Hotel Review: Le Méridien Saigon (Studio Suite) - District 1 Hotel Near Saigon River with Great Club Lounge and Decent Location
Vietnam is a country that I have grown to love a lot more after the pandemic - even though I have had the opportunity to visit cities like Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hanoi over the years, I have not been to Ho Chi Minh City until late last year when I stayed at the super luxurious Park Hyatt Saigon. I still think about that amazing breakfast from time to time but unfortunately, the rooms at the Park Hyatt Saigon were going for almost S$600 a night during my visit (which is a lot more than I was willing to pay for a weekend trip). While I typically do save my points for luxury properties, five nights at Le Méridien Saigon only required 56,800 Marriott Bonvoy points which is an absolute steal considering the cash rate was approximately S$1,300 - this works out to 2.3 cents per point which is pretty good value in my opinion.
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Atrium
Le Méridien Saigon
There is no doubt that the Park Hyatt Saigon has the best location in District 1 but the location of Le Méridien Saigon is not terrible as well. Granted the latter property is situated at the edge of District 1, by the banks of Saigon River, it is still within walking distance to popular attractions like the Saigon Opera House and The Cafe Apartments. For whatever reason, the immigration lines at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) are always extremely long and it takes anywhere between 30-45 minutes to clear it on most days. Fortunately for me, I was traveling alone and was therefore able to make use of my ABTC (which gives me access to the ABTC/Diplomatic lane) to skip the massive lines. Getting from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to Le Méridien Saigon is pretty straightforward and I highly recommend booking a ride on Grab. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes but it may take longer if you are traveling during peak hours. While waiting for your ride, you may be approached by taxi and private hire drivers but I would not recommend this method of transportation if you are traveling alone.
Sofa Seats
Club Lounge - Le Méridien Saigon
When I got to Le Méridien Saigon, my luggage was quickly attended to by one of the guest service officers at the door. Despite being just a Le Méridien property, there was always someone opening the door for you at the entrance of the hotel. After seeing that I had a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite membership in the system, I was quickly ushered to the Club Lounge for check-in. The Club Lounge at Le Méridien Saigon is located on the highest floor of the property and it offers panoramic views of the famous Saigon River and the surrounding landscape. All rooms and suites facing the river are high in demand. As a Titanium Elite member, I was accorded an upgrade to a room with a River View as well as access to the Club Lounge (a benefit that Platinum Elite and higher tier members enjoy on all qualifying stays).
Seating Area
Club Lounge - Le Méridien Saigon
However, I noticed that there were still Studio Suites available so I asked about the possibility of getting an upgrade - I was informed that a Studio Suite with double beds was available for the whole duration of my stay but this particular room category does not have a view of the river. This is not an issue at all to me and even though I was traveling on my own, I was happy to have two beds in my room if it meant having 55 sqm of space over 38 sqm.
Double Bed Configuration
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
Do note that the Studio Suite is more like a junior suite at the Le Méridien Saigon and the 1 Bedroom Suite is the actual standard suite that Platinum Elite and higher tier members can enjoy a complimentary upgrade into should it be available for the whole duration of your stay. I am not certain whether all Studio Suites are located in the corner but I was assigned to a corner room and it came with windows on two sides, allowing me to enjoy sweeping views of the city on one side, as well as a partial view of the river on the other.
Double Bed Configuration
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
Despite having windows on both sides of the room, I did find the Studio Suite to be slightly dark and while this could be attributed to the cloudy weather on the day of arrival, you might also notice that they are not floor-to-ceiling windows. As mentioned earlier, Studio Suites at Le Méridien Saigon measure 55 sqm in size which is honestly pretty large and it comes with a small living area which I ended up utilising quite a fair bit as I ordered most of my dinner from GrabFood. Despite being constructed in 2015, the interiors of the rooms and suites here are pretty dated, and the bold contrasting colours are just not something that I appreciate.
Bedside Controls
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
Universal power outlets can be found throughout the room and this is not something that I take for granted as you would be surprised at how many newly-built hotels do not actually have this aspect sorted out. There is also a master light switch located by the bedside so you can easily control the lights from the bed.
