brought their A-game and always provided a fantastic level of service to the meals.

Breakfast

The breakfast occurs on the ground floor in either Cocoon or Lantern restaurants. I experienced breakfast in both restaurants and they’re both setup the same as buffets. There was a wide variety of both Western and Vietnamese dishes. Some can be made to order as well, such as noodles or eggs. The first morning breakfast was absolutely jammed with people but the second day the other restaurant was quiet so I suppose it just depends on timing. If one dining room is too busy, it’s easy to find a quieter place to eat if you choose. During breakfast, I was also impressed with the friendly and attentive service.

Private Barbecue Dinner

As I had already experienced several exceptional meals at the resort, I was excited when they offered a private barbecue at my villa! During the mid-afternoon, they started setting up beautiful lighting and a table for just me. I felt like a king! It was a seafood BBQ and it could not have tasted any better. I still remember the delicious oysters that I had. Everything was amazingly good and the service was perfect and attentive as well. This was a picture-perfect and to a fantastic meal! Thank you so much Vinpearl team, you did a lovely job.

VinWonders Nam Hoi An

The resort boasts lots of amenities and features for families. If you’re unfamiliar, VinWonders is the Vingroup’s chain of amusement parks. It’s basically Disneyland in Vietnam! During one of my days at the resort I had the chance to visit VinWonders Nam Hội An. While there I explored the park and saw what it had to offer. They have a whole exhibit dedicated to Vietnamese history and culture. There I experienced several varieties of classic Vietnamese homes and crafts. Each style of house and set of crafts came from a particular region in the country which included the north, center, and south.

It was very interesting to learn about the intricacies of Vietnamese culture through the various regions. To be honest, they did a great job at making it feel very authentic and there were times where I forgot that I was inside of an amusement park altogether. Everyone inside had a smile on their faces and was very pleasant. To be honest, this exceeded my expectations!

VinWonders Nam Hội An also offers a zoo, adventure rides, and a waterpark. The zoo has a River Safari which was the first I’ve ever experienced. It took about 30 minutes to complete and I got to see about variety of animals while enjoying a boat ride.

To finish off my whole visit to VinWonders was at impressive theatrical performance in the center of the park. This was a classic dance and drum show. This was also better than I ever would’ve imagined and really well choreographed!

Hoi An Ancient Town Tour

I was so thankful that the resort helped me to organize a bit of a tour to the ancient town of Hoi An that I spoke about in the introduction. It really is a beautiful place and I was able to enjoy it very much. I’d love to return to see more of it in the future.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an impressive and modern resort in Vietnam, take a look at Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An. Whether you’re single, a couple, or a family, this resort has something for you. I was greatly impressed with all aspects of this gorgeous property. I’ve had good hospitality throughout the country but I think the extra friendliness and quality of service here made this one the best experiences of my recent trip. I would not hesitate to return and actually would love to! That is why I can easily recommend the Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An!

Reserve YOUR room at the Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hội An now!

The Nitty Gritty

Taste - 8.8

Value - 9.4

Feng Shui - 9.1

Convenience - 8.5

Service - 9

9

Impressive!

Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hội An

Hotel

Vo Chi Cong Street, Binh Minh Commune, Thang Binh District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam

Phone: +84 235 367 6888

Vinpearl Luxury Hotel Review: Have it All in Da Nang

10 May 2022 Asia, Blog, Da Nang, Hotels, Vietnam

Thanks to my most recent trip to Vietnam in April of 2022, I have now seen a majority of the country. I had been meaning to do this ever since 2018 when I spent time living in Ho Chi Minh. One of the famous cities I had a chance to visit during this recent trip was Da Nang. Before arriving, lots of people told me that it’s an amazing place, so I had fairly high expectations. I heard that Da Nang was a modern city with a beautiful beach, a warm culture, and a relaxed atmosphere. For my first accommodation, I stayed at the gorgeous Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang resort.

Click HERE to get a special rate at the Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang!

Airport Transfer

The Vinpearl staff were waiting for my arrival at the Da Nang Airport with a sign that had my name on it. After quick introductions, we hopped in a shiny Vinfast car and made our way to the hotel, which only took about 20 minutes. From my first encounter with the staff, I knew I was in good hands as they were very friendly and welcoming. Just like what I heard!

