Skip to content Is Mai House Saigon the Mai Hotel from the old listing?
No, and it matters for the driver. The original Mai Hotel listing described a budget hotel at 4A-4B Thi Sach, in District 1 beside the Opera House end of the centre, with a few restaurants and cheap rooms. That property no longer trades under that name at that address. Mai House Saigon is a separate boutique hotel in District 3 at 157 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, with 224 rooms, suites and serviced apartments, an outdoor pool and a spa, and a French-Indochinese look that it calls Old-World Chic. If your booking says Mai House, ignore Thi Sach.
Which door is the lobby?
The hotel gives two addresses: 157 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia for the building and 1 Ngo Thoi Nhiem for the lobby entrance. Nam Ky Khoi Nghia is a major through road, so the car pulls in at the lobby on Ngo Thoi Nhiem, the quieter side street. Quote both, and use the lobby address when you are being collected.
What is there to walk to in District 3?
District 3 is quieter than District 1, and a guest on a travel blog describes it as an expat area with the War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace and Turtle Lake within walking distance. That makes it a base for the museums rather than the backpacker bars. Ben Thanh Market is about ten minutes by car, which is why the hotel suits longer stays rather than a one-night stop.
Why is District 3 a different kind of stay?
The streets round Nam Ky Khoi Nghia are lined with plane trees, with coffee shops, older villas turned into restaurants and offices, and fewer tour groups. Guests who have done the District 1 circuit often come here for the calm and the pool. The cost is distance: Ben Thanh and the river are a ten minute car ride, not a stroll, so plan taxis or a day car for the old centre.
What size car does a serviced-apartment stay need?
Many guests here stay for weeks with several bags. The airport run is only about 25 minutes, but a sedan holds two cases at most, so a family or long-stay guest should book the 7-seater.
Mai House to Mui Ne, Can Tho or Cu Chi
From District 3 you are on the west side of the centre and reach the highways a little faster than from the river. Can Tho is 2½ to 3½ hours, Mui Ne 3 to 4, and Cu Chi 1½ to 2 each way with the car waiting.