Hotel des Arts Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Award-winning Hotel Des Arts Saigon whisks its guests back to the romantic 1930s thanks to its French colonial aesthetic, and simultaneously weaves in 21^st century comforts to great effect. The luxury property manages to seamlessly blend this classical charm of Indochine Francaise with contemporary design from the outset, which is perfectly captured within the entrance - for one walks through grand wooden doors into a light-filled triple-height lobby. The modern and fresh twists evoke an up-to-date atmosphere and complement the artwork scattered around the hotel, which add pops of colour to the sleek pastel colour scheme.

The owner, Mr Tung, doubles as an art collector and focuses upon the concept of femininity, meaning that the overall architecture is soft and elegant. This theme is mirrored within the interiors of the rooms and suites too, with their neutral tones, floral arrangements and delicate ceiling decoration. The curved floor-to-ceiling windows also add a touch of quirkiness and glamour to the rooms as well as offering staggering city views and accentuating the paintings and antiques adorning the walls inside. Hotel Des Arts Saigon’s distinctive design, luxurious amenities and exceptional customer experience won it the prestigious title of ‘Luxury Business Hotel’ in 2016, not to mention ‘Luxury Architecture Design Hotel in Southeast Asia’ in 2017.

State-of-the-art facilities are offered here, ranging from the rooftop pool and fashionable bar with panoramic cityscape views to the aptly named in-house spa, Le Spa des Artistes. After a long day of sightseeing, the hotel’s restaurants beckon with their tantalising mix of Western and Asian cuisine. Dine at ‘Saigon Kitchen’ to taste local delicacies or at ‘Social Club Restaurant’ if you are after European-influenced gastronomy. Designed by the trendy Japanese firm Super Potato, this spot has a cool atmosphere, as does the rooftop bar as mentioned above – which is the ideal place to end the day, watching the sun go down with a cocktail in hand - bliss. This property is also great in terms of its location, for it is well-placed – just ten minutes’ walk away from main sites, such as the War Remnants Museum, the Saigon Central Post Office and the Reunification Palace.

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson