Luxury 2BR Ho Chi Minh City Oasis: Gym, Pool & Stunning Views - 21 Million Dong!
Luxury 2BR Ho Chi Minh City Oasis: Gym, Pool & Stunning Views - 21 Million Dong!
Luxury 2BR Ho Chi Minh City Oasis: My (Unfiltered) Take - 21 Million Dong!
Okay, folks, buckle up. Because I just spent a week in this "Luxury 2BR Ho Chi Minh City Oasis" and, let's just say, the reality was a tad messier than the glossy brochure promised. 21 million Dong, roughly $800 USD. Was it worth it? We'll get there. First, the raw, unfiltered truth…
Accessibility - The Bare Bones (and a few stumbles)
Look, I’m not in a wheelchair, but I'm also not built for speed. This place claims to be accessible. And while there is an elevator (thank the travel gods!), getting to the elevator… well, that involved a tiny little ramp that, frankly, felt less "accessible" and more "mildly treacherous." The staff were incredibly helpful, always ready with a helping hand and a smile, but it felt like the accessibility was more of a "we try" than a "we succeed" kind of situation.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges - MIA (Mostly)
Couldn’t tell ya. Didn’t see any dedicated accessibility features in the eating areas. I guess they were all within the main building, so… that counts, right? Right? Crickets
Wheelchair Accessible - See Above. Not Perfect, But Trying.
Internet Access - WiFi Everywhere… Mostly (and My Endless Scroll)
Okay, the free Wi-Fi was a lifesaver. Seriously. It was everywhere, even in the hallway, which is a small victory. I’m that person, you know, constantly checking emails, doomscrolling, desperately searching for the best banh mi in town. The “Internet [LAN]” bit? Never saw it. Probably buried in a dusty closet somewhere. But hey! The wireless was rock solid. Which is critical for a modern-day travel agent like me.
Things to Do - Relaxing (Mostly) and Trying Not to Drown
The "pool with a view" was the money shot, the main reason I booked this place. And it was stunning. Picture this: a rooftop infinity pool sparkling in the Saigon sun, looking out over the sprawling cityscape. Beautiful, right? Now, imagine me, a total klutz, almost tripping getting into the pool because the tiles were inexplicably slippery. Good start, eh? (More on the pool later, trust me.)
Ways to Relax - Body scrub, body wrap, massage, spa, spa/sauna, steamroom, sauna, foot bath: Did all of these. The spa was divine. The masseuse, bless her heart, practically kneaded the stress of the whole damn flight out of me. The steam room was a little too… steamy. Almost claustrophobic. And the sauna? Felt like I was being slowly roasted. But the foot bath? Perfection. Pure, simple, blissful foot soaking.
Fitness Center, Gym/fitness: Spotted the gym. Looked well-equipped. Didn’t enter. (See: the part about me being a klutz. And also, I prefer lying poolside to sweating profusely.)
Swimming pool, swimming pool [outdoor]: The pool. Oh, the pool. After the near-death-by-slippery-tile incident, I plunged in. The view, as advertised, was spectacular. I spent hours floating, staring at the buildings, and trying to convince myself I wasn’t going to accidentally swallow a bug. The water temperature was spot-on. The pool itself was… maybe a little overcrowded with Instagram influencers striking poses. But hey, I couldn’t fault the view. Eventually, I found myself enjoying the scene.
Cleanliness and Safety - COVID-Conscious (Thank God!)
This place was obsessed with cleanliness. I mean, practically sparkling. And I’m here for it.
Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: All present and accounted for. I felt a million times safer than I usually do post-pandemic.
Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service: Never tried. I'm a buffet person, through and through.
Cashless payment service: Awesome. Efficient. No fumbling with Dong (even though I did try to learn the currency, I was hopelessly confused).
Doctor/nurse on call: Thankfully, didn’t need it.
First aid kit: Present.
Safe dining setup: Felt safe eating in the restaurant.
Shared stationery removed: Good.
Room sanitization opt-out available: I loved this. I opted in every day.
Dining, drinking, and snacking - A Feast for the Senses (and a few hiccups)
A la carte in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Okay, where do I even start? The breakfast buffet was a glorious mess of food – pho, pastries, eggs, fruit… you name it, it was there. The coffee was strong and plentiful. I also had amazing Thai cuisine at the restaurant and the pool side bar delivered some potent cocktails. The desserts were incredible. I spent a little too much time at the bar during happy hour. They even brought me a bottle of water to drink in my room.
Alternative meal arrangement Never tried
Services and Conveniences - Helpful, but not always seamless
Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: The concierge was incredibly helpful, arranging everything, even if it took a while. All the services and conveniences were present.