Television and View
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
The Studio Suites over at Le Méridien Saigon have a massive work desk area which is perfect for those traveling for business - or those working remotely (like I was). Having the work desk next to the window allows you to enjoy natural daylight (which is extremely important) and there is also a handful of universal power outlets by the side for you to keep your devices charged. I did not have any issues with the WiFi during my stay but I also typically purchase an eSIM (from providers like Airalo) when I travel.
There is no coffee machine in the Studio Suites but since I have access to the Club Lounge as a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite member, this is not a big issue at all. In fact, Le Méridien Saigon has a number of great cafes just a minute away - Cà Phê Trứng 3T is a great spot for egg coffee (even though it’s more Hanoian than Saigonese), and Katinat Ngô Văn Năm is a fantastic spot to laze away your afternoon (it is also a great spot for lifestyle influencers). Vietnamese coffee is so good and you will find people drinking coffee at all times of the day - save your caffeine limit for the real thing outside instead!
View from Bedroom
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
The Studio Suite that I was assigned to for this stay overlooked the city in District 1 and even though the Le Méridien Saigon was nowhere near as tall as say the Landmark 81, it did offer a pretty good view which you would not necessarily get if your room was facing the Saigon River.
Welcome Amenities
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
I received a platter of sweet and savoury canapes in my room as a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite member - these were already in my room when I got in and there was a clingwrap over it which I removed for the photo. While this is a nice gesture, I personally do prefer having some fresh fruits over sweet treats like that.
Living Area and Bathroom
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
Even though the Studio Suites here at Le Méridien Saigon do not have separate living room, there is a living area that is large enough to accommodate three to four adults very comfortably - perfect for having friends over! As mentioned earlier, I did end up utilising this space quite a fair bit for my meals and it is always nice to have extra space since it puts you further away from your neighbours which generally ensures a quieter sleeping experience.
Bathroom
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
The Studio Suites at Le Méridien Saigon have a separate freestanding bathtub that is separated by a glass - you can lower the blinds for privacy (in the event that you are sharing the room) but I personally do enjoy the natural light while taking a bath. Bottled drinking water is provided in the room and you will also find two bottles that are replenished throughout your stay by the sink. It is generally not advisable for you to drink directly from the tap in Vietnam but I did not bother with using bottled water when brushing my teeth and I had no issues here at the Le Méridien Saigon.
Bath Amenities next to Bathtub
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
Consistent to the Le Méridien brand, bath amenities are provided by MALIN+GOETZ and the hotel has employed the use of bulk-sized amenities in the showers. What I was pleasantly surprised to find however, were smaller bottles of bath amenities that were thoughtfully placed by the freestanding tub to make it more convenient for hotel guests - there is nothing more annoying than having to leave a hot tub just to get a bit more shower gel from the shower area.
Bath Amenities in Shower
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
Paying just 11,360 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, I came to the Club Lounge of Le Méridien Saigon with little expectations but it was quite possibly one of the most impressive ones that I have had in 2023. I am not saying that it was the best, but it was just a lot better than I had expected. Located on Level 22 of the hotel, the Club Lounge is open from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM daily. More importantly, evening cocktails are served from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM daily but do note that hors d'oeuvres are served until 7:30 PM only.
Seating Area
Club Lounge - Le Méridien Saigon
The Club Lounge offers sweeping views of the Saigon River but if you do want a table near the window, you must get here before 5:30 PM as it fills up rather quickly. During my stay at the hotel, I noticed that the majority of in-house guests were of Korean nationality - I later found out that Vietnam is becoming increasingly popular amongst Korean tourists and there is also a huge expatriate community here in the city.
Evening Cocktails and Canapes
Club Lounge - Le Méridien Saigon
I did not expect to find sparkling wine in the Club Lounge but the Le Méridien Saigon offers a French blanc de blanc brut that is made using méthode traditionnelle - the Charles Roux Blanc De Blancs. This is no Dom Pérignon obviously but it was surprisingly drinkable (much better than a bottle of Moët & Chandon) and I have had quite a couple of glasses throughout my stay. Apart from the sparkling wine, you will also find a good selection of spirits and wines - all of which can be self-served but someone typically jumps in to help you refill your glass before you can even do it yourself.
