TheLoneRider
a seeker in search of Easter Eggs
Hotel Review: Queen Ann Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hotel Review: Queen Ann Hotel Apr 24-30, 2019

Hotel Review: Queen Ann Hotel

Rating: star star star star star (5 stars out of 5) - a must-experience
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hotel Review: Queen Ann Hotel
majestic and imposing Queen Ann Hotel

Good Points

  1. central District 1 location
  2. luxurious amenities
  3. clean and well-maintained
  4. buffet breakfast
  5. comfortable rooms
  6. many English channels on their cable tv
  7. friendly and helpful staff
  8. forward-thinking GM
  9. unique touches - touch-sensor mirror, eccentric shower faucet
Hotel Review: Queen Ann Hotel
street view from my corner room

Room for Improvement

  1. resto area feels cramped, but they have plans to expand the area already

Ending Thoughts
I've lived in hotels and resorts for years now (being homeless and traveling continuously), and my benchmark for a hotel is my desire to just stay inside my room if it's too comfortable. And that's exactly how it was at Queen Ann Hotel. After long walks and city tour of HCMC, it's soothing to come home to a comfortable room where you know you'll get a good sound sleep. Highly Recommended!

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
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Next stop:

  • Tok Sen Massage from Ying May 8, 2019
  • HO CHI MINH CITY BLOGS

    1. Hotel Review: Queen Ann Hotel Apr 24-30, 2019
    2. Banh Canh Cua Obsession Apr 23-30, 2019
    3. The Fascinating Peoplescape of Ho Chi Minh City Apr 23-30, 2019
    4. Ho Chi Minh City on a Visa Run Apr 23-30, 2019
    5. Nomad Travel Buddy Aug 27, 2018
    6. 20 Days in Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
    7. Exploring Binh Tay Market, Ho Chi Minh City Aug 26, 2018
    8. Pho Beef Soup Exploration of Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
    9. Rediscovering the Cafe Tradition of Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
    10. Where is the Best Banh Canh Cua in HCMC? Aug 7-27, 2018
    11. In Search of the best Banh Mi in Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
    12. Peoplescape of Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
    13. Rediscovering Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7, 2018
    14. AO Show, Ho Chi Minh City Apr 10, 2015
    15. Free English Apr 1, 2015
    16. Teaching English to Vietnamese Apr 1, 2015
    17. 20 Days in Ho Chi Minh City Mar 22 - Apr 12, 2015
    18. Discovering Ho Chi Minh City's Cafe Culture Nov 9 - Dec 17, 2014
    19. Ho Chi Minh City's Fascinating Motorbike Culture Nov 18, 2014
    20. How Long was the Vietnam War? Nov 10, 2014
    21. Exploring Ho Chi Minh City (Ho Chi Minh City) Nov 9, 2014

    Google Map

    Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    important places in Ho Chi Minh City IMPORTANT PLACES
    Ho Chi Minh City Bus Station Ben Xe Mien Dong
    Ho Chi Minh City Bus Station Mien Tay Bus Station
    Ho Chi Minh City Train Station Saigon Railway Station
    Ho Chi Minh City airport Tan Son Nhat International Airport

    hotels in Ho Chi Minh City HOTEL
    Queen Ann Hotel, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Queen Ann Hotel - luxurious and modern, District 1 location, 10-minute walk to Ben Thanh Market
    Sakura Hostel Cholon, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City Sakura Hostel Cholon - 9.0 Stars (out of 10) from 24 reviews on Booking.com based on cleanliness, comfort, facilities, staff, value for money, free wifi and location!

    USEFUL INFORMATION

    How to Get to District 1 (HCMC) from the Airport (Tan Son Nhat International Airport)
    1. take the #109 Airport Bus (5:30am to 1:00am, departs every 15-20 minutes, 45 mins, 20k Dong or $1.00) Route: International Terminal - Domestic Terminal (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) - Truong Son - Tran Quoc Hoan - Hoang Van Thu - Nguyen Van Troi - Nam Ky Khoi Nghia - Ham Nghi - Le Lai - Ben Thanh Bus Station - Pham Ngu Lao - 23/9 Park
    2. get off at 23/9 Park to get to the cluster of backpacker hostels
    Ho Chi Minh City Travel Tips
    1. best money changer rates in District 1 is Ha Tam Jewelry near Ben Thanh (refer to map for location)
    2. unlike most destinations in Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is too big for the major bus companies to provide a drop-off service with their shuttle minivans. If you are coming by bus, you get off either at the Western Bus Station or Eastern Bus Station depending on where you are coming from. From there, you can take the cheap local bus, the Xe Buyt to get you closer to your destination.
    3. you can get around the city by moto-taxi or rent a motorbike - but be warned that motorbike riding in Ho Chi Minh City is unlike riding anywhere else in Asia!
    Ho Chi Minh City Cost Index