Arrival and Lobby

Like many other of the Vinpearl Resorts I’ve visited, the Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang had a luxurious entrance and lobby. The driveway was sizable, lined with perfectly manicured trees, and included a small hill to get up to front door. The staff opened my car’s door and ushered me inside while they handled my luggage. Once inside the lobby, I observed high ceilings, large columns, and gold accents which left me with an overall feeling of luxury. Checking- in was smooth and I was informed of the location of my accommodation (more on this soon!) The resort was massive, made up of standard hotel rooms as well as private villas. To get from point A to B, the resort offers a complimentary buggy service. One of these buggies picked me up after checking in and brought me to my own private villa.

Resort Grounds

Before we get to my accommodation, let’s introduce the layout of the Vinpearl Da Nang. In the center of the property lies the main blocks of hotel rooms in a u-shape. In the center is the main hotel pool, which is beyond gorgeous. All of this opens up to a very soft and sandy beach. They keep the grounds immaculate, the staff were always working making sure everything looked picture-perfect. Well done!

On the northern side of the property is where there lies several rows of private villas that surround two large lagoons. Some of these have great views of both a lagoon as well as the ocean (like mine!)

Villa 3-Bedroom Ocean View

Before arriving, I actually didn’t know which accommodation type I would receive. I was THRILLED to learn that I was provided an incredibly impressive Villa 3-Bedroom Ocean View equipped with a private pool. From the deck of the villa, it only took about 30 seconds to walk to the beach. Incredible! With the private pool, lagoon, and ocean, everywhere I looked there was water.

The villa was absolutely enormous at 575 square meters. It might possibly be the largest accommodation I’ve ever written about! This place could easily hold an immediate and extended family. Keeping with the luxury feeling, everything was very well constructed. It was modern, stylish, an laid out in a convenient way. The villa had lots to take note of and featured high ceilings, comfortable furniture, and a full kitchen equipped for an extended stay. As mentioned, there were three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a large living room with dining table, an outdoor shower, outdoor dining table, private pool, and more! Thank you so much Vinpearl team for the complimentary mini-bar items. That being said, all guests will get some complimentary items in the refrigerator as well.

Also, thank you to the Vinpearl team for the gorgeous welcome amenity. I loved all of the snacks, fruit, sweets, and bottle of wine. I really felt the love!

Service

Overall, the entire staff did a fantastic job throughout my stay! I believe some of it had to do with the fact that most had years of experience. The housekeeping would visit two times a day, first in the morning to do a thorough deep-clean, and then in the evening for the turndown service. The turn-down service was my favorite because they would deliver incredibly tasty chocolates and small notecards wishing a good night’s sleep. These are the small touches that go the extra mile! Take note on these notecards.

Food and Beverage

Throughout my stay at the Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang, I had tons of opportunities to experience the food and beverage. I was able to experience the buffet breakfast, room service, eating by my private pool, a private villa BBQ, and also try their new afternoon tea.

Breakfast

Breakfast occurs in a buffet format on the ground floor of the property. I enjoyed how the dining room looked out over the resort’s beautiful grounds, specifically its pool. There was a wide variety of international and local items to choose from. To be honest, everything I ate was fairly good and the service was friendly as well. Unlike other resorts I’ve been to recently, this breakfast was calm and felt classy. Pierre likes!

Room Service

Most of the meals I ate during my stay at Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang occurred in my villa. At first I found the food to be a bit on the bland side, but once I told staff that I wanted everything prepared like it was meant for a local, everything changed for the better! From that point forward, nearly everything I ate was bursting with flavor. Although the service was very professional and the food was overall good, there were a few hiccups along the service route.

Private Villa BBQ Feast

One of the evenings the staff prepared a very extravagant private surf and turf barbecue. The staff set up a glorious outdoor dining room right on the lawn. They came early in the afternoon to get the preparations started. They hung gorgeous lights around the yard which really made me feel special and created an absolutely phenomenal, and romantic ambience. To really go the extra mile, they even arranged a private bar and bartender for the evening. This type of arrangement would be great for all occasions from small to large. It was easily romantic enough for a wedding proposal, or could accommodate a larger group for a big dinner feast.

This turned out to be one of the best meals of my stay at the property. The chef grilled each item to perfection. It’s really hard to go wrong with perfectly cooked seafood or steak and a nice glass of wine.

Afternoon Tea

A newer offering at the Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang is a proper afternoon tea which I enjoyed next to the pool. As it was new, I had relatively low expectations because they were still working out some of the kinks. However, to my surprise, I was actually very impressed with a majority of the items. Sure, there were a few that could be improved, but in the end, items were overall very tasty! I’m certain that if you enjoy afternoon tea you will like the one here.

Fitness

The property has fantastic fitness facilities. During my stay I used the gym and also played tennis. All of these facilities had fantastic equipment and quality staff taking care of them. They even helped me to find a tennis coach to help improve my game. Thank you so much for going the extra mile for me!

