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Set along the Saigon River in Thao Dien Ward of Thu Duc City, or previously Ho Chi Minh District 2, is Mia Saigon. Mia Saigon is a luxury boutique hotel that exudes an aristocratic and genteel charm. Young, yet unpretentiously dignified, she speaks of a new Saigon that is more confident and self-assured. Moreover, the Mia synergizes effortlessly to the ambience of Thao Dien Ward with its distinct well-to-do village atmosphere.
- Location: Google Maps
- Address: 2-4 Đường số 10, An Phú, Thủ Đức
- View on the web
A Stroll Through Mia Saigon
The inspiration behind Mia Saigon is nostalgia for the city’s early 20th century Art Deco movement. With casual reflections of the bygone Saigon of French Indochina, the decor remains true to an anti-traditional elegance symbolizing wealth and sophistication.
Upon Arrival at Mia Saigon
Mia Saigon offers a different experience in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s across the Saigon River in District 2 and part of the newly formed municipality of Thu Duc City. Nestled in this ‘other side of Saigon’, it’s an escape from the city and a popular destination for a staycation and business travellers.
Your welcome has a friendliness and warmth to it, mixed in with a casualness that sets one at complete ease. The feeling is more of a country manor house rather than a city hotel. A homemade welcome drink and a wet face towel quickly helps the Saigon heat dissipate.
Style, Decor, and Art
Everything in the Mia Saigon Hotel is a delightful richness of design and thoughtfully placed ornaments, books, and pieces of art. The blend and balance of complementing colors are effortless. Everything is decorative, yet nothing is overstated or overly formal.
The reception area blends into a spacious lounge with splendid furnishings of sophisticated European design. The antique vases, jars, and other ornaments, however, are distinctly Oriental or Vietnamese.
Looking around you’ll find gems like two paintings by Bùi Xuân Phái on either side of a golden horse statue. He was one of Vietnam’s most acclaimed modern artists. You’ll also notice an original collection of old propaganda posters. While, on other floors, there are themed collections of rare books, old stamps, or vintage matchboxes.
Appointed Rooms and Suites
No accommodation at the Mia Saigon will fail to impress. Stylish and tastefully done, thoughtful details are not left to chance. From deluxe rooms to upgraded suites, each comes with a Nespresso machine. Or, enjoy complimentary teas brewed in a delightful handcrafted tea set. There’s also a bedside Bluetooth Bose speaker.
Accommodations are all spacious with comfortable loungers and a sizable working desk. Bedside, tableside, or vanity sockets include inbuilt USB connectors. Flat-screen smart TVs also have Netflix and other services.
River-facing rooms have balconies with comfortable settees and a table. These are the best choices and ideal for enjoying in-room breakfast, afternoon tea, or dinner ordered-in.
The ensuite bathrooms have Mr and Mrs amenities, including bathrobes, and His and Her washbasins. All have a bath, clawed for suites, and well-maintained water pressure for the rain shower.
Facilities and Services
There are a number of welcomed facilities at Mia Saigon that make this luxury boutique stay exceptional. One is the 25-meter riverside pool, which has an accompanying smaller kids pool. The gym is modest by general comparison, but well-equipped with complimentary water and towels on-hand.
The restaurant is breezy and spacious with additional riverside seating outdoors. Although slightly adjacent to the pool, it doesn’t intrude too much upon anyone’s privacy. The hotel even has its own jetty and private water taxi for hire or sightseeing.
For some of the most exquisite views of the river and Saigon’s downtown skyline, head to the rooftop greened terrace. There, you will also find Gin on 8.
This is a unique and bespoke glass-domed lounge that replicates the mood of a speakeasy. Here, you can view a unique mural art piece by French Pop Artist Jerome Peschard, or partake of their cigar selection. The sunset views are breathtaking.
The Spa at the Mia Saigon
Although Mia Saigon is gearing up for the reopening of Saigon, you should check their website for details of the spa. Treatment packages may change, but offers have included popular facial treatments, body treatments such as shiatsu, hotstones, cupping, as well as detox body wraps.
Dining and Outdoors
Breakfast always has healthy choices from a select buffet offering. A la carte menus can be ordered as part of the inclusive package. The breakfast is wonderful, however, if you’re staying more than a couple of days, choices and variety are somewhat limited.
Kitchen By The River is open for all day dining starting from breakfast. The menu has a good focus on seafood. Overall, the dishes are not exceedingly original, but very well-prepared.
Vegetarian options and kids choices are not so forthcoming, but their skilled chefs can make adaptations as requested. The restaurant also has outdoor patio dining, and on request, they can also organize private riverside barbecues.
If Mia Saigon can be faulted for one thing, perhaps it would be the garden. The landscaping is somewhat bland, especially the large concrete slabs around the pool. Perhaps a more lush and verdant design would have been a better match. The open grassy spaces, however, are nice for kids’ activities.
Staycation, Day Stays, and Other Offers
As of October 2021, Mia Saigon will be reopening with special staycation rates and other offers. These also include offers on food and beverages, in-room dining, riverside private barbeques, and the afternoon tea service. They also have special package deals for photo shoots, and there are organized childrens’ activities and cooking classes.
Around and About Thao Dien Ward
Thao Dien Ward in the old District 2, or now Thu Duc City, has become an enclave of sorts for expat communities. There are many exclusive and luxury apartment buildings, mansion-like houses, and a gated riverside community for corporate executives.
Along the back streets and alleys you’ll find some of the best restaurants in Saigon. There are also rich pickings of boutiques, health food stores, and homely coffee houses. With a relatively low population density, Thao Dien maintains a village-like atmosphere and community.
There are not many places, however, around Mia Saigon — especially within walking distance. However, if you want to get out and about, a short taxi ride or a Grad Car is right on hand. The hotel doesn’t have shuttle service into Saigon, but there are bicycles for going around Thao Dien.
Thao Dien, and District 2, is not famed for popular sightseeing locations in Ho Chi Minh City. It does, however, have a direct route to the airport which takes around 40 minutes. Binh Thanh’s JapanTown is just over the Saigon River bridge, as in the Landmark 98 Tower.
Alternatively, it is a convenient location for catching the nearby ferry to the Cu Chi Tunnels, or you can take advantage of the hotel’s river taxi and sightseeing service. One place worth visiting though is Buu Long Pagoda. It is about 20 minutes north of Thao Dien ward and is the largest Theravada Temple in Vietnam.
Why Choose the Mia Saigon
Mia Saigon is a luxury boutique concept that is unexpectedly down to earth. It combines luxury, style, and grace with an ease of familiarity. Everything delights and its unpretentious self-assurity is what really impresses. It’s also one of the few really great hotels in a part of the city that relaxes into the sunset.
The Hits:
- Attention to design and detail
- Riverfront swimming pool
- Rooftop glass lounge and patio
- Saigon River sunset views
- Jetty and private boat
- In-room amenities
- Photogenic settings
The Misses:
- Variety of menu
- Garden landscaping
