Saigon's Hidden Gem: THE GREEN VIEW VIII Hotel Review (Japanese Town!)
Saigon's Hidden Gem: THE GREEN VIEW VIII Hotel (Japanese Town!) - My Brain Dump Review!
Alright, alright, settle in, folks. You're about to get the real deal on The Green View VIII in Saigon's Japanese Town. Forget your sterile, bullet-point reviews; this is me, unfiltered, after a few days there. Buckle up, because it's gonna be a wild ride. And yes, I'm going to try and sneak in some SEO magic to get this baby seen! (Keywords: Saigon Hotel Review, Green View VIII, Japanese Town, Ho Chi Minh City, Accessible Hotel, Free Wi-Fi, Spa, Pool, Best Hotel Saigon)
First things first: Accessibility. Okay, I'm not in a wheelchair, but I am prone to dropping my phone and generally being clumsy. So, I appreciate a hotel that at least pretends to cater to those less graceful than I am. Did Green View VIII deliver? Honestly? Mixed bag. The website claims facilities for disabled guests, but the details are hazy. Elevators? Yep, thank goodness! Getting around within the hotel seemed manageable, but I didn't venture out aggressively to test the wider area. (Accessibility) - I’d say: POTENTIAL. Call them directly if this is a deal-breaker, maybe? Don't rely solely on my word!
Internet Access: Okay, this is important. I'm a digital nomad, a blogger, a general internet addict. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms?! YES. Thank the heavens! And it actually worked! (Internet, Free Wi-fi in all rooms!) I’m talking solid connection, able to stream movies, upload photos of my delicious Pho (more on that deliciousness later) without pulling my hair out. There’s also the option of Internet [LAN], but who uses that anymore? Unless you're a hardcore gamer, just stick with the Wi-Fi. (Internet services) – They nailed it! No complaints here. Wi-Fi in public areas? Yep, decent speed, too. No lag time while I searched for the perfect Bun Cha restaurant.
Cleanliness and Safety: The COVID Tango… Okay, let's be real. The pandemic is still a factor. I'm paranoid. But Green View VIII made a decent effort. Anti-viral cleaning products? Probably. Daily disinfection in common areas? Seemed like it. Rooms sanitized between stays? Hopefully! I didn't catch anything, so, phew. There were signs of Physical distancing of at least 1 meter. Hand sanitizer stations were everywhere, like they should be. Staff trained in safety protocol? Definitely. They all look super careful and efficient. Masked up? Yes, the staff were also masked up. (Cleanliness and safety)? Pretty good. They seemed to be taking it seriously. Room sanitization opt-out available? not sure and not I need it.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: My Belly's Verdict! This is where things get interesting! Restaurant? (Restaurants). Yes! Multiple! Breakfast [buffet]? Yes! Asian breakfast, Western breakfast?? You name it! And the Pho! Oh, the Pho! (International cuisine in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant). I had it for breakfast every single day. Seriously, the broth was magical. Coffee/tea in restaurant, coffee shop? Abundant! Couldn't get enough of the coffee. Bar? Poolside bar? Yes and yes! Happy hour was… well, it made me very happy. Room service [24-hour] was dangerous. Late-night snacks? Absolutely. Vegetarian restaurant? I saw some, but I was too busy devouring the meat. Bottle of water? Always provided. Snack bar I'm sure, but didn't see it. Soup in restaurant of course, pho, again. A la carte in restaurant? more options than I could try. Salad in restaurant some, but don't remind me, I ate a lot of Pho. Buffet in restaurant? yes. Desserts in restaurant? Yes, but I'm not a sweets person.