Conclusion

In conclusion, although things weren’t always perfect, I absolutely loved my stay at the Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang. What really makes this hotel is the warm and friendly Vietnamese people. Even when things didn’t go according to plan I could feel that they were trying their best. I believe with a little bit more tweaking and experience, this property will reach a top level of luxury. Overall, the staff went above and beyond my expectations and treated me like a king. I still have a warm and fuzzy feeling when I think about my time at the property and would be more than happy to return and stay again. Therefore, without a doubt, I can recommend the Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang for your next resort stay in Vietnam!

Reserve YOUR room at the Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang now!

The Nitty Gritty

Taste - 8.4

Value - 9

Feng Shui - 9.2

Convenience - 8.5

Service - 9

8.8

Gorgeous!

Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang

Hotel

No. 7 Truong Sa, Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang, Vietnam

Phone: +842363938220

HOTEL REVIEW: Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Saigon

03 May 2022 Asia, Blog, Ho Chi Minh, Hotels, Vietnam

One day in March of 2022 I opened my email to find an invitation to join a press tour around Vietnam with Vinfast which is a Vietnamese car company planning to release electric vehicles in North America. I must say that this was quite a delightful email to receive, an all expenses paid luxury trip to Vietnam! Vinfast belongs to Vingroup, which is the largest conglomerate in all of Vietnam. I got to tour around to parts of the country I’ve never been before and also was introduced to their hotel company Vinpearl. After the press trip finished, I was offered to stay for the rest of the month in their other properties. In total, I was able to visit six of their properties across the country. While in Ho Chi Minh City, I had an extended stay at their most famous property Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Hotel. The Landmark 81 building is actually the tallest building in the country and at the time of writing this article, the 17th tallest in the world.

Click HERE to get a special rate at the Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Hotel!

Arrival and Location

My stay included an airport transfer provided by the hotel. I was promptly picked up at the arrival door of the airport by friendly Vinpearl staff. If I remember correctly, it only took about 20 minutes to get to the hotel lobby from the airport. I actually got to enjoy a ride in one of their Vinfast SUVs which happened to be very stylish and comfortable. The Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 hotel sits in the Bình Thạnh district of Ho Chi Minh city. The hotel is part of a complex which includes a shopping mall. Nearby there is a large park and also the international Vinmec hospital just a stone’s throw away. From the property, it’s fairly convenient to get to district 1 in about 15 minutes by motorbike.

The Lobby

The lobby of the Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Hotel is actually located on the 48th floor of the building. It felt like I was entering a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Dubai as it was extremely grand and luxurious. All of the marble floors, gold decorations, and expansive views were a great welcome for what was to come throughout the hotel. The check-in process was rather smooth as they actually did most of it during the airport transfer. Very smart indeed! I was served a welcome drink and cold towel which was refreshing.

Club King

For my extended stay I secured a Club King Room on the 61st floor of the property. The club rooms come with pretty solid benefits including afternoon tea, evening cocktails and canapes, and a 30% discount on the menu at the Oriental Pearl restaurant. More on the benefits later, but first let’s talk about this shiny new room. I must confess that I was immediately impressed with the opulent style of the room. I actually noticed rather quickly that it had a very similar aesthetic to another luxury hotel brand, but I won’t name names. I’ll let you guess who I’m talking about! The layout and decoration of the room was smooth and lavish. There was a king size bed which was overall extremely comfortable (bedding included), a lounge chair with ottoman, desk, large floor-to-ceiling windows, USB port bedside, and a control station for the air conditioning and lighting also bedside. Halfway through my stay, I asked to change sides of the building to a room with a view of district 1. I must recommend you do the same!

There was also a well-equipped minibar which was chargeable. Complementary items included four bottles of water daily, 2 daily coffee capsules, capsule coffee machine, kettle, instant coffee, and Dilmah Tea. Upon arrival in my club room I also had a lovely welcome amenity which consisted of fresh fruit and sweets. Thank you Vinpearl!

I love how the dark master bathroom contrasted with the bright design of the bedroom which felt clean and modern. Inside the master bathroom there was a single sink vanity, scale, massive bathtub, and shower stall. This Vinpearl Luxury property used higher-quality toiletries made by Thann. Also noteworthy were the fluffy towels, better than average I must say!

I liked that the staff provided turn-down service almost every night (they did miss a few) and delivered a tasty snack along with a cute note card.

