During my frequent travels to Ho Chi Minh City, I decided to try booking stays at as many hotels as I could in order to write more reviews covering the city. I started with hotels under Accor so that it was easier for me to take note of the hotels and brands that I covered.
Pullman Saigon Centre is admittedly not a hotel that is as well-known in Ho Chi Minh City as its more famous cousins in District 1. This is perhaps why Pullman Saigon Centre has been able to fly under the radar and focus its attention on providing the best service to its guests.
I initially booked a Superior Room for 2 nights. Subsequently, I decided to do a paid upgrade during check-in. Helpfully, the staff offered 2 options available for an upgrade. I decided on the Executive Suite since it is the larger of the 2 options and I was advised that it will be really comfortable for me. Without disclosing too much too fast, what I can say is that I was really glad I booked a stay in this great hotel. Let’s find out together just what makes this hotel such a nice place to stay in!
TL:DR
Really spacious suite
One-stop shop to satisfy all your food cravings
Extremely value for money with great service
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Service:
Service was consistently great throughout our 2-night stay at this hotel. From the time we checked in to the time we checked out, everything was great.
During check-in, every staff was very professional and courteous. Even when we were discussing the upgrade options, the staff made sure I understood and explained what he felt was the better option. Check-out was also a breeze and they were nothing but warm and nice while we waited for our taxi to the airport. During our time at the hotel’s Executive Lounge, we experienced similar treatment.
In fact, we note that a key feature of service at this hotel is how professional the staff members are while allowing you the privacy that you desire. When you need any assistance, they will be there to help you. If not, they will try to give you privacy and give you the space you need to explore the hotel and each of Pullman Saigon Centre’s facilities.
We must say that we appreciate the hotel’s top service standards and feel that this is one of Pullman Saigon Centre’s strong points. We will definitely come back to Pullman Saigon Centre for another stay because of such excellent service.
Hotel Facilities:
Pullman Saigon Centre has the standard facilities that most top hotels have: a swimming pool, a gym, and a spa.
We loved the rooftop swimming pool that came with a bar, which meant that you could order some drinks and snacks after swimming a lap. Unfortunately for us, we were on a strict diet, which meant that we could only enjoy our meals in the Executive Lounge after our swim.
The hotel’s gym is rather impressive as it is quite spacious with lots of natural light able to shine through. We loved how big it makes the gym feel and are sure we would have had a good workout if we were able to put in a gym session in our notoriously tight schedule. There were also complimentary fruits and bottled water for gym users. I think this is just a great feature that Pullman Saigon Centre offers its guests. Even though this is a relatively small gesture, this speaks a lot as the hotel puts in the effort to make sure gym users are able to enjoy fresh fruits and water after a workout.
The hotel also has a spa in Evolve Wellness Centre. While we were unable to book an appointment for a session, we will definitely try to squeeze in one the next time we book a stay at Pullman Saigon Centre.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is served at the hotel’s flagship restaurant, Food ConneXion, located on the 3rd floor. Guests who booked a room with lounge benefits will also be able to enjoy breakfast at the Executive Lounge, located on the 30th floor. During our stay, we made sure to enjoy breakfast at both places so that we could do a comparison and explain the key differences.
For our first breakfast, we went to Food ConneXion to enjoy a sumptuous spread laid out across the tables. During our stay, it was the Christmas period. Hence, the hotel was having a Christmas-themed dinner buffet on most evenings. The perk of enjoying breakfast in the same restaurant is being able to see the beautiful Christmas decorations in the restaurant, which included an amazing collection of gingerbread houses.
Food-wise, it was really good. For international tourists, there are the standard Western delights, including cold cuts, cheese, bread, pastries, bacon, sausages, and eggs your way. Those were good and I enjoyed a serving of a classic Western breakfast. Besides that, there are also of course Eastern options such as congee, soups, and local favourite pho.
We are not sure if it was because we were there during the Christmas period, but there was an assortment of ham options, which tasted delicious.
