Continental Saigon has three porcelain flowers planted from the hotel when the hotel first opened; Majestic Saigon has a 95-year-old wooden spiral staircase …
Continental and Majestic are among the oldest hotels in Saigon and in Vietnam. Meanwhile, although appearing a little later, Grand Saigon is also considered the oldest hotel of “Pearl of the Far East”. After many ups and downs of history, the dust of time does not cover; but on the contrary, has reflected the beauty of three typical French-style architectures in this city.
All three famous old hotels of Saigon are located on Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, in the most beautiful locations in the city. According to many city residents and tourists, there are still many secrets inside the famous luxury hotels.
Continental Saigon
Many people have used the words to talk about the earliest luxury hotels in Saigon in particular and the Southern region in general. Initially, this was the stop of the elite from France traveling to Indochina.
The hotel was built in 1878 and completed in 1880. At this time, almost at the same time with the appearance of many famous French-style architectural works in Saigon; such as Notre Dame Cathedral (complete into 1880), Saigon Post Office (1886 – 1891), and Saigon City Hall (1898 – 1909).
Located in a prime location in the city center at the intersection of Dong Khoi and Lam Son construction site; despite its modest height with only one ground floor and three floors; the Continental Saigon Hotel still looks outstanding with graceful windows, pillars of reliefs in bold French architectural style. The hotel has been recognized as an Art Architectural Monument of Ho Chi Minh City in 2012.
Over the past 140 years, the architectural appearance of the Continental Saigon Hotel has been kept quite intact. The architecture, the interior and the decoration all follow the standards of a luxury hotel in Paris in the late 19th century.
The Continental Hotel Saigon is more and more famous when it appears in some of the main scenes in the movie “Indochina”; directed by Régis Wargnier, which was released worldwide in 1992.
Majestic Saigon
Built-in 1925, up to now, the hotel has existed for 95 years. In the first period, the hotel impressed with its French architectural style design; which was later renovated in European Renaissance style. The interior and decorative details inside the hotel still retain the lavish and splendid features that were once considered the pride of the Saigon people.
Majestic Sai Gon is located at the beginning of the old Catinat street, now Dong Khoi; with a beautiful location overlooking the Saigon River. Manager of Majestic Saigon said the hotel had welcomed many important people such as the late French President Francois Mitterrand, Japanese Prince Akishino Fumihito, Danish Crown Prince André Henrik Christian, British Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward. In addition, Thai princess Maha Chakri Sringdhorn, Singapore Prime Minister Ly Hien Long, Japanese novelist Kaiko Takeshi … also stopped at this hotel.
Grand Saigon
Constructed in 1929 and completed in 1930, Grand Saigon Hotel was built on the foundation of a small assembly hall on the old Catinat Street, now Dong Khoi Street.
The distinctive highlight of Grand Saigon is the Ancient Wing. The ancient area of the hotel including standard rooms and Suite rooms that retain the French architectural style from 1930; with classic decor. and elegant, luxurious, fully equipped.
The representative of Grand Saigon shared, with its delicate and elegant lines in the French architectural style, during the 1930s, this address was nominated as a first-class choice among hotels in Saigon. Grand Saigon Hotel has 251 luxurious bedrooms with panoramic views of the Saigon River and the city from above.