Ways to Relax: Spa Day, Anyone? Okay, let's get to the good stuff. Spa/sauna? YES! Massage? YES! Body scrub? Body wrap? You betcha! (Spa). I spent an entire afternoon getting pampered. The masseuse was incredible. I think she actually got the tension knots out of my neck I'd been carrying since… well, since I left my life behind to travel. It was blissful. Pool with view? Absolutely. The rooftop pool was an oasis. Swimming pool [outdoor]? Yep, exactly what I needed! They even had Foot bath! (Fitness center, Gym/fitness) - Yep, a gym, if you're into that. I skipped it. More time for Pho! The Steamroom was nice, but I'm a sucker for the massages.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things… They actually have a Convenience store! Brilliant. Doorman? Yep! Concierge? Super helpful with directions. Daily housekeeping? Yes, and my room was spotless every single time. Luggage storage? Yep! Dry cleaning, laundry service, Ironing service? All there. The one thing I'd note is the Cash withdrawal machine – helpful to avoid carrying a lot of cash around. (Services and conveniences) – they make life easy.
For the Kids: I didn’t see any kids, but there are Babysitting service, Kids facilities, Kids meal.
Things to Do: The Japanese Town Vibe! Okay, so you’re in Japanese Town! That means ramen, sushi, karaoke, and… well, exploring! The hotel is perfectly situated. You're right in the heart of the action. Amazing!
Getting Around: Airport transfer? Yes! Taxi service, Valet parking? Yep. The traffic in Saigon is a beast, so I mainly used taxis or wandered around.
Available in all rooms! Air conditioning in every room, oh yes! Bathrobes comfy, and I didn't want to take it off. Complimentary tea and Coffee/tea maker heaven. Desk nice. Hair dryer working, yes! In-room safe box, Refrigerator yes. On-demand movies of course. Seating area yes. Shower Good. Slippers yup. Wake-up service yes. Wi-Fi [free] again, a big yes. Window that opens yes. Additional toilet, Alarm clock, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, High floor, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, Private bathroom, Reading light, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Separate shower/bathtub, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm Non-smoking rooms? yes. Couple's room? no idea.
My Big Crazy Anecdote: Okay, brace yourself. I got completely lost in the Japanese Town one evening, fueled by too much sake and excitement. I called the hotel concierge, expecting a "good luck with that" response. Instead, they sent someone out to find me. They spoke perfect English, and within 15 minutes, I was back at the hotel, giggling and clutching a bag of Japanese snacks. This, my friends, is the definition of going above and beyond.
Quirky Observation: The elevators are a bit… slow. Like, really slow. Embrace it. It gives you more time to anticipate the goodness that awaits!
Emotional Reaction: I loved this place!
Rooms: clean and well-arranged.
More Rambling: I kept meaning to try the sushi, but I was stuck on the Pho, I’d even go back and stay at this hotel again.
The Bottom Line:
Okay, here's the straight truth. The Green View VIII in Japanese Town is a hidden gem. It's not flawless. It's got its quirks. But the location is fantastic, the staff is superb, the food is divine, and the overall vibe is incredibly welcoming. If you're looking for a comfortable, convenient, and charming hotel in Saigon with a Japanese Town experience, book it. Seriously, BOOK IT. You won't regret it.
Now for the SEO magic, (I hope!):
Book your stay at The Green View VIII in Japanese Town, Saigon! Experience the best of Ho Chi Minh City with FREE Wi-Fi, a stunning rooftop pool, and a luxurious spa. This accessible hotel offers exceptional service, delicious Asian cuisine, and is perfectly located for exploring the vibrant Japanese Town. Whether you are looking for a relaxing getaway, Saigon Hotel with a spa,
Kenting's BEST Kept Secret: This B&B Will Blow You Away!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-photographed travel blog. This is REAL. This is messy. This is me, trying to survive (and hopefully enjoy!) a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, based outta THE GREEN VIEW VIII Saigon Hotel (Japanese Town, for those playing along). Here we go…
The Green View VIII Saigon - Messy Saigon Survival Guide (and Hopefully Something More)
Day 1: Arrival & Sensory Overload (or, "Did I Seriously Just Eat THAT?")
