Basking in flourishing tropical grounds on a straight stretch of the serpentine Saigon River, An Lam is a 25-minute speedboat ride from downtown Saigon or 40 minutes by road. Its welcoming embrace is the perfect antidote to the city’s high-energy antics, historic sights and chaotic streets.
Popular with expats and locals seeking a weekend escape, the beautifully designed rooms and standalone villas are dotted around gardens crisscrossed by large stepping stones and studded with banyan and banana trees. Life focuses around the small yet pampering spa, the riverfront restaurant and the central swimming pool, where daybeds, shady tables and chic rollercoaster-shaped sun loungers made from water hyacinth gaze out over the shore. We think it’s perfect for couples who want an idyllic setting, luxurious living and total relaxation - and, when you want to venture out, the complimentary thrice-daily boat service is on hand to whisk you straight into the heart of Saigon.
Highs
- A feel of real luxury - there’s a butler service, and all rooms and villas feature huge sitting areas plus balconies or terraces; some also have private plunge pools and river-facing decks
- Attractive grounds, with birds-of-paradise plants, coconut palms bowing over the water, and Khmer sculptures in wooden planters
- Delicious Vietnamese farm-to-table food, plus riverfront terraces for meals with a view
- The beautiful teal-green pool, embedded in a raised wooden platform and overlooked by frangipani trees whose delicate white flowers spiral down into the water
- The sense of serenity away from the frenetic activity of downtown. We loved sitting back with drinks and watching boats chug past
Lows
- There’s little to do in the immediate area and no restaurants nearby; you’ll have to journey into the city if you want to eat out
- Service can be a little slow, particularly at mealtimes, and the indoor dining room lacks ambiance (guests tend to dine outside)
- A couple of little niggles - the pillows are too bouncy, and the blinds aren’t thick enough to block out light
- The riverside location attracts mozzies - nets are provided, but it's worth packing repellent
- Full prepayment is required on reservation
Best time to go
Climatically speaking, the best time to visit is between November and March/April, when the weather is hot but comfortable. With the arrival of the rains in late April/May, the humidity can be insufferable. Christmas, New Year and Vietnamese New Year (Tet) are very busy, and you’d need to book months in advance for these periods.
Our top tips
If you head into town by road, make sure you carry the hotel's business card and directions in Vietnamese - even local taxi drivers can get lost. We recommend taking the speedboat instead if you can - it's huge fun, and you'll get a real sense of daily life from the water.
- Boutique Hotel
- 36 rooms
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Complimentary boat shuttle to Saigon
Rooms
All have calming, contemporary décor and private balconies or terraces - there are 4 standalone villas and a clutch of rooms spread across another 3 villas (An, Lam and Tram).
The An Lam Suite sit in Villa Tram and overlook the communal pool. The feel inside is sumptuous, with star-shaped roofs, lots of dark wood, and glass encasing the bedroom and bathroom (you can draw curtains for privacy). The huge sitting areas feature sofas or daybeds, a small desk and table, tea and coffee-making facilities, an iPod dock, and a TV/DVD player with 90 channels. Walk-in dressing rooms adjoin the well-equipped bathrooms, which have tubs, separate rain showers and his and hers sinks. The kingsize beds (with very deep mattresses) are draped in mosquito netting, and there are pretty accents such as embroidered lampshades embellished with pink- and oyster-coloured shells. There are also a couple of Family Suites in Villa An, with 2 bedrooms a piece.
Pool Suite, in Villa An or Villa Lam, are a little larger and have the added luxury of private plunge pools shaded by fruit trees, as well as balconies overlooking the gardens. One of these is the Penthouse, reached by steps encased in elegant curved palm which looks rather like an animal’s ribcage. It also has a plunge pool on a terrace shielded by the leaves of a magnificent banana tree.