Air conditioning in public area: Necessary in the Saigon heat!
Doorman: Always there with a smile.
Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service: Used these. Efficient.
Food delivery: Very convenient!
Invoice provided: Yep.
For the Kids - Family-Friendly (or at least, trying to be)
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Spotted a few families with kids. Seemed…okay. No personal experience here.
Access - The Long Game
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailable, Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: Seemed safe and secure. Check-in/out was easy. Not particularly romantic, so the “proposal spot” probably wouldn’t get used by me.
Getting Around - Easy Peasy
- Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: Airport transfer was smooth. The car park was abundant. Used taxis mostly.
Available in All Rooms - The Essentials (and Some Surprises)
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: All were there. The "extra long bed" was a godsend, with plenty of room
Alright, buckle up buttercups! We’re diving headfirst into a month-long adventure in Ho Chi Minh City, based out of this 2BR haven with a gym and pool that, let’s be honest, I'll probably use twice. Monthly rent? A cool 21 million dong. Sounds fancy, feels… ambitious. Let's see if I can actually make this work without bankrupting myself on pho and fancy cocktails.
Ho Chi Minh City: A Month of Chaos (and Pho)
(All prices are estimates, because let's be real, my budget management is a disaster. And the dates are… subject to change.)
Week 1: Sensory Overload and Scooter Shenanigans
Day 1 (Arrival, Jet Lag, and Existential Dread):
- Morning: Fly into Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). The air is thick and humid, instantly coating you in, well, everything. Taxi to the apartment. Pray the driver isn’t trying to pull a fast one with the meter! (Spoiler alert: they always are, even if it’s only a tiny bit.) Unpack. Try to remember where the laundry detergent is. Fail. Stare blankly at the four walls. Think, "What have I done?" Immediately fall asleep.
- Afternoon: Wake up in a sweaty stupor. Locate the gym (maybe tomorrow). Venture out for banh mi – because it's the law. Get thoroughly lost. Nearly get run over by a scooter. Realize I’ve forgotten how to speak English, let alone Vietnamese. Decide the best course of action is a cold bia hoi on a street corner. Observe the glorious chaos of the city. Consider my life choices.
- Evening: Attempt to cook something at the apartment. Burn something. Order delivery (obviously). Watch a Vietnamese movie with subtitles I can barely understand. Pass out again at 9 pm. Jet lag is a beast.
Day 2-3 (Navigating the Nutty Traffic and Food Frenzy):
- Morning: Finally locate the gym. Actually, make it to a nearby gym. Sweat a lot. Wonder why I thought I was in shape.
- Afternoon: Embrace the scooter life! (Disclaimer: I’m still terrified.) Rent a scooter. Nearly kill myself approximately 17 times. Cruise down Dong Khoi Street, pretending I know where I'm going. Fail but make it to the War Remnants Museum. Sobering. Deeply, profoundly sobering. Contemplate the horrors of war, then go for ice cream.
- Evening: Dive headfirst into the street food scene! Pho at a tiny family-run stall. Banh xeo with those crispy edges. Goi cuon – fresh spring rolls overflowing with flavor. My taste buds are in heaven. My stomach? Questionable. Embrace the mystery! (Hopefully, no food poisoning.)
Day 4-7 (Market Mania, Massage Mayhem and The Great Coffee Quest):
- Morning: Explore Ben Thanh Market! Haggle like a pro (or at least attempt to). Buy way too many souvenirs I probably don't need. Get lost in a maze of silks, spices, and tourist traps.
- Afternoon: Indulge in a proper Vietnamese massage. Bliss. So cheap! So good! Consider getting one every single day. (Ambitious, I know.)
- Evening: The Great Coffee Quest begins! Vietnamese coffee is a must. Seek out unique cafes. Try egg coffee (sounds weird, tastes amazing!). Get hopelessly addicted to caffeine. Find a hidden rooftop bar with live music. Vibe with expats, locals, and anyone else who will share a table.
- Late Night: One night, attempt to navigate the backpacker area (aka Pham Ngu Lao) for an extra drink. It's loud, it's crazy, and it's precisely what I need. Maybe. Probably.
Week 2: Day Trips, Culinary Adventures, and Cultural Immersion (or Trying To at Least)
Day 8-9 (Cu Chi Tunnels and History Hits):
- Morning: Day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Crawl through those tiny, claustrophobic tunnels. Marvel at the ingenuity and resilience of the Vietnamese people. Feel a mix of awe and a deep desire to take a shower. Buy a cheesy propaganda t-shirt.