Pool, Spa, Fitness Center

On the 47th floor of the Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Hotel sits the pool, spa, and fitness center. First, let’s discuss the epic rooftop pool! It protrudes out from the building and has epic views on three sides of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s easy to spend lots of time there because there is a bar just behind. What a way to relax in style!

As mentioned, I’ve now visited several Vinpearl properties around the country and can very delightfully report that they all have Life Fitness equipment, which really makes me happy as it’s such good quality! There’s nothing like working out with the best quality equipment, and the gym at the Landmark 81 was packed full of it. The gym was well equipped with cardio machines, free weights, as well as weight machines. Plus, like everywhere else in this hotel, had gorgeous views of the city below.

Last but certainly not least was the spa and relaxation facilities. The spa offers a wide variety of treatments. What I did use quite often were the steam room, sauna, and cold pool inside of the locker rooms. I love rotating in between hot and cold, from the sauna to the cold tub. It’s really good for your health to expose your body to different temperatures and I have actually recently read a study showing that people who do tend to live longer.

Food and Beverage

During my stay at the Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Hotel, I got to experience several meals at their Oriental Pearl restaurant located on the 66th floor. This restaurant is actually comprised of two expansive dining rooms and one bar. From any seat in the restaurant, glorious views of Ho Chi Minh can be observed through the very tall floor to ceiling windows. Whether it’s morning, noon, or night, the dining room is fashionable and a great place to spend time. The restaurant was in the process of updating their menu during my stay so I got to see the improvements in the food firsthand which was lovely.

Breakfast

The international buffet spread was fairly well stocked with items that can keep everyone’s mouth happy. Along with the buffet there were 3-4 stations that offered food prepared on the spot such as eggs and local Vietnamese cuisine such as pho. Over my multiple day stay, I found that as a rule of thumb, the Asian food tended to be a lot tastier than the Western items.

Seafood Buffet

One of the evenings I stumbled into a large seafood buffet that the hotel was having on the weekend. This turned out to be my favorite meal of the entire stay. The same amount of service area that breakfast covers was now covered with a massive amount of fresh seafood. The salmon sashimi took the prize for the top item of the evening. This wasn’t just my opinion as it disappeared almost as soon as it was replenished.

Cocktails

I also noted that the Oriental Pearl did a fairly good job with their cocktails. My favorite was the Negroni which was made with Vietnam’s Song Cai gin. This gin turned out to be the best that I’ve ever had, and I’ve tried quite a few. It has a lot more depth than the competition and this made for a much better Negroni!

Room Service

The menu for the room service was actually the same as the menu for the Oriental Pearl. I was able to enjoy meals in my room several times throughout the stay and was happy that they kept their word when they said 30-45 minutes. Well done!

Conclusion

If you are looking for an absolutely beautiful newer luxury hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, you found it at Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81. From a design standpoint this property is simply drop-dead gorgeous. Every space inside was enjoyable and paired with the view was really great. That being said, as it is so new, I saw a few occurrences where the service could be improved and it mostly happened while at the Oriental Pearl restaurant. Luckily, I was able to get to know the new restaurant manager and learn that most of the staff was very new and currently undergoing rigorous training to bring them up to speed. I’m sure that in the near future things will only get better. The rest of the staff in the hotel did an overall good job with a touch of warm Vietnamese hospitality. At the end of the day, I definitely enjoyed my stay thoroughly at the property and would return if I had the opportunity.

Reserve YOUR room at the Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Hotel now!

The Nitty Gritty

Taste - 7.7

Value - 7.7

Feng Shui - 9.3

Convenience - 9.1

Service - 7.5

8.3

High Luxury!

Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Hotel

Hotel

720A Dien Bien Phu, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Phone: +84 283 971 8888

Franco Palandra’s Limited-Edition Menu at Namo Saigon

13 Mar 2018 Asia, Blog, Food, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

I was excited to learn that Italian chef Franco Palandra was visiting the Namo restaurant in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. You’ll know Namo from my last visit I wrote about here. While visiting Vietnam, chef Palandra put together a special menu which was offered for a limited time at the restaurant. The menu consisted of four courses and was accompanied with an optional wine pairing. Of course I went for the wine pairing!

Franco Palandra's Limited-Edition Menu at Namo Saigon Asia Blog Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

When we entered Namo, we were greeted by Max, our server who took care of us last time. He’s very attentive and a serious asset to Namo. After gobbling up some flavorful bread, we were served pan fried scallops with vegetables, puff pastry and fresh mozzarella. It’s appearance was stunning and matched well with a Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay. Max then introduced a fresh lobster tagliolini in a tomato sauce.

