One of the best areas to stay in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is District 1, right in the heart of the city. There are many hotels in the area, for all tastes and budgets. We’ve chosen to stay in Ngoc Linh Hotel for 2 nights. Check our review of the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Our Room
We booked a Standard Double Room at Ngoc Linh Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. We were staying at another hotel the night before which we didn't like, so we moved to another hotel and were actually surprised at how clean the room was and so were the towels and bed sheets. The room was a little on the small size with very basic facilities. The bed was comfortable, slept really well both nights.
The room we’ve got had window so it was sunny and airy which was good.
The bathroom was also clean and in a good condition. Shower came with shower gel and shampoo dispensers.
However, the walls were not soundproof at all so we could hear people walking on the stairs. We had to change to flip-flops and leave our shoes downstairs. Such a practice seems like a common thing at most of hotels on this street.
We were aware that the hotel didn't have an elevator. The staircase was narrow, steep and uncomfortable. We were staying on the 3rd floor which wasn't bad, but it could be problematic if we would be travelling with big heavy suitcases. If you have mobility issues, make sure to request a lower floor.
Breakfast
Free breakfast was a plus. Breakfast was always freshly cooked and even if there were not many options, it was sufficient to start the day. Only one woman was working in the kitchen so waiting for the breakfast might take long when the hotel is full.
Location
Location of Ngoc Linh Hotel was excellent. It is in the center of district 1, tucked in a quieter alley on Pham Ngu Lao backpackers’ street. Considering that the hotel is in the middle of a very busy area, it was surprisingly quiet. We had no outside noise which has been a big issue in many places around this area. There are plenty of bars, supermarket, restaurants and travel agents nearby. The hotel is also close to the bus station where you can take the public bus to the airport and long distance buses to other cities. If you want to explore the center of Ho Chi Minh City, it is about 25-30 minutes on foot to most tourist attractions.
Service
The staff was really nice, welcoming and spoke good English. They were happy to assist and give suggestions about the surrounding area. At the reception you also can book tours like to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta or get a ticket for the train if you need. However, we didn't book our tours at the hotel as it was cheaper to book tours online.
Room Price
Ngoc Linh Hotel room price starts from 400,000 VND per night for small standard room but we paid about 490,000 VND per night to get a bigger room. It is the place to stay if you're looking for a value-for-money place in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City but still in a quiet street.
Our Rate: 8/10
Ngoc Linh Hotel was a good budget option with breakfast included. The hotel is situated in the middle of backpackers’ area and very close to many restaurants, tours, nightlife’s and bus station. Considering that it is a very basic hotel, for the price it was all well worth the money.
Ngoc Linh Hotel Booking
This hotel in Ho Chi Minh City can be booked here: Ngoc Linh Hotel.
Other Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
Other good hotels in Ho Chi Minh City that we were considering to stay at:
Review of another hotel in Ho Chi Minh City that we’ve stay at: Khoi 2 Hotel Review.