To say we were excited to check-in after a long week of work would be a complete understatement. We were ecstatic because just walking up the stairs into the main lobby of The Odys took our breath away. Designed by Huong Hoai Nguyen, a very well-known artist and interior designer, the hotel entrance was created to represent a seemingly golden lotus pond. With Vietnam’s national flower being the lotus, the hotel lobby takes you on a journey of sentiment through the beauty of Vietnam’s soul!

With a warm welcome from the front desk and staff, we were made to feel right at home. After we checked in we were given a few really helpful pointers and recommendations on what could be found close by. And let me tell you, being a hotel located in the heart of District 1 made the options absolutely endless!

It took every ounce of strength not to throw on our robes and jump in to the inviting king sized bed, but we knew once we got comfy it was game over. Our room was more than perfect. Crisp, clean and beautifully decorated. We learned that the long lotus-embroidered drapes hung above each bed had been designed to reminisce noble Vietnamese families who also used similar tapestries to treasure their guests. And the signature French colonial patterned tiles symbolized the beauty of Vietnam and date back to its bygone era.

Each room is also equipped with all the necessities anyone would need: a mini bar, street food tasting offer, complimentary wifi,  hair dryer, iron and ironing board, safety box, flat screen LCD TV with cable and air-conditioning. The room was total bliss making us incredibly excited to kick back and relax after grabbing some dinner out on the town!

Right around the corner from The Odys is Marcel Gourmet Burger, Gringo Tacos and more of Ho Chi Minh City’s best restaurants. Talk about convenience! 

One of the very best burger joints in Ho Chi Minh City is Marcel’s, which takes an enticing French gourmet approach to the classic burger. With freshly-baked brioche buns daily, custom made sauces and burger combinations to die for, you’ll see why this place tops my list of best burger places in the world. If everything on the menu looks too good to be true, I'd say go for their Le Smoky, which was the winner of the 2019 Best Burger in Saigon and why not throw in a side of their Naughty Fries to share (or not to share). Saying this out loud makes my mouth water!

Just across the street from Marcel’s is Gringo Tacos. I’ve been to Gringo Tacos multiple times and it never disappoints. It’s the perfect place to get your fiesta on with tasty margaritas and a plethora of other delicious cocktails. This spot is great for dinner, drinks or both!

After a nice little sleep in the next morning we were ready to take on another beautiful day in Ho Chi Minh City! It was time to head up to Búp Restaurant for breakfast. Located on the 10th floor of The Odys, Búp  gives you a fabulous 360-degree view of Saigon. 

Typically serving up a buffet breakfast and an a la carte menu throughout the day, Búp’s gives homage to authentic Vietnamese cuisine while combining typical European dishes. Yum!

Chillin' Out Maxin' Relaxin' All Cool 

We took Sunday for all its worth and relaxed our little hearts out. Naturally we got back into our robes, watched some TV from the comfort of our humungous bed, pampered ourselves and enjoyed our room to the fullest. A short and sweet staycation was exactly what we needed to totally zen-out and refresh from the hustle and bustle of our daily routine.

But, what would a girls trip be without a trip to the spa to take our relaxation to the next level? NỤ Spa, located directly below The Odys, provides a variety of natural services and approaches, made specifically for foot & body relaxation. Just what the doctor ordered! As we were greeted with a lovely cup of tea, I chose to go with a 60 minute head, neck and shoulder massage + foot massage and Lee chose a 60 minute full body massage. 

And let me tell you, 60 minutes seems to fly by when you’re enjoying yourself that much. Both of our massages were fantastic and we could have happily stayed there all day unwinding! I love that NỤ Spa uses 100% natural ingredients and that every treatment is specifically designed to offer a unique experience. It’s a quality spa experience for a very reasonable price and we will certainly be back the next time we need a little stress-reliever! 

By the time we finished all of our relaxing, we were consequently starving. It was time to grab some food from Godmother Bake and Brunch, a cute little brunch cafe in the heart of District 1 and a short walk from The Odys. Their fairly large menu consists of both sweet and savory options (we were in the mood for both) and some of their healthier options include salads and smoothie bowls. However, their all-day breakfast menu includes a gorgeous avocado toast, delicious roasted duck waffles and a drool worthy brioche french toast topped with banana brûlée. We unapologetically dove head first into their shakshuka skillet, spaghetti and meatballs and piping hot lava cake! Yum!

With such a fantastic weekend with the bestie in tow, we were very very very sad to say goodbye to The Odys. I just cannot recommend this hotel enough and with their rooftop pool nearly completed, there would be no better place to stay in Ho Chi Minh City. With such incredible attention to detail, The Odys is the perfect place to relax in the downtown core of Saigon. 

The Odys is beautifully constructed to accentuate the beauty of Vietnam throughout the accommodation and our room was no exception. Everything is crisp, clean and fresh and the amenities help to make your stay more than perfect! The staff is also extremely friendly, helpful and welcoming.

Based downtown in the heart of District 1, The Odys is very conveniently located. Across the street is the Fine Arts Museum and just around the corner are some of Ho Chi Minh City’s best stores and restaurants. It is also a short walk from the infamous Benh Thanh Market as well as all the great things to see and experience there.