📍Ibis Saigon Airport Hotel: An Honest Review 2024.
WONDERING WHETHER STAYING AT IBIS SAIGON AIRPORT IS WORTH IT?
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest city. Although it’s not the capital, this globally-recognised city, previously Saigon before being renamed after the nation’s first president and beloved revolutionary leader, is a massive tourist hotspot and a place no visitor to this breathtakingly vibrant Southeast Asian country should miss out.
From learning about the Vietnam/American War and the devastating generational repercussions of the infamous Agent Orange to exploring the opulent halls of the historically significant Independence Palace to catching a cultural show at the Saigon Opera House to heading out of the city to explore the tiny network of underground caves used during wartime, there is plenty to see.
As for places to stay, there is no shortage of fantastic options. However, if you’re coming in from the airport late or heading there early in the morning, I found Ibis Saigon Airport an exceptional choice. Its location, services, comfort level and facilities made my 2-night stay in this 3-star hotel memorable. Here’s why.
Ibis Saigon Airport.
- 4-star hotel.
- 4.1/5 from 830 Google reviews.
- Modern and edgy rooms.
- Very close to the airport.
- Rooftop bar and infinity pool!!!
Ibis Saigon Airport: Review Overview.
In this thorough review of Ibis Saigon Airport, I discuss all my favourite aspects about staying here and what met my expectations and also cover areas that could use improvement to provide a better experience for guests. I touch upon the presentation and atmosphere of the rooms and the hotel’s facilities, such as the swimming pool and restaurants, its location in proximity to major attractions and whom the hotel would be the most suitable for, before concluding with my overall thoughts.
Is Ibis Saigon Airport Worth Visiting?
Yes! This hotel is exceptional value for money. It had beautiful rooms with a youthful and punchy artistic flair, hardly any noise seepage, plus a rooftop pool and a bar overlooking the city and the airport! On top of those fantastic selling points, it had a Starbucks for quick snacks and most importantly, a quick airport transfer service to the Domestic and International Airport a couple of minutes away, perfect for travellers with nighttime arrivals or early departures.
The only downside is that it’s half an hour’s drive away from where most of the city’s top attractions are.
Rooms.
General Overview & Room Amenities.
- 273 soundproof rooms.
- Standard, studio, family rooms and apartments.
- Interconnecting rooms are available.
- 18-54m2
- Room service.
- City, airport or garden view.
- Private bathroom.
- Flat-screen TV.
- Complimentary water, tea and coffee.
- Minifridge.
- Safety deposit box.
- Bum gun.
Our Room. – Standard Room.
✔️ Pros.
- It was easily the best 3-star hotel we’ve ever stayed in. I’d even go so far as to say it outranks some 4-star places we have been to as well.
- I loved the edgy and modern, fun and artsy design and bold complementary colour palette.
- The plane artwork and decals were a super fun bold, fun and stylistic touch, emphasising the airport and travel motif running throughout the hotel.
- While the room isn’t huge, it utilised the space well so it didn’t feel too cramped.
- We appreciated the couch, the long countertop table and the open wall units which gave us adequate space for our belongings and a nice space to sit.
- The bathroom was also gorgeous, seamlessly continuing the slick contemporary vibe of the room. It also had Hollywood lighting and a 3-way-use rain/handheld shower and tap.
- The room was spotless.
❌ Cons.
- Getting to the open wardrobe tucked in the corner next to the wall unit was a little awkward.
- While I loved the bathroom’s look and feel, it was tiny! Some may also find it dark.
- The view wasn’t exciting.
- We had no problem with the noise from the airport with planes coming and going, thanks to the room’s soundproofing. However, there was some road noise including honking going on. Take some earplugs if you like to sleep quietly.
Facilities & Services.
- Rooftop infinity pool, bar, games area, fitness & wellness centre.
- Restaurants.
- Open – All-day dining, buffets and a la carte restaurant.
- Starbucks inside the reception.
- Meeting rooms.
- Dry cleaning/Ironing service.
- Free airport transfers.
Rooftop Infinity Swimming Pool & Bar.
✔️ Pros.
- The rooftop infinity pool was incredible! This is a three-star hotel but it has a better pool than most of the 12 hotels I stayed at in Vietnam, which were all 4 stars and above, and only one of two places that had a rooftop pool, which was fantastic!
