Royal Hotel Saigon Review: Location, Amenities & Prices

If you’re looking for a hotel in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City that combines a historic French-era character with modern updates, the Royal Hotel Saigon (also known as Kim Do Hotel – Royal Hotel Saigon) is a consistent contender. This four-star property on Nguyen Hue Walking Street offers 127 rooms across seven categories, an indoor pool, and multiple dining options, all within walking distance of landmarks like the Opera House and Ben Thanh Market. This review draws on verified data from the official property site, Trip.com, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and other booking platforms to give you a clear, factual picture of what this hotel delivers and where its trade-offs lie.

Last checked: 2026-06-19

Client name: Royal Hotel Saigon · Number of rooms: 127 · Distance to city center: 6.5 km · Top review platform: Tripadvisor

What is the famous hotel in Saigon? — Introducing Royal Hotel Saigon

The Royal Hotel Saigon occupies a prime spot at 133 Nguyen Hue in District 1, directly on the pedestrian-only Nguyen Hue Walking Street. It is part of the Saigontourist Group, the state-owned tourism corporation that the hotel joined in May 1994 (Royal Hotel Saigon official site). According to the official site, the building’s predecessor, the Grand Hotel des Nations, was constructed by the French more than 80 years ago, giving the property a pre-war colonial-era lineage that the hotel markets as part of its identity.

According to Trip.com, the current hotel opened in 1994 and underwent a renovation in 2023. That renovation refreshed some interiors, but the property still carries a mid-90s layout and architectural bones, which is a recurring theme in guest feedback — spacious rooms with older fittings.

Across Trip.com, Booking.com, and Hotels.com, reviewers consistently highlight the hotel’s central location as its strongest asset. The location subscore on Trip.com stands at 9.1 out of 10. One reviewer on Hotels.com in November 2025 rated the hotel 10/10 for a five-night stay, calling it a “fantastic location.”

Royal Hotel Saigon: Overview and reputation

With 127 rooms across seven categories — from standard twin/double rooms to suites — the hotel positions itself as a mid-range-to-upper-mid-range option. TripAdvisor reviewers commonly note that rooms are spacious and clean, though some mention that the decor feels dated despite the partial renovations. A TripAdvisor feature page describes it as “an older hotel in a fabulous location in District 1.”

The property includes an indoor swimming pool — a relatively uncommon feature among older District 1 hotels — a 24-hour fitness centre, and a spa offering massage services. It also has four conference rooms and two meeting rooms, catering to corporate and MICE clients.

What amenities do royal hotels offer? — Royal Hotel Saigon’s facilities

The Royal Hotel Saigon offers a full set of amenities typical of a four-star city hotel. Standard in-room amenities across all categories include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a television, soundproof windows, and a dressing area or sitting area in some room types (Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Hotels.com listing).

Dining — the buffet and menu offerings

Booking.com lists six on-site dining venues: King Hall, Queen Hall, Boulevard, Royal Coffee, Lotus Hall, and Saigon Hall. The main restaurant serves Asian cuisine à la carte and is open daily from 06:00 to 22:00 (Trip.com).

The buffet breakfast — which operates from 06:00 to 09:30 — features both Vietnamese and European dishes, and guests on TripAdvisor regularly describe it as “large” and “varied.” Pricing is age-tiered: children aged 5 and under eat free; children aged 6–12 are charged approximately VND 305,271 (≈ USD 11–12); guests aged 13 and older pay about VND 407,028 (≈ USD 15–16) per person. Breakfast is charged separately for most room types.

Recreation and business services

Beyond the indoor pool and gym, the hotel offers a spa, karaoke facilities, and can arrange bike tours, cooking classes, and cultural tours — some at extra cost. For business guests, the four conference rooms and two meeting rooms are equipped with modern conferencing facilities. The hotel also has a 24-hour reception desk and a tour desk for sightseeing arrangements.

“Fabulous location in District 1. The hotel is older but clean and spacious. The breakfast buffet had plenty of options.”

— Guest review excerpt, TripAdvisor (room feature reviews)

How much is a night at Royal hotel? — Pricing and value

Nightly rates at the Royal Hotel Saigon vary significantly by booking channel, room category, and travel date. Hotels.com shows sample rates around USD 53 before taxes (≈ USD 61 total) on select dates. Expedia lists sample nightly prices starting around USD 63 including taxes and fees. Trip.com, meanwhile, lists an average “from” price of about USD 168 per night, reflecting the spread between base rooms and suites.

This wide band — roughly USD 53 to USD 168 — means the hotel competes across two segments: budget-conscious travellers booking well in advance on aggregator sites, and those booking flexible or higher-category rooms through full-service OTAs.

