Background
Situated in Landmark 81, Vietnam’s tallest building, Vinpearl Landmark 81 – Autograph Collection by Marriott opened earlier this year in the country’s financial hub of Ho Chi Minh City.
Where is it?
Landmark 81 is located on the west bank of the Saigon River in the city’s Binh Thanh District. It can be easily spotted and is a short distance from the major landmarks including the Independence Palace and the Opera House. The hotel is nestled between the 47th-71st floors of the building whose tip is 470m off the ground.
What’s it like?
The hotel emanates a refreshing design that blends bold lines, warm tones and plenty of natural light across its spaces. Its lobby on the 48th floor opens up to an expansive space with marble floors and a grandiose chandelier in the reception area. You can take in breathtaking views of Ho Chi Minh City while you check in.
Rooms
We were given a club room on the 60th floor. Club rooms have access to the city’s highest Club Lounge on the 71st floor which is open all-day and offers a lavish breakfast spread and evening cocktails. Upon entering the Club Room Panoramic View, I was awed by the rich design language that flows through it. Tones of beige and gold fill the bedroom while floor-to-ceiling windows line its walls (all 223 rooms and suites feature similar windows). My room had a comfortable lounge chair with an ottoman that served as the perfect spot for me to watch the city come to life in the morning along with my coffee. There was also a large desk with ample charging ports, while USB ports and a control panel for the air conditioning and lighting were all located bedside. The bathroom featured a bathtub and a separate shower area with amenities which were completely locally made, from the bottle itself to the product inside of it.
Food and drink
There are two restaurants in the hotel. Oriental Pearl is its all-day dining restaurant on the 66th floor and features Vietnamese and international cuisine as well as themed buffets. The lobby lounge restaurant, The Cloud, meanwhile has an impressive range of Vietnamese coffee (indigenous coffee with condensed milk). We quite enjoyed a lunch here which consisted of spaghetti arrabbiata and bánh mì (Vietnamese bread) with meat. Dinner was at Oriental Pearl where the chef prepared a special chicken pho upon request (the Vietnamese noodle soup is usually made with beef). There are simple flavours in this wholesome soup which were accentuated with lemon, herbs and spices. There is an extensive breakfast spread, but I stuck to eggs with a side of cheese and ham along with some Vietnamese coffee.
Business
For those travelling to Vietnam’s financial capital for business, there are great meeting facilities within the hotel. It has one ballroom, ten meeting rooms and three terraces on the 48th, 66th and 69th floors respectively. The Grand Ballroom is Ho Chi Minh City’s largest hotel ballroom and can house up to 1,500 guests. In addition, on the 69th floor, the Sky Studios is an exclusive collection of three smaller meeting rooms and has a sky terrace too.
Leisure
The hotel’s outdoor infinity pool is located on the 47th floor. It’s an ideal spot to watch the sun set over the city’s skyline. The same floor houses the Akoya Spa with ten treatment rooms, alongside steam and sauna facilities.
Verdict
It’s Vietnam’s latest landmark hotel destination with contemporary offerings that appeal to both leisure and business travellers.
Words by Akanksha Maker
Fact box:
Best for: The in-house pho and the lavish breakfast spread
Don’t miss: A dip in its outdoor infinity pool
Price: Internet rates for a midweek stay in July start from VND6,370,000 (US$270) with breakfast
Contact: 720A Dien Bien Phu Street, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City; +84 28 3971 8888; marriott.com
(All images: Supplied by Marriott)