There was also quite a display of fresh fruits and salads, so those who are more health conscious should be happy with the breakfast choices at Pullman Saigon Centre. Another unique breakfast option is the fresh yoghurt selection, including mixed fruit yoghurt, strawberry yoghurt, and plain yoghurt consisting of 3.5% fat. We note that these differed from the usual pre-packaged yoghurts and hence assumed these were quite freshly made. Situated beside the fresh milk options, there is a DIY Virgin Bloody Mary station for guests to enjoy. Perhaps knowing that many hotel guests enjoy a good night partying, they also took the trouble to have a hangover cure for their guests so that they can feel better while enjoying some well-earned breakfast. The food at Food ConneXion was delicious and it was one of the highlights of our stay at Pullman Saigon Centre.
For those with lounge access and who prefer to enjoy breakfast in the privacy of the 30th-floor lounge, this is also possible at Pullman Saigon Centre. One of the benefits of booking a room with lounge access is privacy.
During the final day of our stay at Pullman Saigon Centre, we decided to have our breakfast at the Executive Lounge. We wanted to see the difference between having breakfast at Food ConneXion and the Executive Lounge.
We were warmly greeted when we first entered the lounge before being guided to our preferred seats. There, the staff member handed us a card containing a small special menu. Guests of the Executive Lounge are able to order a bowl of pho or Eggs any style. This is something special as there is only one central kitchen in the hotel. Hence, staff will take the order and deliver it right up to the guests’ seats in the lounge. Of course, there is no limit as well and you can order as many times as you wish to during breakfast service.
We both ordered Eggs Benedict and an additional bowl of pho for breakfast. Besides that, we were also guided to the self-service buffet where there was a nice selection of food, including cold cuts, pastries, smoked salmon, salads, congee, curry, and stir-fried vegetables. Fresh fruits and sweet treats are also available and good to enjoy with a cup of coffee after finishing the many main courses.
For those who prefer privacy, we definitely recommend having breakfast in the Executive Lounge. It was quiet and did not have many guests around. We were also able to have the best seats in the house, enjoying a view of Bitexco Financial Tower in the distance while we ate our breakfast. After breakfast, you can also choose to lounge on the really comfortable sofa seats and have a chat. Enjoy a second cup of coffee or have a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice if you fancy. While we enjoyed our breakfast at Food ConneXion, we also had a lovely time at the Executive Lounge.
Executive Lounge:
The Executive Lounge at Pullman Saigon Centre is located on the 30th floor of the hotel and boasts great views of the city. Depending on where you are seated, you can get a great view of Bitexco Financial Tower. If the weather is good, you can also catch Landmark 81, the tallest building in Vietnam and the second-tallest building in Southeast Asia.
There is a good mixture of seats that suit different needs. Couples can make use of 2-person tables while families can use the large dining table when enjoying their meals in the lounge. Those who wish to enjoy a drink after a long day out can relax on the sofas and chat away.
There are three meal services in Pullman Saigon Centre’s Executive Lounge. Club guests can enjoy an afternoon tea service, evening service, and breakfast.
As mentioned earlier, breakfast in the Executive Lounge was fantastic. Both the afternoon tea service and evening service were similarly great. We enjoyed a lot of delicious food during our stay at the lounge. During our two-night stay, we must have visited the lounge countless times, enjoying the food and filling our stomachs every time we were there.
Among some of the highlights were the smoked salmon, chicken steaks, and freshly baked oysters. Unsurprisingly, the oysters were always the first to disappear. Staff understands the popularity of the oysters as well and they do their best to provide more oysters each time they run out. We are happy to say that we had a good amount of oysters without feeling like we needed more.
The mini cakes were delicious and did not come with too much cream. This was great for us as we do not usually enjoy cakes that come with lots of cream. The ones at Saigon Pullman Centre were just right. We also had a nice serving of sandwiches and fresh fruits. In fact, we made sure to try almost everything once, just so that we could have a taste of all that they served. We are really happy to say that we enjoyed all the food that was provided.
During evening service, there is a self-service counter for guests to make their cocktails so guests can enjoy their alcoholic drinks as much as they wish to. For us, we do not really drink alcohol and hence we had a nice mocktail made for us. It was delicious, so good that we asked for a second helping.
