The Continental Hotel***
Our brief comments: 
The Continental hotel was built in 1880, one of Vietnam's oldest classic colonial hotels. It's in a prime location on a corner alongside the Saigon Opera House and a few steps away from Dong Khoi street, the ritziest area of today's Ho Chi Minh City.
The facade is attractive French Colonial architecture. Unfortunately, its most attractive feature was swept away in an unwise 'renovation' in 1989.
The terrace of the Continental was the place to be seen for the colonial smart set , and for diplomats, correspondents, spies and all sorts of exotic individuals. It was one of Graham Greene's haunts, and many other artists and writers. If you've seen the latest film version of 'The Quiet American', you'll probably remember Pyle sitting on the Continental's terrace awaiting the devastating bomb blast in front of the Opera House.
Yesterday's heritage is now a bare pavement. Sadly, the 'modernisation' has also destroyed many of the  hotels interior features. Nevertheless, enough remains to give a feel of the days of Empire and intrigue, particularly the charming courtyard garden in the centre of the hotel, and the 'La Dolce Vita' bar alongside.
The lobby retains the architectural details, but inappropriate light fittings, furniture and the shiny ceramic tile floor degrades its appearance. The Palace Restaurant is better and more in keeping with the French Colonial design, but the 'Chez Guido' Italian restaurant is an uncomfortable mixture of two distinct styles.
Deluxe rooms are spacious with balconies overlooking the Opera House. They have wooden furniture in a mix of Asian and contemporary items, and rayon soft furnishings. There's an open partition between bed and sitting area. The standard bathrooms are above average.
Superior rooms are similar, but lack a balcony and safety box, and overlook the small, but attractive, garden with a pretty ornamental pool. Suites are  much larger with similar facilities and bathrooms to other rooms.
All rooms have high ceilings, and corridor ceilings are panelled with wood. There a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi complex and a small fitness room. When we visited, both had an unpleasant smell. Elsewhere, there was a pervasive odour of stale cigarette smoke in rooms, corridors and restaurants.
The Continental's location and long history are plus points, but the hotel has a run down atmosphere - the stale smells don't help. On the other hand, it offers spacious rooms with views over one of best areas in Ho Chi Minh City.
Last inspected in November, 2005
Room facilities
Room Categories |
Superior |
Deluxe |
Junior Suite |
Continental Suite |
Executive Suite |
| Number of rooms |
30 |
41 |
11 |
2 |
2 |
Air-conditioner |
|
|
|
|
|
Satellite television |
|
|
|
|
|
Shower only |
|
|
|
|
|
Bath with shower |
|
|
|
|
|
| Bath + separate shower |
|
|
|
|
|
Personal safety box |
|
|
|
|
|
Coffee and tea facilities |
|
|
|
|
|
| Laptop connection |
|
|
|
|
|
| Free broadband access |
|
|
|
|
|
Extra bed available? |
|
|
|
|
|
Child's cot available? |
|
|
|
|
|
Room size (m2) |
32 |
35 |
55 |
60 & 70 |
80 |
View |
garden |
city |
city |
city |
city |
Additional room facilities:
Hotel facilities:
Outdoor pool |
|
Non-smoking floor(s) |
|
Pool bar |
|
Non-smoking rooms only |
|
Fitness/health centre |
|
Vietnamese/Asian restaurant |
|
Sauna |
|
International restaurant |
|
Massage |
|
Patisserie/coffee shop/cafe |
|
Jacuzzi |
|
Business centre |
|
Additional hotel facilities: pleasant garden in the middle of the hotel building.
|
