As Vietnam's hospitality industry experiences a significant growth
market in Southeast Asia, a number of hotels are entering the country's
biggest market – Ho Chi Minh City. With cranes dotting the skyline, it's
evident that the lack of quality hotel inventory is quickly becoming a
thing of the past. Here are some trends that are changing the
hospitality offerings in Saigon.
International brands making inroads
Several international brands, such as Marriott, IHG, and Accor,
already have multiple properties in Ho Chi Minh City. While there have
been many announcements of new projects, there have been some delays.
For example, a long-awaited Hilton ran into permit issues, the owner of
the nearly completed Mandarin Oriental Saigon had legal problems
unrelated to the brand, and the opening of the Ritz Carlton was first
announced almost a decade ago. Nevertheless, all these projects are
still officially on the books with delivery dates set for the next two
years.
The Vinpearl Landmark 81 houses the highest swimming pool in Vietnam.
In 2022, however, another Marriott brand made a splash. Resort owner
and developer Vinpearl converted its flagship property occupying 25
floors in Vietnam's tallest building into the Vinpearl Landmark 81,
Autograph Collection, which boasts 223 rooms. This hotel claims top
spots as the first Autograph Collection in the country, the highest
swimming pool, the highest club lounge, and the largest presidential
suite. Its ballroom and adjoining foyer can accommodate events for up to
1500 attendees.
Rapid growth for Vietnamese chains
Vietnamese brands are not waiting for international companies. For
example, Fusion counts 16 properties and 4,000 rooms in Vietnam and
Thailand. They chose a prime location above the Saigon Center shopping
mall to open Fusion Original Saigon Centre, their first property under
the Fusion Original lifestyle brand. The artwork and design through ten
floors and 99 rooms aim to appeal to a younger audience, though business
travellers will also appreciate the District 1 address. The open-air
pool on the sixth floor provides unique city-centre cityscape views.
Wink Hotel opened in 2021 in Ho Chi Minh City, adds Danang property and plans to open third hotel in the city by March 2023.
Wink Hotel Saigon Centre (not related to the mall location above)
opened in 2021 when international travellers were scarce in Vietnam. The
group added another property in Danang last year and is set to open a
third in the same city at the end of March 2023.
In
all, Wink Hotels has ambitious plans to open 20 more properties in the
next five to seven years. Wink Hotels' 237-room Ho Chi Minh City
property positions itself as affordable and stylish. Rooms are compact
from 18-27sqm but functionally designed, with details like the window
blinds drawn by artist Richie Fawcett who has been documenting the city
through his sketches for over a decade. The image includes a perspective
that goes from the historic temple across the street to the city's
modern skyline. Other features of the hotel include self check-in, a
co-working space, an on-site curated convenience store, craft beers and
snacks, a dedicated app, self-service laundry, all with integrated
cashless payment.
Boutique hotels flying solo
La Opera Saigon, one of the newest hotels in town, opened in March
2023. Located in the heart of the city's Japantown, the purpose-built
eight-storey building has the footprint of a traditional shophouse. Its
42 light wood rooms range from 15 to 30 square metres and offer
unexpected in-room facilities such as both baths and showers in all
categories.
Mia Saigon offers a luxury experience with speed boat services.
Mia Saigon is another independent boutique hotel that attracts guests
to its away-from-centre An Phu location. With 52 elaborately decorated
rooms and suites, a rooftop bar, an extensive art collection on every
floor, and speed boat service from the riverside hotel, it's a unique
experience.
Bach Suites, located in a prime District 1 location, has 36 rooms and
suites with working kitchenettes. The property aims to connect guests
to its neighbourhood by giving them an online map of local businesses.
The rooftop pool and gym will soon be joined by an F&B outlet with
killer views.
New hotel projects in Ho Chi Minh City keep coming, but it remains to
be seen if they will be enough to help Vietnam recover its
international market of 18 million international tourists in 2019.
Conventional wisdom says it will take some time. Government projections
for 2023 are for 8 million international arrivals.