- 6:00 AM (Ish) - Departure from… well, you know. I was running so late I practically flew out the door. Left my noise-canceling headphones. Ugh. Big mistake. The airport was hell on earth, mostly thanks to my own disorganization.
- 1:00 PM - Arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). Dear. God. The humidity hit me like a brick wall. And the smells! A riot of exhaust fumes, street food, and something… floral? I think. Immediately lost my bearings, and my sanity. The immigration queue? An eternity. Think I aged ten years just standing there.
- 1:45 PM - Taxi Trauma (and triumph!). Negotiating a taxi felt like a contact sport. Scammers abound! Thankfully, a nice older gentleman pointed me towards a reputable company. The driver, bless his heart, drove like a caffeinated squirrel, darting through traffic, honking like a caffeinated squirrel on amphetamines. We arrived, somewhat miraculously, at The Green View VIII.
- 2:30 PM - Check-in & Room Shock. The hotel lobby was… pleasant. Air-conditioned bliss! My room? Not quite what I expected. It's clean, but…let's just say, the pictures online were generous. But hey, it's a place to drop my stuff.
- 3:00 PM - Sensory Overload - Round 1: Japanese Town Exploration. Okay, so Japanese Town. I wandered out, tentatively. The streets buzzed with life! Lanterns, restaurants, signs in a mix of Japanese and Vietnamese. My stomach rumbled. Mistake number one: I walked into a noodle shop without knowing a single word of Japanese OR Vietnamese. Pointing is apparently the international language of hunger. I think. Whatever I ate – some form of noodle soup – was… an experience. Let’s just say it had a texture I wasn't entirely prepared for. And the chili oil? A fiery inferno! I was sweating buckets.
- 5:00 PM - The Quest for Coffee (and inner peace). Needed caffeine. DESPERATELY. Found a cute little café, ordered a Vietnamese coffee (it was DIVINE), and watched the world go by. The sheer chaos of the traffic! Motorbikes packed with families, dogs casually strolling across the road, vendors hawking everything under the sun… I felt like I was in a movie. A very loud, very vibrant, and slightly overwhelming movie.
- **7:00 PM - Dinner Dilemma. **I'm hungry again. Finding a place that isn't packed is harder than it seemed. The Japanese restaurants look amazing, but that price tag! Finally settled on a small spot tucked away. The food was… interesting. Some dishes were great, others…confusing. I think I accidentally ordered something that involved a live ingredient… (I’m not even sure what it was).
- 8:30 PM - Bedtime. Maybe. Probably not. Jet lag is a cruel mistress. The city noises are quite loud, can't sleep. But I'm too wired from coffee and excitement. Just gonna stare at the ceiling a while longer.
Day 2: Culture Clues and Temple Tantrums (of the Good Kind)
- 8:00 AM (Kinda-Sorta) - Breakfast (and the bathroom story). Hotel breakfast. Okay, the scrambled eggs were… well, they existed. The coffee, thankfully, was strong. And then, the bathroom. The hotel's plumbing is… let's call it "temperamental." Took me an hour to figure out how to get hot water this morning. And the pressure? Forget about it. The experience was more like a gentle drizzle than a shower.
- 9:00 AM - War Remnants Museum: A Gut Punch. Okay, this place is intense. Really, really intense. I wandered around, feeling overwhelmed by the history, the images, the sheer scale of the human cost. Some exhibits made me cry. Others left me speechless. This is not a “fun” museum, but it is essential. Take your time. Process it. Be respectful. Leave with a heavy heart, for sure. I came out feeling completely drained, but also…changed. It’s a reminder of the brutality of war and the resilience of the human spirit.
- 12:00 PM - Lunch in the Backstreets. Needed a pick-me-up. Found a tiny "pho" shop on a side street. The pho was phenomenal! Cheap, delicious, and exactly what I needed. Watched the locals, tried to mimic their chopstick technique (failed miserably).
