Lonely Planet Review
Since soon after it was built in 1960, the Rex has been part of the folklore of Ho Chi Minh City (nee Saigon). These days its ambience of bamboo kitsch is stunning in its totality - there is barely a surface, vertical or horizontal, not adorned with rattan.
The Rex was home to US Army officers throughout the American War and was even attacked by the Viet Cong at one stage. The rattan style harks back to the '60s, though we were unable to confirm that the decor you see now is the same as then (if you know, let us know). We did learn the hotel was last renovated in 1980 and is due for another in 2006 (open letter to Rex management: please, please don't strip out all the character in favour of some new, dull hotel decor). Historically correct or not, it's easy to imagine the uniformed US officers sipping drinks in the Rooftop Garden bar and swinging in the rocking chairs (yep) in the suites, which come complete with bamboo-bead curtains. On the downside, many rooms have uninteresting 'views' of a central light well, and the bar can be noisy until late.
Review by author
Andrew Burke