- Afternoon: Visit the Reunification Palace. Imagine what it would have been like during the Fall of Saigon. Experience a weird mix of history lessons and Instagram opps.
- Evening: Cooking class! Learn to make authentic Vietnamese dishes. Burn something again. (This is becoming a theme.) Eat everything I make. Repeat.
Day 10-11 (Mekong Delta Escape – Or Attempted Escape):
- Morning: Day trip to the Mekong Delta. Take a boat ride through the floating markets. Witness the vibrant river life. Sip coconut water straight from the source.
- Afternoon: Try to navigate the insane amount of traffic on the way back to the city. Swear a lot.
- Evening: Sample regional cuisine. Probably eat something I can't pronounce (and probably won't regret).
Day 12-14 (Art, Architecture, and Finding My Zen (Maybe)):
- Morning: Explore the Fine Arts Museum. Wander through the charming architecture of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Visit the Central Post Office. Look at the city and marvel at its beauty.
- Afternoon: Spend an afternoon trying to meditate at a temple. Fail miserably. Get distracted by the chanting. Decide to just enjoy the sensory experience instead.
- Evening: Find the best rooftop bar in the city. Watch the sunset, drink cocktails, and feel slightly emotional. (This is probably caused by the caffeine and the travel.)
Week 3: Shopping, Tailoring, and Trying to Be a "Local" (Spoiler Alert: I'm Not)
Day 15-17 (Tailor Time and Souvenir Shopping Spree):
- Morning: Get clothes tailor-made. Embrace the chaos of choosing fabrics and styles. Bargain for my life. End up excited for the new clothes.
- Afternoon: More market madness! Buy gifts for everyone back home (even the people I don’t like). Go broke.
- Evening: Explore hidden alleyways, look for delicious food! Drink beers on plastic stools. Pretend I'm not a tourist, but secretly, I know.
Day 18-20 (Neighborhood Exploration and Hidden Gems):
- Morning: Explore a different neighborhood. Go on a treasure hunt of hidden cafes and shops. Take photos of everything!
- Afternoon: Seek out a bookstore. Buy books I'll never read. Actually, buy a book in Vietnamese, just for the heck of it.
- Evening: Try a new type of Vietnamese food. Try to eat with chopsticks like I'm a damn expert.
Day 21 (Spa Day, Relaxation, and Reflecting on the Madness):
- Morning: Head to a spa and de-stress. Get a massage, a facial, and probably a pedicure. Embrace the tranquility! Okay, maybe just the massage.
- Afternoon: Spend some time at the pool, you know, since I’m paying for it. Read a book (the one I bought). Ponder the meaning of life.
- Evening: Reflect on the last three weeks as I stuff my face with more street food. What have I learned? Not much. Did I have fun? Absolutely.
Week 4: Last Bites, Farewell Feels, and Packing It All In
Day 22-24 (Food, Food, Glorious Food!):
- Morning: Revisit my favorite pho stall. Order the same thing. Get the same exact feeling of joy. Indulge in one last banh mi.
- Afternoon: Explore the local markets for one last time. Buy the things I forgot to buy. Go broke, one final glorious time.
- Evening: Visit the rooftop bar one last time. Watch the sunset over the city. Get a little bit teary-eyed.
- Late Night: Eat some midnight street food. Say a farewell to the place where it was found.
Day 25-26 (The Packing Panic and Souvenir Strategy):
- Morning: Panic! What am I going to bring back? How will I fit everything in my luggage? Start tossing things in the trash.
- Afternoon: Pack the things. Re-pack the things. Realize I've way overpacked. Curse myself.
- Evening: Enjoy a final evening. Go for a final walk around the neighborhood. Buy one more souvenir.
Day 27-28 (Farewell and Final Thoughts):
- Morning: Last-minute souvenir shopping (of course). Last-minute pho consumption (ine
Luxury 2BR Ho Chi Minh City Oasis - Ask Me Anything (and Probably Regret It Later)!
Okay, 21 Million Dong? Is that a typo?! And what *exactly* is this "oasis" you're peddling? Spill the (Vietnamese) tea!
The pool! Is it Instagram-worthy? (Be honest, I judge everything against that metric now...)
What’s the catch? There’s ALWAYS a catch, right? What's the biggest pain-in-the-ass about this apartment?
Okay, gym time. How… functional is it? Did you, you know… *use* it? Be honest.
Is it noisy? Because, you know, CITY.
The views! What do you *really* see from those windows? Is it the perfect Instagram photo?
Food! What's the best food near the apartment? Give me the details, NOW!
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