Au Lac Charner hotel is a gem of a find right in the heart of bustling Saigon. This French colonial hotel has beautiful decor and has maintained its traditional feel. It is elegant with its understated colours and is bright.
There is some quirkiness too. Our room has a Jaccuzzi-style bath in the bedroom and the shower is on the open-air balcony. Happily there are blinds to block prying eyes or 'the missus' would have had kittens.
The hotel is clean and we loved that they offered free afternoon tea every day. It was always welcome to refresh us from the intense heat of the city.
What makes Au Lac Charner stand out is its people. The staff are smiling, helpful, informative and willing. The star of the show, however, was Robert who checked us in at reception and whom we saw in several supervisory roles throughout our four-day stay. He always remembered our names, joked with us and was a mine of information. He guided us on places to eat, where to buy Vietnamese gifts (not tacky souvenirs) and helped us when we needed transportation.
This is my sixth time to stay in hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and whilst they have all been good, it is Au Lac Charner which stands out as the best. We will be back, of that I am certain.