The Reverie Saigon

"Built like an Italian palazzo, the brand new Reverie Saigon brings in a level of luxury previously unseen in Ho Chi Minh City. Everything about the hotel is over-the-top opulent, from the palatial, marble-clad lobby to the lavish rooms, individually appointed by top Italian decorators and decked out in Carrara marble and plush Italian silks. There are three upscale restaurants—French, Cantonese, and Italian (of course)—plus a 157-foot bar that’s so long, it stretches from Dong Khoi Street all the way to Nguyen Hue Boulevard two blocks over. Not to be outshone, Reverie’s spa is a two-level, 13,000-square-foot affair with two open-air Jacuzzis and an Olympic-size swimming pool, naturally. Impressive, indeed—if not borderline intimidating. Editor's Pick: Hot List 2016"

"Occupying most of a 38-floor Times Square building, the Reverie Saigon initially made waves for its over-the-top flourishes: the house cars are a limited-edition Rolls-Royce Phantom Dragon and a Maybach, both parked out front; the lobby features a $500,000 jade-and-gold Baldi clock; and the property feels like it used all the marble and Murano glass in Italy. What’s surprising, then, is how well it all works—and how quickly you might feel at ease. A large part of that is thanks to the warm, attentive service (sniffle once, for example, and ginger tea will appear at your doorstep) and the 286 airy guest rooms themselves, which—though full of whimsical touches by international design houses like Visionnaire and Provasi—manage to call to mind serene sanctuaries floating high above the city bustle. The on-site dining options (including places for traditional Cantonese, fine-dining French, and modern Italian) draw local crowds, and the two-story spa features an ozone-infused outdoor pool equipped with underwater speakers—plus some of the best therapists in town."

"D1 is the obvious lodging choice for most travelers—and where the swankier hotels are, from the Reverie Saigon to the Park Hyatt Saigon."