Item: Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon
Rating: 9.6
Author: Jean-Maximilien Voisine

After a one week stay at the JW Marriott Hotel Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa, we are back in a bustling city: Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City. We decided to stay our last two nights in Vietnam at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon.

Booking at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon with Marriott Bonvoy points

For this stay, I chose to use points from the Marriott Bonvoy program: 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for 2 nights.

renaissance riverside hotel saigon points marriott rewards — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – points Marriott Bonvoy

That’s 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night… or the equivalent of 8,333 starpoints, instead of CA$195 + tax.

The use of these 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points / 16,667 starpoints will have saved me more than CA$400 including taxes! Not bad when just one credit card, the Marriott BonvoyTM American Express^MD Card, can give you 50,000 points!

Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy GOLD status

With the Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, obtained thanks to the equivalence of the Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, itself obtained with my Platinum Card^MD from American Express, I had various advantages such as:

Free high speed WiFi
Late departure / early arrival
Access to the Executive Lounge
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant or in the lounge (your choice!)

Due to our early arrival, no upgrade, only a high floor.

The Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon

The Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon is a 5 star hotel. It is located in the heart of Saigon.

renaissance riverside saigon lobby 10 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Lobby

It is located on a “half” traffic circle. Next to it is being built a Hilton hotel.

renaissance riverside saigon lobby 05 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – View

The lobby

Arrived from the airport with an Uber driver (about $5 ride for 20-25 minutes), no one in line at the reception. We will be greeted by the Marriott Bonvoy Elite Member Receptionist.

renaissance riverside saigon lobby 08 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Lobby

The hotel bar is located on the reception level:

renaissance riverside saigon lobby 11 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Lobby

It’s about 11am: I had requested an early arrival (Marriott Gold advantage) for our 2 rooms and it will be honored.

We head to the elevators behind the reception and go to the 12th floor.

renaissance riverside saigon lobby 03 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Elevators – 12th floor

renaissance riverside saigon lobby 02 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – View of the hotel’s inner courtyard

renaissance riverside saigon lobby 01 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Hallway

The room at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon

We had two connecting rooms: one with a king size bed and the other with two single beds.

Upscale room with city view: king bed

One thing we appreciated: the baby bed was already installed in our room as requested at the time of booking.

renaissance riverside saigon room 01 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

renaissance riverside saigon room 02 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

The decor is simple and effective.

renaissance riverside saigon room 03 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

The view… is a “city” view and not a river view (a category above). On the 12th floor, we can’t hear the traffic.

renaissance riverside saigon room 05 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

An office is present. Again, simple and effective. Nothing extravagant.

renaissance riverside saigon room 04 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

A coffee machine and a kettle are available next to the entrance.

renaissance riverside saigon room 06 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

And in the closet, you will find all the usual accessories: ironing board and iron, bathrobe, hair dryer and safe.

renaissance riverside saigon room 07 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

Deluxe room with city view: 2 single beds

The other room is composed of two single beds.

renaissance riverside saigon room 11 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

The layout is a little different here: no sofa, but 2 armchairs.

renaissance riverside saigon room 12 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

The office is identical to the other room.

renaissance riverside saigon room 13 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

Sweets – for a fee – are available.

renaissance riverside saigon room 16 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

Note the rather “vintage” lighting buttons:

renaissance riverside saigon room 15 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Room

The bathroom

The bathrooms of both rooms are identical. They are starting to show their age, but it is still very correct. Note that the hotel is generous with bottled water!

renaissance riverside saigon room 08 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Bathroom

renaissance riverside saigon room 10 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Bathroom

renaissance riverside saigon room 09 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Bathroom

The pool and the gym

On the top floor of the hotel are the swimming pool and the gym. Surrounding the pool: the Liquid Sky Bar.

renaissance riverside saigon sport 01 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Pool and Gym

Opening hours. We appreciate the gym open 24 hours a day and the pool until 9pm.

renaissance riverside saigon sport 02 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Pool and Gym

First of all, the gym.

renaissance riverside saigon sport 03 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Pool and Gym

renaissance riverside saigon sport 04 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Pool and Gym

Then the pool. It was over 35 degrees in early January, the pool was rather cool, around 24 degrees.

renaissance riverside saigon sport 06 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Pool and Gym

renaissance riverside saigon sport 07 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Pool and Gym

From the pool, a beautiful view of the city and the river.

renaissance riverside saigon lobby 06 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – View

renaissance riverside saigon lobby 04 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Lobby

The catering areas

If you are a Marriott Gold member, you have automatic access to the Executive Lounge on the 18th floor. In addition, you can have breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant.

The lounge executive

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 09 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

This one offers beautiful views of the river.

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 10 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 13 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

You will be able to have your breakfast, access throughout the day to serve you drinks…

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 12 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 11 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

…or in the evening for alcoholic beverages and lots of snacks!

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 07 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 08 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 06 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 05 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 04 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 03 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 02 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

renaissance riverside saigon lounge 01 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Executive Lounge

I must say I was quite impressed with the evening service. However, expect to meet a lot of people between 6-7pm!

Breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant

Upon check-in, we were told that as a Marriott Bonvoy Gold member, we would be entitled to breakfast either in the lounge or in the hotel’s restaurant, Viet Kitchen Saigon.

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 22 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

This same choice was offered to us at the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel. If this choice is suggested to you, don’t hesitate and take the hotel’s restaurant! Indeed, the one at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon is apparently famous: a lot of people from outside come there to have breakfast!

The room is pleasant and bright.

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 23 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 18 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

And the buffet is, as usual in Asia, gargantuan!

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 01 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 03 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 02 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

Salty in quantity AND quality:

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 04 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 05 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 06 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 08 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 09 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 10 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 11 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 12 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

Eggs… in every way!

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 13 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 14 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 15 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

And of course, sweetness:

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 07 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 16 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 17 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 19 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 20 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

And many different fresh juices:

renaissance riverside saigon pdj 21 — Renaissance Riverside Hotel – Breakfast

Bottom Line

This Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon is a quality hotel. I don’t think it’s on the level of a 5 star, 4 stars being more justified. On the other hand, it’s hard to fault the 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night (or 8,333 starpoints). I would have to say that the executive lounge and breakfast are the highlights of the hotel…which were made available through Marriott Gold status. Without it, I would have been a little disappointed with the performance.

But it must be said that the bar had been set very high by the previous hotels we visited: the JW Marriott Hotel Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa, the JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi or the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel.

My other choice in the city would have been the newer Le Meridien Saigon a few blocks away. This one was only 7,000 starpoints: a little cheaper than the Renaissance, but we would not have had free breakfast: the Marriott Bonvoy Gold status does not offer it, unlike the Marriott Bonvoy Gold.

In short, I recommend this hotel… provided you stay as a Marriott Bonvoy Gold or Platinum member!

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