Au Lac Charner Hotel Review: Read Before You Book

The Au Lac Charner Hotel is named after a famous boulevard from Saigon’s French Colonial period. Charner Avenue was known for its elegance and beauty, and decor from the era was incorporated into the Au Lac Charner design.

While the hotel has some great perks, there are a few things travelers should know about the rooms before booking.

😀 I enjoyed:

The location
The friendly staff
Afternoon tea
Rooftop pool

🧐 Less enjoyable:

Some room configurations (some have no windows)
Balcony bathtub (unavailable when it rains)
Some website photos are inaccurate

Book the Au Lac Charner Hotel

You can use this interactive map to check the Au Lac’s rates for your dates. It also shows other nearby hotel options and VRBO rentals in this bustling part of Ho Chi Minh City.

The Rooms & Suites

There are several room and suite configurations to choose from.

Keep in mind: some rooms have no windows. Choose your room carefully if that’s a concern.

Hotel Decor

The Au Lac Charner Hotel is decorated in a pretty French Colonial style. You’ll find a lot of whites and pastels, plus a mix of tile and wood flooring.

Guest Rooms & Suites

The Au Lac Charner Hotel has six different room designs.

I have to say: the photos online are much better than what you’ll see in person.

Our suite was far smaller than advertised, and the balcony was a fraction of the size of the one in the photo on the Au Lac website. It’s likely the staff put us in a similar, but lesser room than the one we’d booked and paid for.

The Bonard Junior Suite, according to the website, is supposed to be a generous 430 square feet! In reality, the suite we were given was far smaller, and came with an oddly-configured bathroom.

Both the shower and toilet are like closets next to each other in the hallway as you enter the suite. You can see them below just inside the entry door:

Bathtubs on the Balconies

Several rooms or suites boast outdoor balconies with bathtubs. These exist, but are off-limits and covered up during the lengthy rainy season in Vietnam.

It’s likely this perk will be unavailable, unless you visit the Au Lac Charner from October through March.

It’s not the end of the world that the balcony bathtub was off-limits, but the hotel should be more forthcoming in their advertising.

In addition, the balcony promised in the booking was quadruple the size of the balcony we were given:

Room Amenities

Air conditioner (works very well!)
24-hour room service
Free WiFi (decent speeds)
Phone
Hairdryer
Robe & slippers
Bottled water, coffee, and tea
Safe for valuables
Laundry/dry cleaning service
Satellite/cable TV
Bathroom kit (toothbrush, etc.)
Desk & chairs

Hotel Lobby

The entryway and lobby are bright and airy, with soaring ceilings two-stories high.

There are a few sitting areas in the lobby, and I loved the white piano surrounded by rows of nicely backlit bookshelves.

The Au Lac Charner Hotel Restaurant & Bar

The Au Lac Charner Hotel draws much of its design inspiration from the old elegant tea houses in Vietnam. That same design is also reflected in its restaurant.

Au Lac Charner Hotel Restaurant Ho Chi Minh

Adran Tea House

A big buffet breakfast is served each morning from 7:30 am. Some rooms will come with breakfast included, while it’ll cost 200,000 VND per person for others. (That’s about $8 USD).

Breakfast: 7:30 am – 10:00 am
Lunch: 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Tea: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

The restaurant has an extensive tea and coffee selection, and serves French, Italian, and Vietnamese dishes throughout the day.

Rooftop Bar

The Au Lac Hotel has a great rooftop bar. It’s indoor/outdoor, and pretty spacious.

They serve coffee, tea, soft drinks, cocktails, wine, beer, and snacks all day.

Location: 10th Floor
Open: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm

Afternoon Tea

This was a nice perk! Each afternoon, guests can enjoy tea and snacks up in the lounge on the 10th floor, near the pool.

The Au Lac Charner Swimming Pool

The L-shaped rooftop swimming pool is 10-floors up, and delivers panoramic views of the skyline. There’s a nice pool deck with lounge chairs and umbrellas. Plus, the bar is adjacent.