Franco Palandra's Limited-Edition Menu at Namo Saigon Asia Blog Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

My favorite dish of the evening happened to be the main course, which were the mint crusted lamb chops served with chard pudding and pine nuts. The lamb was perfect, and if I’m not mistaken, one of chef Palandra’s first recipes as a teenager, which can be found in the Tuscookany cookbook. The other main course we tried was the sea bass with paprika crust, almonds and grilled asparagus. The sea bass was also a great dish, with perfectly crunchy, yet tender asparagus, but the lamb chops stole the spotlight.

Franco Palandra's Limited-Edition Menu at Namo Saigon Asia Blog Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

To finish off the evening was a dark chocolate raspberry tartlet, accompanied with Casillero del Diablo Devil’s Brut. After we finished this, we were offered Namo’s absolutely amazing tiramisu and a glass of lemoncello to give us a proper send-off! The tiramisu is an absolute must. You can thank me later!

Franco Palandra's Limited-Edition Menu at Namo Saigon Asia Blog Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

I enjoy that the Namo team do special events, such as this, to spice up the restaurant’s offering. This helps set the restaurant apart from the competition, putting it in a truly special space. It was a pleasure to meet chef Franco Palandra and try some of his creations. His limited-edition menu at Namo only lasts for a few more weeks so make sure to get in and try it before it’s too late!

Namo Ho Chi Minh

Restaurant

74/6 Hai Ba Trung, District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Ho Chi Minh City 700000

Phone: +84 028 3822 7988

Franco Palandra's Limited-Edition Menu at Namo Saigon Asia Blog Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

L’Usine’s New Concept in Saigon: Acoustic Night

04 Mar 2018 Asia, Blog, Cafes, Food, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

There are multiple L’Usine restaurant and cafe locations around Ho Chi Minh city, read about their Dong Khoi and their flagship Le Thanh Ton location in this article. Recently, I heard that they were trying out a new dinner concept which features a multiple course menu, accompanied with live acoustic music. I had to check it out!

L'Usine's New Concept in Saigon: Acoustic Night Asia Blog Cafes Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

Once we arrived at L’Usine Le Thanh Ton, we went up a few floors to enter the dining room. The restaurant has several floors, all with a slightly different feel. The dining room featured intimate lighting, a great spot for a date. The music that was played was popular music from a variety of decades.

L'Usine's New Concept in Saigon: Acoustic Night Asia Blog Cafes Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

We were served a glass of wine to start and then we dove into the first course which were the Chicken Caesar Salad Rolls. This was the most Vietnamese twist you could put on a Caesar salad. A salad wrapped in rice paper rolls, similar looking to many Vietnamese rolls, but quite a different taste.

L'Usine's New Concept in Saigon: Acoustic Night Asia Blog Cafes Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

It was a three course set menu, and we had a variety of options for the main course. We chose the Piri Piri Chicken and the grilled Black Angus rib-eye with fries. As I cut easily through the steak, I noticed how tender it was. I then loaded up my fork with a bite to dip into the salt before sinking my teeth into pure bliss. The accompanying French fries were perfect, crisp on the outside, while moist on the in. The only thing missing was hollandaise sauce, but salt did the trick for me. The chicken was flavorful and tasty as well, but no match for the incredible steak!

L'Usine's New Concept in Saigon: Acoustic Night Asia Blog Cafes Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

There were three options for dessert, we chose the coconut fluffy cheesecake and the passion fruit crème brûlée. Both of our desserts came beautifully presented. Little works of art that would soon be in our stomachs. The cheesecake was quite light, like biting into a cloud, not thick like New York cheesecake. The crème brûlée was a bit heavier with the perfect crust on top. Both well-executed desserts.

L'Usine's New Concept in Saigon: Acoustic Night Asia Blog Cafes Food Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

The evening was a comfortable one, with a great atmosphere and lovely food. As with my previous meals, the restaurant’s service was also quite good. I’d easily be able to recommend you to enjoy a meal at L’Usine to enjoy the music and fantastic food. Enjoy!

L’Usine Ho Chi Minh

Restaurant and Cafe

19 Le Thanh Ton, District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000

Phone: +84 028 3822 7188

Ery Restaurant Review (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam)

31 Jan 2018 Asia, Blog, Food, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

I’m generally a big fan of traditional Japanese food, but I left my reservations at the door and tried the new Japanese-fusion restaurant in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam called Ery, located at The Myst Dong Khoi hotel. Walking into this interesting restaurant makes your head spin. The restaurant venue features a stage for live music. You can’t go wrong with a few drinks accompanied with good music.