- 1:00 PM- The Temple Trip. Headed on a tour of the historic temples around the city. The incense burning in the temples, the colors of the buildings… it was quite beautiful. I also stumbled on a temple where you could get your fortune told. I did, and for a while, it was all I could think of.
- **4:00 PM - Ben Thanh Market: Tourist Trap or Treasure Trove? **Oh, Ben Thanh Market. A whirlwind of smells, sounds, and…well, people trying to sell you stuff. The bargaining is a whole art form that I am clearly not good at. Got hustled on a few souvenirs. But the energy! The vibrant colors! Worth the visit. Just… be prepared to haggle. And don't buy anything you don't really want. I ended up snagging a cool silk scarf at a decent price, though.
- 6:00 PM- The Streets are Alive with the Sound of…. Street Food! More street food! I spent the evening wandering around the streets looking for the best options. Found a stall selling spring rolls, which immediately became my favorite. These were amazing!
- 8:00 PM - Relaxation. Heading back to the hotel to relax. The Green View VIII isn't exactly the Four Seasons, but it serves its purpose. And after all that walking and exploring, I'm exhausted!
Day 3: Trying to be a Local (and Failing Spectacularly!)
- 9:00 AM – Motorbike Mayhem (Or, the Absolute Terror of Riding a Motorbike). Okay, I know what you're thinking. This is crazy. And you're probably right. I hired a guide to teach me to drive a motorbike. I nearly fell at the first turn. The traffic! The sheer volume of motorbikes! I started to panic, but miraculously, I seemed to get it. Slowly. Then, like a miracle, I was cruising. I even started to enjoy it!
- 12:00 PM - The Best Street Food EVER. The motorbike adventure led us to a hidden food stall. We had a whole plate of authentic Vietnamese street food, everything was unbelievably delicious!
- 2:00 PM - Unintentionally wandering into a local park. I don’t know what it was, but it was beautiful. The trees, the people, the atmosphere… I felt a great sense of peace.
- 4:00 PM - Rooftop Bar Rendezvous. I spent a few hours on a rooftop sipping on cocktails watching the sunset. I was absolutely mesmerized. The colors of the sky, the sounds of the city below, the feeling of being on top of the world… It was a perfect moment.
- 7:00 PM - Packing and Reflection. Okay, it’s time to head home. I’m sad, but I’m also happy. This journey was not easy. I found myself at the brink of tears and the edge of exhaustion more than once. The food was not always to my taste. The motorbikes were terrifying! But I learned. I grew. And I saw things I will never forget. I got a sneak peek into a world completely different from my own.
Day 4: Departure and Parting Thoughts
- 6:00 AM - Breakfast and Last-Minute Panic. Scarfing down hotel coffee and scrambled eggs, feeling a jolt of reality. I'm leaving today. I think I still have a few souvenirs left.
- 7:00 AM - Check-out and Farewell. Said goodbye to the friendly staff. They've seen me at my worst and still smiled.
- 8:00 AM - Taxi to Airport: The Final Ride. Same driver, same caffeinated squirrel. Holding on tight.
- 10:00 AM - Airport Delays and Departure.
- Reflections: Well, folks, that's a wrap. Ho Chi Minh City? It's a whirlwind. It's exhausting. It's overwhelming. But it's also… unforgettable. The Green View VIII? It did the job. I may not have loved it, but I’m pretty sure I’ll miss
Saigon's Green View VIII (aka, THAT Japanese Town Hotel) - Let's Get Real, Folks!
Okay, spill. Is Green View VIII *really* a hidden gem? My Insta-feed says it is. But is it actually...good?
Japanese Town, you say? What's the vibe like? Is it… authentic? Or just a tourist trap?
The rooms. Tell me about the ROOMS. Should I upgrade?
Breakfast! Is the breakfast worth it? I NEED coffee in the morning.
Okay, let's talk Service. Are the staff helpful? Do they speak English?
Any downsides? Anything I should be aware of?
What about the elevators? I hate waiting.
Okay, spill. Would you go back to Green View VIII?
