Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon

The Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon is a landmark property in Ho Chi Minh City, as one of the city's first international hotels. It now belongs to the Marriott chain, and the vibe is a bit generic. The 21-story building has an impressive inner atrium, and a spacious lobby lined with granite floors. A circular staircase winds upward from the lobby, and balconies overlook the light-filled inner courtyard below. Armchairs upholstered in brown and beige velour are arranged in cozy seating areas, with several large potted plants adding pockets of nature to the vast spaces. The hotel's location in central Ho Chi Minh City, its business center and services, especially for guests in R Club Rooms and Suites, and its proximity to major sights draw tourists and those visiting the city on business. Note that on our visit in mid-2016, the hotel's lobby and restaurant were undergoing renovation. 

Renaissance Riverside Hotel is located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, next to the Saigon River, and close to many tourist sights. There are other hotels nearby, and there are several restaurants, bars, and cafes within walking distance of the hotel. 

• Six-minute walk to Bitexco Financial Tower
• Seven-minute walk to Opera House
• 10-minute walk to Union Square Shopping Mall
• 14-minute walk to Saigon Central Post Office
• 15-minute walk to Notre Dame Cathedral
• Eight-minute drive to Ben Trahn Market
• Eight-minute drive to Independence Palace
• Eight-minute drive to Phạm Ngu Lao Street
• 13-minute drive to War Remnants Museum
• 30-minute drive to Giac Lam Pagoda
• 33-minute drive to Tan Son Nhat International Airport 
• Two-hour drive to Cu Chi Tunnels

The 336 rooms at Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon are spacious, with 366 square feet of floor space, and their large windows mean they're bathed with light. They're decorated in a modern style in a color palette of neutral tones of beige, brown, cream, gray, and white. Floors are covered in dark-brown carpeting with colorful stripes, and gray curtains hang at the windows, with matching gray upholstery on the easy chairs. Contemporary-style lamps provide soft mood lighting. All in all, the decor is tasteful, if forgettable. Bathrooms are fitted with shower/tub combos, and are tiled in somewhat dated green- and-white tones. All rooms come with air-conditioning, large 37-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, and espresso-makers. Other useful amenities include bathrobes, slippers, and safes. Wi-Fi is free only for Marriott Reward Members. Be aware that past guests have complained about damp and musty smells in some of the rooms, and rooms can pick up street noise.

Guests staying in the R Club Rooms and Suites can use the Executive Lounge, where the American-style breakfast is free, along with snacks, desserts, cocktails, and drinks, which are served throughout the day. Wi-Fi is also available here free of charge, and guests can use the free business services and the 19th-floor boardroom for up to two hours.

The Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon offers a number of notable on-site features. A highlight is its rooftop swimming pool and terrace, with scenic views over the city and Saigon River. A poolside bar, the Liquid Sky Bar, serves drinks, cocktails, and snacks throughout the day. Two on-site restaurants: the Riverside Cafe, overlooking the river, serves buffet-style meals throughout the day, along with an American-style buffet breakfast (for a fee) is served here. The Kabin Restaurant specializes in Cantonese cuisine and is open for lunch and dinner. There's also a cozy lounge in the lobby's atrium serving coffee, drinks, and light meals. The on-site spa offers a variety of wellness and beauty treatments that can be booked in advance. The 24-hour gym is well-equipped with several treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, and weight machines. There's a business center with computers, printers, and photocopying services available to guests. The hotel also has seven meeting rooms available, covering a total of 5,651 square feet of space. Wi-Fi is free in the hotel's public areas, but in-room connections require a fee unless guests are a member of the Marriott Reward program.