Booking.com guests give the hotel a score of around 8.1 out of 10, with positive comments about the central location, breakfast quality, and staff friendliness, though some critique dated decor. On Trip.com, the overall rating is 8.7 out of 10, with sub-scores of 8.8 for cleanliness, 8.3 for amenities, 9.1 for location, and 8.8 for service.

A refundable security deposit of about VND 1,017,569 (≈ USD 38–39) is required for guests booking through Trip.com, payable in cash, debit, or credit card.

Price range by room category

While exact category-by-category pricing fluctuates, the hotel’s seven room types span from standard twin/double rooms (the most affordable) to suites (the most expensive). The mid-range options typically include superior or deluxe rooms with added amenities like a sitting area. Given that the hotel was renovated in 2023, the higher-category rooms likely benefit from more modern fixtures.

Royal Hotel Saigon address — Location and getting there

The hotel’s official address is 133 Nguyen Hue (133 Đ. Nguyễn Huệ), Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Trip.com). It sits on the pedestrianised Nguyen Hue Walking Street, placing it within easy walking distance of major downtown landmarks: the Opera House (Municipal Theatre) is about 800 feet away, Ben Thanh Market is roughly a 10-minute walk, and Saigon Square and Dong Khoi Street are similarly close.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport is approximately 7 km (about 4.6 miles) from the hotel, and under normal traffic conditions the drive takes roughly 30 minutes. Saigon Train Station is about 2.4 miles away. Nearby metro stops include Opera House (≈ 800 ft) and Ben Thanh (≈ 2,350 ft), providing public transport links for guests arriving without a car.

Neighbourhood context

The hotel’s position on Nguyen Hue Walking Street places it in the heart of District 1’s café and nightlife zone. The “Cafe Apartment” building — a repurposed apartment block housing dozens of independent cafés — is directly across the street. Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Square, and the Opera House are all within a 5- to 12-minute walk.

The catch: The same central location that makes the hotel so convenient for sightseeing also means it can be noisy, especially on weekend evenings when Nguyen Hue Walking Street fills with pedestrians, street performers, and pop-up markets. Light sleepers may want to request a room facing away from the street.

Our pick — who should book the Royal Hotel Saigon?

Alternatives to Royal Hotel Saigon

The Reverie Saigon occupies the same street (Nguyen Hue) but is a five-star luxury property starting at roughly USD 200 per night. It offers contemporary Italian-designed interiors and a more polished experience, but at triple the price of a base room at the Royal Hotel Saigon. For travellers who want mid-range comfort with a historic twist, the Royal Hotel Saigon remains the more accessible option.

For another well-rated option in the same district, check out our Fusion Original Saigon Centre review for a modern alternative.

Frequently asked questions about Royal Hotel Saigon

Why this matters — what the data tells us about the Royal Hotel Saigon

The Royal Hotel Saigon delivers a clear value proposition: a historic, centrally located property in District 1 with an indoor pool and full amenities, at a price point that can dip below USD 60 on some booking platforms. Its renovated (2023) interiors are cleaner and more functional than pre-renovation, though multiple reviews note that the hotel still carries its 1994-era bones. The trade-off — heritage and location versus modern finishes — is consistently the main decision point for travellers.

Across the six booking platforms surveyed, the location subscore was consistently the highest metric (9.1/10 on Trip.com). If walkability to the Opera House, Ben Thanh Market, and Nguyen Hue Walking Street is your priority, the Royal Hotel Saigon is difficult to beat at its price range. If contemporary luxury is non-negotiable, you’ll need to budget significantly more for a property like The Reverie Saigon.

Sources cited

1. Royal Hotel Saigon official site — star rating, room count, historical claims, conference facilities, airport distance.
2. Trip.com listing — address, opening year (1994), renovation year (2023), check-in/out times, breakfast pricing, review scores, security deposit, pet policy, indoor pool, spa.
3. Booking.com listing — room types, dining venues (King Hall, Queen Hall, Boulevard, Royal Coffee, Lotus Hall, Saigon Hall), review score.
4. TripAdvisor main review page — qualitative guest feedback on location, room size, cleanliness, and decor.
5. TripAdvisor room feature reviews — breakfast descriptions, “fabulous location” quote.
6. Expedia listing — sample nightly pricing, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, health club details.
7. Hotels.com listing — sample nightly pricing, guest review (10/10 for 5-night stay).
8. Agoda listing — fitness centre and health club information.
9. Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Hotels.com listing — standard amenities, smoke-free policy, 24-hour reception, coffee bar.