Meraki Saigon

This guesthouse doesn’t appear on Google Maps, and there are other homestays in HCMCity with very similar names and alarming reviews.. What’s more, the address listed here on Booking is generic and therefore seems fake. So at first, after booking because I was attracted by the photos of the rooms, I started to think it was a scam. BUT don't worry: this place actually exists! They’ll simply provide you with the exact address just privately via chat after your first contact. Communication on wApp was immediately very efficient. The information provided was very precise. Located in a small building with no reception desk (you’ll be given the code for the entrance gate; the keys to the room will be in a box), the room is a true one-room apartment with a private bathroom. There’s no kitchen, but you have everything you need to cook (including utensils, and of course a fridge, a boiler, as well as a small oven and even an electric pot, like a rice cooker). The atmosphere is exactly as shown in the photos, warm and homey. A nice sofa, a large and extremely comfortable bed, wooden furniture straight out of a “fairy-tale house,” and a whole host of extras (role-playing cards, a gaming controller, etc.). The bathroom is Western-style, with a huge enclosed shower (I might add a nice ceiling-mounted showerhead—right now there’s only a handheld showerhead). Towels, sheets—everything is new and sparkling clean. Ideal location: situated on a quiet, inner alley, just a couple of corners away from a main street that takes you anywhere (on googlemaps streetview, it looks like there’s nothing in that alley, but it’s actually quiet and safe at night, and comes alive with a street market during the day), right in the heart of District 1, just a short walk from the Ben Thanh bus station, the one located in the park. 7Eleven and dozens of restaurants and bars are just a few steps away. This place is absolutely perfect.

There's the issue of outside noise: at night, the bars and clubs are very loud (there aren't any in the alley—the little street is quiet and populated by locals—but you can clearly hear the noise from the main street or the surrounding terraces). I have to say that I didn't suffer from this problem, but I only stayed one night and maybe I was just lucky: in one of the drawers, there's an enormous supply of single-use earplugs, and that seemed like a clear indicator to me.

Room is so cute. Balcony also nice.

Nothing.

We had a lovely stay at Meraki Saigon. Everything was beautifully decorated, creating a cozy atmosphere. The room was clean, and the bathroom was especially spacious and beautiful. The location was excellent, right in the city center but away from the main street, making it peaceful and quiet at night. Highly recommended!

The host was excellent throughout my stay. She was very kind, attentive and flexible, allowing me to check in earlier and check out later, which I really appreciated. The apartment was also very clean and well maintained. The main downside for me was the noise in the area. There is a nearby market that starts very early, and around 6 a.m. you can already hear a lot of activity. One night during the weekend, there was also karaoke until late, followed by the market activity early the next morning, which made it difficult for me to sleep. I think this is important to know before booking, especially for light sleepers. I also occasionally noticed an unpleasant smell in the bathroom when turning on the light, which may be something simple to check and fix. Despite these points, I want to emphasize that my experience with the host herself was excellent. She was extremely helpful and did everything she could to make my stay pleasant.

I already described it in the text above.👆