There’s another row of seats on a patio above the pool, overlooking the rooftop and city below.

Just inside the doors, you’ll find the sauna and steam bath.

Pool hours: 6:00 am – 11:00 pm
Location: 10th floor

The pool and sky bar are two of the major perks of a stay at the Au Lac Charner Hotel.

Hotel Spa Services

In addition to the steam bath and sauna, the Au Lac Charner has its own spa. There are three treatment rooms, and the staff is trained in a wide range of massages.

You can also book a manicure or pedicure upstairs in the spa area.

Spa location: 11th floor
Hours: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm

Things to do Near the Au Lac Charner

The Au Lac Charner is right in the busy, touristy section of Saigon, known as District 1.

It’s surrounded by bars, restaurants, and shops. Plus, several of Ho Chi Minh City’s top attractions are a short walk away. Vietnam’s first pedestrian boulevard, Nguyen Hue Blvd., is very close to the hotel.

Ben Thanh Market

The famous Ben Thanh Market is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most bustling sites. This historic market is about a 10-minute walk from the Au Lac Charner Hotel, in the heart of the city’s District 1. It’s been a central trading hub for locals and tourists alike for decades.

The market is housed in a large, prominent yellow building with a clock tower, making it easy to spot. It’s a must-visit destination for those seeking an authentic shopping experience. You’ll find a wide range of products: clothing, textiles, jewelry, electronics, handicrafts, souvenirs, and more.

Saigon’s Central Post Office

The Central Post Office is another example of French colonial architecture. It was designed by the renowned French architect Gustave Eiffel, who’s most famous for designing the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The building features a combination of Gothic, Renaissance, and French colonial elements.

The Central Post Office was constructed in the 1880s, when Vietnam was part of French Indochina. It served as the main post office for the city and played a crucial role in communication and mail services during that era. Inside, the large windows allow a lot of natural light to illuminate the vaulted ceilings.

It’s still a functioning post office, but beyond its practical use, the Central Post Office is a popular tourist attraction in Ho Chi Minh City. Visitors come to admire the architecture, take photographs, and explore the small shops and stalls inside the building that sell souvenirs, postcards, and other local handicrafts.

It’s a popular spot to hop on tour buses and book excursions in Vietnam.

Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral

Ho Chi Minh’s historic cathedral is undergoing a lengthy restoration process. It’s across the street from the Central Post Office, and a short walk from the hotel.

Officially known as: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, the cathedral was built in the late 19th Century, during French Colonial rule. The cathedral’s red-bricks were imported from Marseille, France. Its construction also includes two bell towers and intricate stained-glass windows.

The cathedral was originally built to serve the growing Catholic community in Saigon, which was a significant minority in predominantly Buddhist Vietnam.

In front of the cathedral stands a statue of the Virgin Mary, which is said to have shed tears in 2005, drawing attention and pilgrims from all over the country.

War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history and remnants of the Vietnam War.

It was built shortly after the end of the war in 1975, and primarily documents the effects of the war on Vietnam and its people. Despite the massive display of American military equipment outside, the over-arching message of the museum experience is one of peace and reconciliation.

The exhibits include photographs, artifacts, military equipment, and documents. It’s a sobering and emotional experience.

Peace exhibit at the War Remnants Museum in Saigon

In addition to the focus on the terrible impacts of the war, the museum also includes full sections on post-war reconciliation. There are full walls dedicated to recent meetings between the formerly enemy pilots, called “From Dogfights to Detente.”

Independence Palace

The Independence Palace is also a short walk from the Au Lac Charner Hotel. Its grounds are beautiful, with walking paths through a canopy of huge old trees.

The Palace was built in 1966, and served as the official residence and workplace of the President of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

On April 30, 1975, it became a symbol of the reunification of North and South Vietnam when North Vietnamese tanks crashed through its gates, marking the end of the war. This moment is often referred to as the “Fall of Saigon.”

Today, the Independence Palace functions as a museum, offering visitors a glimpse into the history of the war and the reunification of Vietnam.