The 4 villas are ideal for anyone seeking maximum privacy. The Riverfront Pool Villas (Villa Song and Villa Saigon) sit right on the riverfront, with floor-to-ceiling glass opening onto decks facing the water. They too feature plunge pools, set in secluded courtyards enclosed by tropical plants. Riverfront Pool Villa 2 Bedrooms (or Villa Sunset) is similar but has 2 double bedrooms, while the 2-storey Garden Pool Villa is tucked away in the grounds; it’s furthest from the communal areas and has a Jacuzzi tub, so it's perfect for couples who want to cloister themselves away (though it doesn't have a river view). All the villas boast outdoor bathtubs and showers for spoiling alfresco ablutions.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Mosquito net
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
The veranda of the restaurant, Luc Binh, has just 3 tables - it’s a very private spot to linger by the river, watching a continuous flow of small container vessels, clumps of water hyacinth (luch binh in Vietnamese) and fishing boats painted with eyes for luck. Other diners sit under elegant tangerine-coloured paper lamps in a semi-enclosed area, on mustard-hued banquettes scattered with burnt orange cushions. There’s also an air-conditioned indoor dining room in Villa Tram, but it lacks ambiance and is often empty.
Breakfast is bountiful, with pastries, breads, French toast, pancakes, fruit, good coffee, speciality teas, and jam pots laden with pineapple, kumquat, marmalade, honey and guava. There’s also a selection of local dishes, including pho (Vietnam’s famous noodle soup). The only disappointment was the muesli, which wasn't muesli as billed but cornflakes topped with diced passion fruit and watermelon.
Service at lunch and dinner is a tad slow when the restaurant is full, but the food is excellent, with hot bread and butter followed by a menu of Vietnamese and Western options. Highlights include spring rolls, delicious bo buc lac (wok-tossed beef) and delicate sea bream wrapped in a banana leaf. Desserts are just as good - our pannacotta glazed with passion fruit and topped with grated pistachio was superlative - and a small wine list is available.
Luc Binh also has a rustic bar area on the riverfront, with an expansive decked terrace. Meals can be served at private tables dotted around the gardens, too, and room service is available.
An Lam’s isolated location means there are no other places to eat nearby, but staff can recommend and book restaurants in the city for day trips or a change of scene.
Features include:
- Bar
- Coffee maker
- Restaurant
- Room service
Activities
- Unwind with hot-stone therapy or a massage in the spa, sweat in the steam room or gym, or enjoy a pedicure in the beauty salon
- Private sessions with a visiting yoga master can also be arranged
- Grasp the culinary perfection that is Vietnamese cuisine with an on-site cooking class in the glass-walled kitchen, or tour local markets with your butler
- Hop on the hotel’s speedboat and head into Saigon (you’ll get great views from the water). Sample the city’s excellent street food, admire the French colonial architecture, and visit the harrowing yet fascinating War Remnants Museum
- Fishing forays with or without your butler can be arranged
- Staff can also organise excursions to the stilted villages, fruit farms and floating markets of the Mekong Delta, as well as underground tours of the wartime Cu Chi tunnels, north of Saigon
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cooking classes
- Fishing
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Plantlife / flora
- Private guided tours
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Traditional cultures
- Well being
- Yoga
Kids
An Lam Retreats Saigon River welcomes children of all ages, but it’s a serene place that’s best suited to couples. Bear in mind that swimming pools are not fenced and neither is the river.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
The Pool Suites and Riverfront Pool Villas can all accommodate an extra bed or baby cot; some An Lam Suites and Riverfront Pool Villa 2 Bedrooms (Villa Sunset) have 2 ensuite bedrooms (both doubles), plus space for an additional bed or baby cot. The Garden Pool Villa can take a baby cot only.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
The butlers can babysit for a fee.
Baby equipment:
- Baby chairs
- Baby cots
- Armbands for the pools
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
An Lam Retreats Saigon River is set on the banks of the Saigon River, 40 minutes north of downtown Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) by road and 15 minutes by river.
By Air:
Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International (15km away) is the nearest airport - click on the links below for information on airlines serving it.
From the Airport
The hotel can arrange transfers (see Rates) from the airport or from central Saigon. We recommend this option rather than taking a taxi, as drivers often get lost.
Detailed arrival information will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.com. 
More on getting to Vietnam and getting around
Airports:
- Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International 15.0 km SGN
Other:
- Beach 120.0 km
- Shops 2.0 km
- Restaurant 3.0 km