The ambience at the Executive Lounge was also great. Even though it was quite busy during evening service, it was not rowdy or noisy. In fact, most guests were just enjoying the food and having their own conversations. That it also had a great view of the city was just the icing on the cake. For us, we realised just how many times we looked out of the windows to catch a view of the city. Its location in District 1 was just perfect as it offered a nice view of Bitexco Financial Tower.
We definitely enjoyed our time at the Executive Lounge and it is one of the main highlights of staying at Pullman Saigon Centre.
Room:
Pullman Saigon Centre’s Executive Suite promises at least 70 square metres for guests. When you first enter, you will be greeted by the living room and a guest bathroom to the side. It is a nice welcome for guests who are greeted by a spacious living room where you will also get a great view of the city.
There is a large L-shaped sofa so families can watch television together in the living room and take a nap at the same time. For busy folks who have to work during a holiday, there is a small table for guests to work. It is located quite near the television and has all the necessary plugs near the table as well. It is good as you can spend time with your family while you work and you will need to focus on your work since you cannot really watch television from that distance.
The coffee machine and caffeine-related tools are hidden in the cabinets beside the television. I almost missed it until I realised that there did not seem to be any coffee or tea in the suite. It was not until I explored the living room that I found it. Cleverly hidden, it does make the living room look more spacious and appear minimalistic.
Teabags are from Dilmah while you get both G7 coffee sachets and capsules from Gimoka. Gimoka is an Italian brand although you see mixed reviews about the quality of the beans. Nevertheless, I always enjoy a cup of G7 coffee as it is quite strong and gives you the necessary kick first thing in the morning.
The bathroom in this suite is located on the other side of the suite when you first enter from outside. Shaped like a corridor, the hotel smartly made use of all the space available so that guests can feel the most spacious in the rooms. The bathroom and wardrobe are actually combined into one, so you can get dressed immediately after showering and doing your make-up. This combination actually works and we appreciate the ease of unpacking our clothes, showering, and getting dressed, efficiently.
Double vanity sinks are provided in this suite while toiletries are from Spa Pure, a local brand that is in use by many hotels. We had the same brand when we were staying at Hotel de L'Opera Hanoi and we had no issue with this brand. The toilet has a proper bidet that provides a heated seat as well. I personally enjoy this feature as it can get quite cold in a hotel room. The heated toilet seat makes you feel better as you go about doing your business.
The star of the bathroom must be the bathtub. Accompanying bath salts provided, you get a great view of the bedroom and the television. You also get a great view of your partner in the bedroom if you so prefer. This is the romantic feature of the Executive Suite and we think couples will love it. For those who prefer showers, a separate standing shower is also provided so you can get some privacy.
A large King-size bed greets guests when they first enter the bedroom. Within the bedroom is also a Bose docking station so that couples can enjoy some music in a proper manner while reading a book before they sleep. This is a nice feature and guests should make full use when staying in this suite. The bed was really comfortable and we had no trouble sleeping soon after we turned off the lights. Once again, this is a testament to the quality that Pullman Saigon Centre offers.
The bedroom is also spacious enough that you can walk around the room without any fear of knocking against the walls or each other. This creates a very roomy feeling that makes you appreciate the Suite. This is also one of the reasons why you pay more for a spacious suite like this.
Overall, the Executive Suite was just lovely and we liked the roominess and how comfortable the sofas and bed were.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Pullman Saigon Centre. The Executive Suite is really spacious and there is just so much room in the suite. The service standards were top-notch, and the food was just great. The fact that it made one not want to leave the hotel says it all. The lower price point of this hotel compared to other hotels in District 1 makes Pullman Saigon Centre a really value-for-money accommodation. The fact that even at this price point you get top-quality food and service standards makes it a no-brainer to book a stay in Pullman Saigon Centre.
We will definitely be back one day to enjoy more of the food options and the other restaurants in the hotel that we have not tried!
Click here to find out more about Pullman Saigon Centre and book a stay today!
Cost of Executive Suite: VND 5,165,143.20 (approximately S$310) a night - stayed over a weekend in December 2022 (Note: The final amount is derived from an additional paid upgrade of VND 2,331,277.20 per night. The original room was also booked during the Accor Member Private Sale period.)
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