Hotel Recommendations in HCMC - Saigon

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

An historic spot would be fun, especially if it's the type of place that was frequented by foreign journalists in days gone by.

Caravelle, Continental, Rex, and to a lesser extent, Majestic, are the only (can I use "only" for 4 items?) answer to your above requirements, but they're now more than 1.2M/night.

Ciambella wrote:

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

An historic spot would be fun, especially if it's the type of place that was frequented by foreign journalists in days gone by.

Caravelle, Continental, Rex, and to a lesser extent, Majestic, are the only (can I use "only" for 4 items?) answer to your above requirements, but they're now more than 1.2M/night.

Yes!

Those are the names I'd heard but couldn't recall.

The Continental appears to be offering the lower prices currently. Less than $100 USD per night, which is still possible.

Another (more frugal?) option for me is to locate a nice place near one of those landmarks and then just "visit" the historic spot for coffee or lunch, etc

Continental was the oldest (opened in 1880) then Majestic (1925), and Rex (1927). 

Caravelle was the youngest but most famous from its very celebrated Day One:  Réveillon 1959 -- my oldest brother took me there to see the display.  He dressed me in navy dress with white Peter Pan collar and red bow -- very, very French.  I remember how the brand new black patent shoes from Bata hurt my feet soon after we walked up Rue Catinat.

If I were you, I would have a drink at Caravelle one late afternoon or early evening and ride the original elevator, which still functions well today.  The piano bar has live music so many nights each week.

Ciambella wrote:

Continental was the oldest (opened in 1880) then Majestic (1925), and Rex (1927). 

Caravelle was the youngest but most famous from its very celebrated Day One:  Réveillon 1959 -- my oldest brother took me there to see the display.  He dressed me in navy dress with white Peter Pan collar and red bow -- very, very French.  I remember how the brand new black patent shoes from Bata hurt my feet soon after we walked up Rue Catinat.

If I were you, I would have a drink at Caravelle one late afternoon or early evening and ride the original elevator, which still functions well today.  The piano bar has live music so many nights each week.

Do you have a pic of you in that outfit?

colinoscapee wrote:

Do you have a pic of you in that outfit?

Nope.  I left the country suddenly and quickly a few days before the war officially ended.  I didn't plan to leave so didn't even have any ID or birth certificate let alone photos.  OTOH, I carried 2 heavy Eastern Philosophy books with me for the 7 day sea and air voyage from Vung Tau to California.  Strange but true.

Ciambella wrote:

Continental was the oldest (opened in 1880) then Majestic (1925), and Rex (1927). 

Caravelle was the youngest but most famous from its very celebrated Day One:  Réveillon 1959 -- my oldest brother took me there to see the display.  He dressed me in navy dress with white Peter Pan collar and red bow -- very, very French.  I remember how the brand new black patent shoes from Bata hurt my feet soon after we walked up Rue Catinat.

If I were you, I would have a drink at Caravelle one late afternoon or early evening and ride the original elevator, which still functions well today.  The piano bar has live music so many nights each week.

That sounds like a great idea!

I decided to stay at The Continental (most affordable and a history personally intriguing to me).

If I had to (overindulgence?) I could probably crawl the short distance from The Caravelle back to The Continental...

./😎\.