    Budget price in budget places (US$1 = Vietnam Dong VND 23,255 = Php 53.20 as of Aug 1, 2016)

    • VND 10-15,000 baguette sandwich (banh mi)
    • VND 25-30,000 noodle soup (pho)
    • VND 10-15,000 black filtered coffee
    • VND 5,000 sugar cane juice (nuoc mia)
    • VND 8-10,000 fresh coconut
    • VND 10,000 one beer bottle
    • VND 10,000 1.5 liter drinking water
    • VND 80,000 bicycle rental, 24 hours
    • VND 80,000 cheap lodging
    • VND 10,000/kg laundry
    • VND 8-10,000/km but flag-down starts at 20,000 motorcycle ride
    • VND 20-35,000 rice meals (com tam)
    • VND 100-140,000/day motorbike rental
    Vietnam FYI / Tips / Dos and Don'ts
    1. Hanoi Grapevine HCMC Update - for the latest events in Vietnam
    2. Vietnam establishments will not accept US dollars, unlike Cambodia. You have to use Vietnam Dong (US$1 = Vietnam Dong VND 23,255 = Php 53.20 as of Aug 1, 2016)
    3. Vietnamese smokers will smoke in air-conditioned establishments, air-conditioned buses packed with people including women, children and babies. They also smoke inside hospitals with no smoking signs.
    4. Vietnam ranks almost the same as Thailand and Cambodia for cheap price. Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia cost more
    5. internet speed is generally fast and reliable but during important events like Tet holiday, election, etc., it slows down
    6. Vietnamese generally do not speak or understand much English. It will be a challenge.
    7. best to dress appropriately, not revealing too much skin (Saigon is an exception - the ladies there set the trend in very short shorts)
    8. remove your shoes when entering a home or place of worship
    9. ask first before taking someone's picture. If they say no, don't persist or offer money
    10. best to carry your hotel's business card with you when going out. You can just show it to the cab driver or XeOm driver if they don't understand English
    11. leave your valuables, passport, travel tickets, etc. with the hotel's safety deposit box
    12. when lying down, don't point your feet or the soles of your shoes to anyone or to a family altar
    13. carry only enough cash for your needs that day
    14. don't lose your temper in public - Vietnamese people are warm, generous and polite. They look down on people who lose their composure
    15. don't take pictures of military installations - you can go to jail
    16. refrain from taking videos of minority people until permitted to do so
    Lesser-Known Vietnam Destinations
    1. Phu Yen Province - by the beach
    2. Hoa Binh Lake - locals' alternative to Halong Bay
    3. Ninh Binh - Trang An Grottoes, Tam Coc, Mua Caves, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Van Long Nature Reserve
    General Travel Tips
    1. arrive early - in case there is a snag (visa snag, documentation snag, transport ticket snag, etc.), you will have ample time to troubleshoot the problem if you arrive early (to the airport, to the bus terminal, etc.)
    2. put detailed itinerary on the Calendar apps of your smart-phone according to timelines - this is where you do all your thinking and planning. Once written down, you don't have to think anymore while you are on the journey...you just follow the steps. This frees your mind for something else that might happen while you are already en route
    3. avoiding scams - as a general rule, I ignore the touts or anyone I don't know who call out to me. The calling comes in many forms - "Hi! Where are you from?", "Excuse me! Excuse me!", "Where are you going?". I don't look them in the eye and I remain non-verbal with them. If you reply to them, you just gave them an 'in' to hound you. In order not to look rude, I smile and wave the 'not interested' hand to them, without looking at them.
    4. power bank - hand-carry your power bank. Do not check it in. You can be called in when you are already inside the plane to go all the way to the loading dock so you can personally remove the power bank...and chances are, you'll have to surrender it to them. And you might delay the plane departure!
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