For an overnight layover in Ho Chi Minh City, I chose the ibis Saigon Airport Hotel.
My flight from Tokyo was scheduled to arrive on a Saturday at 9:00pm, and with my next flight not leaving until 7:00pm on Sunday, I had nearly 24 hours to spend in Ho Chi Minh City. However, because I had been to Ho Chi Minh City before (about a year ago), I elected to stay close the airport and spend the time sleeping and getting some work done.
Pros:
- Very close to the airport
- Clean
- Relatively cheap
Cons:
- Room was a little small
- No mini-bar
Booking
I found the ibis Saigon Airport hotel on Google maps – it was the cheapest option near the airport that looked reputable enough for a one-night stay. It’s literally a stone’s throw from the terminal, and since I didn’t plan on going into the city, it didn’t make sense to book something in the city center.
I booked on tripadvisor.com for a total price of 1,264,771 Vietnamese Dong, or around $55 USD, which included breakfast. The ibis hotel chain belongs to AccorHotels, and I earned XXX LeClub points as well as XXX Chase UR points for my booking. AccorHotels offers a €40 (~$47) discount if you use 2,000 LeClub points, but as I am a new AccorHotels LeClub member, I didn’t have them.
Although I usually prefer Starwood or Marriott hotels due to my Gold status (free upgrades!), both the Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon and Sheraton Saigon Hotel are located near the city center and were much more expensive.
Arrival
Although the ibis Saigon Airport offers a free shuttle, I had neglected to book it in advance and didn’t want to fuss with it now, since the hotel was only an 8 minute walk. A slight rain wasn’t enough to tempt me into paying $5 for a 3-minute taxi ride.
There were several street food vendors and a coffee shop nearby, in addition to the Starbucks inside the hotel.
The check-in area had room for four staff members, although there were three when I arrived at around midnight.
The lobby was two stories, with playful lighting, plenty of seating, and an attractive spiral staircase.
The Room
The room was small but not cramped, with an aviation theme. It was advertised as 18 m2 (194 ft2), which sounded a little generous to me.
The room included complementary coffee and tea, as well as a safe. The closet contained a pair of slippers but no bathroom, and the mini-fridge was empty.
I had a clear view of nearby Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) and was able to do some plane spotting, including a Jetstar Pacific A320-200 and Nok Air 737-800.
Like the room, the bathroom was small but functional. Water pressure and temperature pressure were excellent, although the drain was a little slow.
Dining
My room came with a free buffet breakfast, which was excellent.
The seating area was divided into two sections.
I saw Asian and Western options, fresh meats and cheeses, several types of fruit, and plenty of bread.
As my stomach was suffering from jet lag (and airplane food), I stuck with fruit, yogurt, and a cup of coffee.
Extras
The ibis Saigon Airport has a rooftop pool that offers great views of the airport.
I watched a VietJet Air A321-200 land.
Overall Impression
The ibis Saigon Airport was clean, comfortable, and well-priced. A small room didn’t prevent me from sleeping well, and I regret not being able to take better advantage of the excellent breakfast spread.
Although the location is half an hour from the city center, it’s perfect if you’re not planning on exploring the city and just need a place to sleep near the airport.
