Sprawling But Aging Hotel Grounds

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Visited: Jul-2015
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 4
Service: 7
Value for Money: 6
Spent about SGD $130 per person.
- $160 Accomodation 5D4N
- $0 Room Service


Nearby Attractions: Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Hall, War Remnants Museum, Saigon Skydeck, Dai Nam Park, Cu Chi Tunnels, Saigon Zoo And Botanical Gardens, Municipal Theatre Of Ho Chi Minh City, Museum Of Ho Chi Minh City, Museum Of Vietnamese History, Fine Arts Museum, Suoi Tien Amusement Park, Dam Sen Cultural Park


Hotel Facilities: Business Centre, Free Wi-Fi, Conference Rooms, Convention Centre, Gymnasium And Fitness Centre, Swimming Pool, Laundry Service, 3 Restaurants (First Buffet, First Grill, Hana Sushi), Cable TV, Babysitting Service, Doctor On Call, Shoe Shine Service, Car Rental, Postal Service, Massage & Sauna Centre, 3 Tennis Courts, 1 E-Gaming Club (Club 9), Tour Desk, Currency Exchange Service


Hotel Activities: Work Out, Internet Surfing, Swimming, Massage, Sauna, Spa, Jacuzzi, Gambling, Meetings, E-Gaming, Tennis, Tour Arrangements






Introduction
Located about 10 - 20 minutes drive away from the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, First Hotel is an all-in-one event venue. The sprawling grounds of First Hotel occupies 3 buildings around a traffic intersection, and is a popular venue for conventions, meetings, and weddings. However, there are signs of aging around the premises, and the food offered here isn't too good.


Ambience
Ambience at First Hotel is their weakest point. All 3 premises show signs of age, and the carpets and decor look old and musty. While clean, the buildings are also dimly lit, and the air-conditioning doesn't work too well. However, their sporting facilities (gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts) are well maintained and clean, and a lot of people use them.


Room
Rooms at First Hotel are decent. I stayed at the Executive Deluxe Room, and it's a nice decent size. The room is clean, but toiletries are not replaced everyday. There is a decent selection of cable channels, but the reception is poor and shows static. The in-room wifi is strong and fast, and the bed and chairs are comfortable. Oddly, First Hotel does not allow ironing within the room, as such, there is no ironing board provided, and you can't even request for it. You'll have to send your clothes to the hotel for pressing instead, which irks me.


Food
Food at First Hotel isn't good. Even the local Vietnamese people say that the food is terrible, because it's not as tasty or as fresh as it should be. Most of the food is the pre-processed / frozen variety. Furthermore, First Buffet, while offering a wide selection of dishes, also doesn't change the menu, so I was stuck eating the same thing for 4 days, breakfast and lunch. Got totally bored with the food here.


Service
Service at First Hotel is pretty good. Staff are very friendly, welcoming, and efficient. I rarely had to open any doors on my own, as a staff was always present to assist. Even when crossing the road between the different First Hotel buildings, the traffic warden of the hotel accompanies you to ensure safety. Very good! They also do their best to accomodate requests, such as late checkout or providing directions. I notice though, that the laundry service at First Hotel is possibly the slowest same-day laundry service of any hotel I've been to, taking up to 12 hours!


Facilities & Activities
The sprawling grounds of First Hotel offer a variety of facilities and activites. Especially popular are their meeting and convention rooms, where various Vietnamese companies hold exhibitions, meetings, or conventions. Weddings also take place here fairly often. The sporting facilities are often in use during the day, in particular, the swimming pool which holds lessons for children. Good range of facilities!