Lonely Planet Review
The Renaissance Riverside is one of Saigon's best hotels. The central location overlooking the Saigon River, the unusually good service for a large hotel, and the very reasonable prices make it a good choice if you're seeking a little luxury.
The hotel is in a 22-floor tower where the rooms surround an impressive central atrium. Rooms are a fair size and the decor is in a sort of unremarkable international-hotel style - 'nice' is a good adjective. It's the room selection that will shape your experience - you must insist on a 'Riverview' room from where you can watch the ferries and riverboats plying their trade. 'Cityview' rooms can leave you looking straight into the office tower next door. The river view is indeed stunning and well worth the extra cash, and paying for a room on the Renaissance's executive floor can also be worth it. The buffet breakfast and evening canapes are better than average, and with the free cocktails, Internet time (ADSL in other rooms normally attracts a whopping fee per day) and laundry it's a good deal. We even met some travellers who said the canapes were so good they didn't need dinner.
Review by author
Andrew Burke