La Vela Saigon Hotel

High expectations but sadly save yourself the bother and book somewhere else. We recently stayed here for 4 nights and whilst on the face of it the stay was pleasant enough and the location is excellent there are some major red flags with this hotel. 1) We were given a room that looked very different to the photos and square footage stated. The room was much smaller, on a corner, very noisy and the bathroom was completely different and of a much poorer quality than advertised in the photos used. When we raised this with the hotel we were simply told 'oh yes sorry some of the rooms are smaller and not up to date' 2) Rooftop pool is great and the view is excellent but there are nowhere near enough chairs or sunbeds available. We lay on the concrete with towels for an hour or two each morning before giving up. 3) Staff are very absent. The welcome was sub-par and for a 5star hotel - no one even offered to help with our bags. 4) Size - the size of the hotel is much larger than it looks which is not a problem but I'm not sure the hotel is equipped to provide an excellent service for so many guests. 5) We have some concern that this hotel may have left a fake review on our behalf. My husbands name and country have been used on a review rating the hotel 10 and exceptional stating that the staff are very kind. None of this is accurate from our experience and we are currently looking into this. I had high expectations and unfortunately this hotel fell far below.

I recently had the misfortune of staying at La Vela Saigon Hotel, and it was an experience I urge others to avoid. The hotel's glaring shortcomings are a testament to remarkably bad management and an apparent disregard for guest satisfaction. The pool area, an essential feature for any establishment claiming luxury status, is an absolute joke. The lack of sunbeds is not just an inconvenience; it's a failure so fundamental that whoever is responsible shouldn't just be fired, but outright banned from the hospitality industry. Breakfast at the hotel was average. The buffet was stale, and the egg chef's reluctance to cook a simple fried egg was baffling. What's worse is the absurd decision to conclude breakfast service at 9:30 am. This is not just poor management; it's a blatant disrespect for guests' needs. The rooms are a study in poor design and cramped discomfort. With a shower door that effectively imprisons you in your own room, and a toilet installed in a bizarre, almost comedic angle, it's clear that guest comfort was the last thing on the designer's mind. The staff service, whilst there are moments of good work from some staff, is embarrassingly substandard, especially when compared to the exemplary service one typically receives in other Vietnamese hotels, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City. The lift service is a nightmare. The wait times are interminable, turning what should be a simple task into a test of patience. Problems with the room swipe card were annoying, further detracting from the overall experience. The hotel's ambiance is dour and unwelcoming, thanks to the gloomy and dingy lighting that pervades the premises. It's more reminiscent of a dungeon than a hotel. Lastly, the restaurant service is a complete debacle. Waiting 15 minutes for a single glass of wine in an empty restaurant is not just slow; it's an indication of a deeply rooted problem in service and efficiency. I cannot stress enough how much better off you'd be choosing literally any other accommodation in the city. La Vela Saigon Hotel is a glaring black mark on the hospitality industry and should be avoided at all costs.