The selection of food at the club lounge during evening cocktails is also pretty substantial, with a good mix of hot and cold selections. Most of the hot food dishes have been portioned out and even though they are quite small (which is great for tasting), you might need to help yourself to additional servings if you are looking for a dinner substitute.
most of it has been portioned out into individual portions,
Honestly, I cannot fault the food selection during evening cocktails at the lounge too - there is a decent spread of hot and cold dishes that will cater to international travellers as well. There is a hot soup on rotation and most of the hot food was delicious.
Caviar Bar
Club Lounge - Le Méridien Saigon
What surprised me was also a caviar bar - while it was obviously artificial (most of it was firm and crunchy), it was a pretty cute touch.
Housekeeping
Studio Suite - Le Méridien Saigon
While the beds over at Le Méridien Saigon were pretty comfortable, I did experience some noise issues during my stay on Friday and Saturday evenings. It wasn't from any nearby restaurant or bar but for some reason, the loud revving from motorbikes and sports cars could be heard from my room (even though I was 20 floors up from street level). I am not sure whether there was some kind of illegal street racing happening since it happened during the wee hours of the night but it woke me up a handful of times during my stay. With that being said, the noise is nowhere near as bad as the Fairfield Kuala Lumpur Jalan Pahang where I had to book a different hotel to sleep in.
Buffet Breakfast
Latest Recipe - Le Méridien Saigon
As a Titanium Elite member with access to the Club Lounge, I had the choice of having a more private breakfast experience at the lounge from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM or a full buffet breakfast experience at Latest Recipe which runs from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM (I think it ends a little later on weekends but I honestly cannot remember). Since the property was not exactly packed during my stay, I decided to have most of my breakfasts at Latest Recipe as it allows me to enjoy the most variety - something that I honestly loved having every morning was pho from the live noodle station.
Fresh Pastries
Latest Recipe - Le Méridien Saigon
Latest Recipe at Le Méridien Saigon also offers a huge selection of bakes and pastries every morning - some of these items change on a daily basis but you may obviously find the usual pastries (e.g. croissants) every day. The selection of food and drinks at Latest Recipe is great so even if you do not have Platinum Elite and higher tier status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, I would highly recommend that you top-up for the full breakfast experience. There are plenty of great-tasting food outside of the hotel but you can never beat the convenience of having a delicious breakfast at the property without having to worry about commuting.
Fresh Fruits
Latest Recipe - Le Méridien Saigon
While India leads the world in papaya production, Vietnam has what I think is the best papaya in the region - being able to enjoy them at breakfast is something I looked forward to every morning. With all that being said, the staff over at Latest Recipe always served me some kind of Vietnamese brewed coffee whenever I ordered a Long Black. I have also tried ordering an Americano during the course of my stay but I eventually just opted for a double espresso and some hot water on the side instead.
View of Saigon River
Gym and Pool - Le Méridien Saigon
While the Le Méridien Saigon is nowhere as nice as the legendary Park Hyatt Saigon (which is also a whole lot more expensive), it certainly pleasantly surprised me - the club lounge had great F&B offerings, the rooms while slightly dated are comfortable, and the location of the property is reasonably close to most attractions in District 1 so you can get to places on foot. Obviously, there is also the option of hopping on a bike or a car to get around places but I do personally prefer to walk as it allows me to be in control of time, and also it allows me to see a little bit more of the city along the way.
Saigon 2023
Instagram Highlights from my Saigon 2023 trip.
During my stay at the Le Méridien Saigon, I also took the opportunity to go for a run along the Saigon River which was pretty nice, but if you are planning to simply exercise in the gym, the hotel does have a well-equipped gym (complete with a smith machine for squats) as well as a nice sheltered pool. I have also attached an Instagram Highlight from my trip to Saigon below and you may scan it for some inspiration on restaurants and activities to check out beyond the hotel.
Like most cities in Vietnam, getting food delivered to you using a platform like GrabFood is extremely easy and even though most hotels would not accept the food on your behalf (for food safety reasons), you can easily meet your rider out front in the hotel to pick-up your order.
Le Saigonnais Lounge
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
The JW Marriott Auckland is still refurbishing its guest rooms and suites (with an expected completion date in November 2024). I stayed in a Deluxe Room (non-refurbished) and have found the experience to be lacking of a typical JW Marriott property.