I’m not a snob but don’t find it alluring to shop or eat at the market, especially in Asia. They’re usually in an old structure or on the street, hacking fake stuff, local specialties and cuisine (not sure all that healthy …) If happen to pass by, I’ll walk through it.
After lunch at Soul, I’ve 20 minutes on hand, too short to go else, so I went in. Nothing spacial. Really, just some fake stuff …
It has multiple levels. The ground floor is pleasant and nicely decorated, with antiques. But the massage room feels damp and they’re aged. Our tour guide recommends this one, “clean and safe.”
I’ve their massage (40 min) and scrub (30 min) package. Very satisfied with her work. The shower is small and water is rather cold.
The semicircular, well maintained garden sits between the front of the hotel and the river. It has prince turned military leader Tran Hung Dao (1288-1300) statue, who is considered the most famous general in Vietnam.
This photo is from booking.com, showing from L to R: Bitexco tower to the left, the short building is Renaissance hotel, red Melinh Point Tower (21 storey grade A office building), the tall Hilton hotel that just opened in March, and Vietcom Bank is to the right.
The area is scenic. I made a mental note to walk on the river front but never found the chance. Crossing the busy street is one of the deterrent.
The hotel has two restaurants, Viet Kitchen on the ground level where we have our buffet breakfast, and all you can eat dim sum lunch on the second floor. Not sure if it opens for dinner – didn’t get to try it.
Two bars: one at the lobby and one by the pool on the roof top.
The roof top swimming pool has decent size, get my swimming in daily.
The room is nice, with two banks of charging outlet, one by the desk and one by the night stand. The windows show the age. We received two small white coconuts as welcome drink. They supply two bottles of water daily.
… nightcap
… looking out to the Ba Son Bridge (wiki), and the Melinh Point Tower, Hilton hotel Saigon that just opened in March 2024, and Vietcom Bank.
Great location, delicious food, service is slow and spotty.
We made reservation for four but an elderly couple – our mates on tour, ran into us at the massage parlor next door, who decided to join us. We couldn’t say no. The restaurant accommodated us, by adding two chairs: Thanks. Two extras made our table cramped – our own fault.
I always like Vietnamese pho and fried spring rolls, their spring rolls are awesome.
The stem, Ocean (brand) looks good but the rim bits back.
The wines: J Lohr Cypress’s Chardonnay is a twist-off (without vintage) that sells at $12.99 in US, 1,450,000 vnd ($57) at this Vietnamese restaurant, which would account 50% on our bill. It reminds me of China: in 2003, there were hardly any decent table wines domestic or imports; a few merchants stuck rich by importing or smuggling in cheap wines from US and the West in the intervening years, selling them at premium. By 2014, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is widely recognized by the top 1% as the best red; and $10 Italian table wine sold for $100 in a steakhouse in Shanghai in 2018. Regardless of the markets and the inner working of the two Asian countries, this restaurant in Vietnam only upend the margin 4 times, while China 10x.
