Ho Chi Minh City - Hotels

[OzzieSuds]

As for the GF hotels, I definitely also think we should maintain some sort of list. As I have written before, I'm not too paranoid about the Vietnamese government using these forums as a means to crack down on hotels.

It looks like I wil be staying at the Majestic. I know it's mentioned here several times as not being GF, but I'm afraid I have to put business before pleasure. Rest assured I'll be trying every possible way to get someone into my room

I'll let you guys know if I succeed...or not.

There was a guy stayed at the Majestic a few weeks ago and got nothing back to his room.

When you talk about the VN Government just remember that they are based in Hanoi and in Hanoi one is struggling to get a drink after 11 pm let alone a root. All of the old disco places have been shut down and only a few attached to big hotels are left.

In HCMC there are frequent raids on the bars near HBT. If you see the girls in dustcoats over their party clothes then you know that they have been warned of something happening. Often the girls at the remaining bar on MTB wear the dustcoats and sit outside.

In my experience the hotels that are really GF are very small - my current one has 15 rooms. They are quite busy now and an influx would kill them. So my advice on the hotels remains a little non-specific - small hotels in the HBT and MTB area with rates around $30 for a better will usually be girl freindly and have small rooms for about $20.

I can tell you from experience that the Bach Dang and Dong Do hotels on MTB have a curfew on visitors so that they cannot stay overnight.

I have heard (unconfirmed) reports that there are more hotels like this behind Ben Than Market and near the backpacker area.

[BBBJ]

Fantastic, Jackson listened to our comments and added the seperate threads for HCM hotels, bars and massage parlours. Thank you!

As for the GF hotels, I definitely also think we should maintain some sort of list. As I have written before, I'm not too paranoid about the Vietnamese government using these forums as a means to crack down on hotels.

It looks like I wil be staying at the Majestic. I know it's mentioned here several times as not being GF, but I'm afraid I have to put business before pleasure. Rest assured I'll be trying every possible way to get someone into my room

I'll let you guys know if I succeed...or not.

[Gaolei]

Someone had to start with this question. I heard that there were guest friendly hotels run by expats around Saigon. At one point someone told me about one, but I did not make that trip, so lost the information. Anyway, I find myself heading back to Saigon and looking for a guest friendly hotel without buying an extra room. Can anyone help?

Is this something we can discuss in an open forum without the government going in and ruining a good thing? If not, PM me.

[OzzieSuds]

The larger hotels will have no objection to you meeting people in the lobby whether you are staying there or not - as long as you are buying tea or coffee etc.

The Sheraton and the Renaissance are both set up with large lobby lounge areas that are suitable for this. The Renaissance also has a lounge you can access on the 5th floor on the same basis. I often use the Renaissance for meetings.

Not familiar with the Majestic but both Grand Hotel and Continental are mid range hotels that have large lounge areas. Other options are the two Givral coffee shops or the Highlander coffee shops.

However the thing that you need to think about is how you are going to meet your people. It is very easy in this environment to be looking at your counterpart across the room and wondering where the hell they are! If you are not a guest the hotels will not help with this. One way is for you to wear some distinctive clothing such as a bright red hat - you may look like a fool but at least they will find you.

[BBBJ]

I think it would be best if you stay at the Sheraton to conduct your interviews. The Sheraton has a big lobby but it also has a coffee area within the lobby where you can sit there as long as you want waiting for your interviews. IMHO

Thanks for that info Whisper1. Noted.

[Whisper1]

Hi guys,

Sorry to post this off topic question, but I'm having a hard time finding this information anywhere else:

I'll be in HCM (primarilly ) to conduct some job interviews.

I'm too cheap to rent a dedicated business meeting room from the hotel (I personally think hotels rip you off with these things), so I plan follow my usual strategy, which is to do the interview in the lobby of a classy (but not too classy) hotel.

This normally works like a charm, but since Vietnam hotels seem to operate slightly different from other hotels around the world, I want to make sure this is not going to backfire on me.

These are not large scale interviews (max 15 people) that should all arrive at their own scheduled appointment.

The Majestic hotel **seems** to be a good place. It's classy, but not too over the top (that would hurt my negotiating position). From the website it **seems** to have a large lobby where I could conduct these interview in relative privacy.

Are my impressions correct, or should I consider doing this at another hotel?

I'm assuming that if I'm a guest at the hotel that they will allow me to receive guests in the lobby ....right??

Thanks for any info. Much appreciated!

I think it would be best if you stay at the Sheraton to conduct your interviews. The Sheraton has a big lobby but it also has a coffee area within the lobby where you can sit there as long as you want waiting for your interviews. IMHO

[BBBJ]

Hi guys,

Sorry to post this off topic question, but I'm having a hard time finding this information anywhere else:

I'll be in HCM (primarilly ) to conduct some job interviews.

I'm too cheap to rent a dedicated business meeting room from the hotel (I personally think hotels rip you off with these things), so I plan follow my usual strategy, which is to do the interview in the lobby of a classy (but not too classy) hotel.

This normally works like a charm, but since Vietnam hotels seem to operate slightly different from other hotels around the world, I want to make sure this is not going to backfire on me.

These are not large scale interviews (max 15 people) that should all arrive at their own scheduled appointment.

The Majestic hotel **seems** to be a good place. It's classy, but not too over the top (that would hurt my negotiating position). From the website it **seems** to have a large lobby where I could conduct these interview in relative privacy.

Are my impressions correct, or should I consider doing this at another hotel?

I'm assuming that if I'm a guest at the hotel that they will allow me to receive guests in the lobby ....right??

Thanks for any info. Much appreciated!

[OzzieSuds]

Ouch! I hadn't noticed it was already 2 years old.

May I assume that his post is still accurate, but that prices have pretty much doubled since then?

Asia Rains report is still pretty much correct in terms of general issues such as the hotels etc. The only thing to add to that is that some of the big hotels will let you bring a guest provided she is checked in to a second room which must be paid for.

I saw a recent report about security guards on the corridor from Catwalk to New World so that you could not take the gals directly to the hotel.

His comments about Acopolypse are spot on although the prices may have increased a little. But there now a number of other disco locations such as MGM which are discussed in the forum.

Can't comment on the motorbike and zoo scene.

Asking prices for take out from bars are heading towards VND1.6 mil but negotiation to 1.0 or 1.2 is stil possible.

New bars in HBT and relocation of U2 to Bar29 are discussed in forum.

[Admin]

Thread Starter.