- Even just after sunrise, the water temperature was beautiful and I got to have the place to myself for a while.
- I love the plane artwork at the end of the pool and that it would also light up at night, continuing the motif of the hotel’s status as airport accommodation and the neon signage that gave it a fun and youthful vibe.
- The deck has lovely views of the airport and the planes coming and going, which you could also see whilst in the pool.
- Better still, around the corner on the bar side, was the skyline of Ho Chi Minh City!
- The bar had indoor and outdoor seating, the former which had some games.
- The city’s climate meant it was the perfect temperature to enjoy a drink outside and swim in the pool after dark.
- Past the indoor area, there were saunas and steam rooms.
❌ Cons.
- The area tucked around the side at the far end of the pool wasn’t appealing and could use a spruce up.
Restaurant.
✔️ Pros.
- The restaurant continued that edgy design and was a bright and welcoming space.
- It has plenty of seating and many food options for the buffet breakfast.
❌Cons
- While she was friendly and tried to be helpful, the language barrier meant communicating with her was hard. I couldn’t understand what she was saying and she couldn’t understand what I was saying, unfortunately.
Other Resort Pros & Cons.
✔️ Pros.
- The reception was gorgeous, and checking in was a breeze.
- They have an in-house Starbucks with vegan options, which is great for travellers looking for a bite to eat before heading to the airport or coming from it.
Staff.
✔️ Pros.
- The staff were always friendly and welcoming and we were able to communicate with most of them well.
❌ Cons.
- The only communication problem was with the lady who was working the front of the restaurant as neither of us could understand what the other was saying.
Location.
✔️ Pros.
- Extremely close to the airport, like a couple of minutes drive (if you were keen, you could walk there), perfect for late-night arrivals or early-morning departures.
- Luckily, the noise wasn’t much of a problem. There was more noise from the cars on the neighbouring streets than there was from planes arriving and departing.
❌ Cons.
- It’s about a half-hour commute from Ho Chi Minh City’s main attractions, such as the Independence Palace and Saigon Post Office.
Overall Impressions.
Ibis Saigon Airport impressed me in so many ways. It was chosen because my inbound flight from Australia was arriving close to midnight. I’d spend the next day in Ho Chi Minh City, then fly to Phu Quoc in the morning. So, while it was super convenient for flight purposes as it was just a couple minutes airport transfer away, I wasn’t expecting it to be as memorable as it was.
While it’s only a three-star hotel, it was miles better than any other place of that rating I’ve stayed at, certainly compared to Australian offerings. Cost wise, it was so cheap to stay but maintained a higher quality standard, too. It was youthful, artistic, and ultra-modern with punchy plane/travel motifs effectively used throughout, which I loved, instead of feeling basic, dated, bare-bones and drab as three-star hotels I am familiar with typically are.
The rooftop infinity pool was a particular highlight, as was the bar beside it as that top deck had lovely views overlooking the city and the airport, more things you don’t expect for a three-star hotel. Plus, the Starbucks was a nice touch for a quick bite if you don’t have time for a sit-down meal at the restaurant before heading out or to the airport, so for all these reasons, I loved my stay.
Who Is The Hotel Most Suitable For?
- People arriving at the airport late at night or who need to be there early in the morning.
- Budget travellers who love rooftop pools!
- Folks who enjoy planespotting.
Ibis Saigon Airport Hotel: FAQs.
Does Ibis Saigon Airport Have A Pool?
Yes. Ibis Saigon Airport has a gorgeous rooftop swimming pool that overlooks both the skyrises of Ho Chi Minh City and the Tan Son Gnat International and Domestic Airport.
How Far Is Ibis Saigon Airport from the Airport?
The Ibis Saigon Airport is very close to Ho Chi Minh’s main international and domestic airport: Tan Son Gnat Airport. It is only a few minutes’ drive away, and the hotel offers shutter buses.
Does Ibis Saigon Airport have Airport Transfers?
Yes. The hotel has airport transfers taking passengers directly to and from the airport!
Conclusion: Honest Ibis Saigon Airport Hotel Review.
For plane travellers arriving in Ho Chi Minh City at night and/or departing early in the morning, the very nearby Ibis Saigon Airport is a fantastic and affordable choice with some exceptional offerings, such as stylishly modern rooms, a rooftop pool and bar with views overlooking the city and airport and an in-house restaurant and Starbucks cafe.
