This grand hotel - a historic landmark - has all that takes; the location, the history, the authentic colonial design and architecture and a pleasing staff. However, somethings are not working to accommodate it's guests, and I blame the owners for being to greedy and allow noisy parties in the midst of the hotel to disturb the paying guest a comforting stay in the evenings.
We stayed there for 4 nights and each and every night huge, noisy weddings where held in the courtyard. It's understandable that the hotel needs that kind of events to keep up, however, it's almost unbearable to stand if your room is facing the courtyard. As okaying guest you should have been warned about this, and have a compensation or a free upgrade to a more quiet room.
The staff are genuinely polite and speaks well English. The breakfast is ok, and it's really lovely to sit in the open air courtyard, if it was not from disturbing sound from the get-in and technical event production.
The rooms are good, but fairly basic, but has an colonial authenticity which are adorable, but in some ways need some upgrade to fit todays customers. We liked however that it's probably the same HARDwood furniture since way back, and that it's charm it's not converted in to a "colonial chique" with an contemporary colonial hotel design.
We will try another hotel next time when visiting Saigon.