Since its launch in 2005, Park Hyatt Saigon has become a favourite with travellers to the Vietnamese city. What factors contributed most to this success? 

Park Hyatt Saigon has always offered something distinctive: an exceptional location, a strong sense of place and genuinely warm, personalised service. The hotel combines the elegance of a French colonial residence with the energy, culture and character of Saigon. 

Its success has also been built on consistency. Guests know that when they return, they will experience the same high standards, attention to detail and sincere hospitality. At the same time, Park Hyatt Saigon has remained deeply connected to the city, its history, its people and its culture. 

Year after year, we continue to curate and enhance the hotel, carefully shaping its identity and creating a story in every corner. The hotel should feel personal and lived-in, almost like a private residence that guests are invited to discover. 

However, beautiful architecture and a central location are only part of the story. The real strength of Park Hyatt Saigon is our colleagues. Their professionalism, passion and ability to create genuine personal connections are what transform a hotel stay into a memorable experience. Guests return because they feel recognised, understood and cared for. 

How is Park Hyatt Saigon adapting to the evolving expectations of luxury travellers in Asia? 

Luxury travellers today are looking for more than a comfortable room and a beautiful environment. They are seeking authenticity, personalisation, wellbeing, cultural connection and experiences that feel meaningful and unique. 

Our focus is therefore on strengthening the complete guest journey, from the pre-arrival experience and service touches to dining, wellness, art and curated local experiences. We want every interaction to feel considered and relevant, whether the guest is staying for one night, returning for a special occasion or visiting Saigon for the first time. 

We are continuing, year after year, to elevate and curate the destination. Our objective is to ensure that Park Hyatt Saigon continues to evolve from one generation to the next, while strengthening its identity, heritage and architectural character. 

The future of luxury is not only about adding more. It is about being more thoughtful, more personal and more meaningful. We want guests to feel that their stay could only have happened at Park Hyatt Saigon. 

Left to right: Park Hyatt Saigon Presidential Suite and Park Deluxe Suite. Images courtesy of Park Hyatt Saigon.

Tell us about the different rooms and suites that can be booked at Park Hyatt Saigon. 

Park Hyatt Saigon offers 253 rooms, including 22 suites. The accommodation ranges from Park Rooms and City View Rooms to Garden View and Deluxe Rooms, together with a collection of suites, including the Park Suite, Park Deluxe Suite, Lam Son Suite, Park Executive Suite and Presidential Suite. 

Each category offers a different experience, but all the rooms share a feeling of elegance, calm and residential comfort. They provide guests with a peaceful retreat in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, combining traditional design references with modern amenities and technology. 

The suites offer additional space, privacy and flexibility. They are particularly suitable for longer stays, families, business travellers, private entertaining or special celebrations. 

What is important to us is that every room feels connected to the overall character of the hotel. Guests should feel that they are staying in Park Hyatt Saigon, not simply in a generic luxury hotel room. The room should provide comfort and privacy, but also contribute to the feeling of discovery and connection to the destination. 

Tell us also about the impressive art collection on display at Park Hyatt Saigon. 

Art is an essential part of the Park Hyatt Saigon experience. It is not simply decoration; it helps tell the story of the hotel and contributes to its sense of place. 

The collection reflects Vietnamese culture, craftsmanship and history, while complementing the architecture and interior design. Guests encounter art throughout the hotel—in the guestrooms, public spaces, restaurants and corridors. This creates a feeling of discovery, where every stay may reveal another detail, object, image or artistic expression. 

The collection also reflects the relationship between Vietnam’s past and present. It is important that the hotel respects heritage, but it must also remain connected to contemporary Vietnam and its creative energy. 

As a Park Hyatt, we offer guests an art tour that provides a deeper understanding of the collection and the stories behind it. In this way, the hotel becomes almost a second home to our guests—a place they can return to, explore and gradually discover in greater depth. 

You have worked in Hong Kong, Cairo, São Paulo, Seoul and now Ho Chi Minh City. What lessons from each destination have shaped your leadership approach today? 

Each destination has taught me something different about leadership, hospitality and people. 

Hong Kong taught me the importance of speed, precision and commercial discipline. Cairo reinforced the value of resilience, generosity and human connection. São Paulo showed me the power of energy, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking. Seoul taught me the importance of innovation, attention to detail and the ability to respond quickly to changing expectations. 

Saigon has strengthened my appreciation for heritage, relationships and authenticity. It is a city with enormous energy, but also with a strong sense of history and community. 

Across all these destinations, the most important lesson has been that people are at the heart of hospitality. A leader must have a clear vision and continue to enrol and inspire colleagues to create a unique destination with a distinctive personality. 

My responsibility is to define a clear vision and the pillars that support it, enabling us to continually elevate Park Hyatt Saigon’s positioning both locally and internationally. This means carefully curating the hotel’s identity, creating unique experiences and memorable moments, nurturing our teams and giving every colleague the confidence to perform at their best. 

Leadership is not about creating a vision alone; it is about bringing people with you, building a world-class team and embedding a spirit of “divine discontent”—the ambition to keep improving and never settle for the ordinary. It is about creating an environment where colleagues can grow, take pride in what they do and achieve, and contribute meaningfully to the success of the hotel. 

As a General Manager, what is the first thing you notice when you enter a hotel and what details matter most to you? 

I notice the atmosphere first—the details, the people, the movement and the way guests and colleagues interact. I ask myself whether the hotel feels welcoming, authentic and alive. 

I then observe the smaller details: how guests are greeted, how colleagues interact with each other, the quality of the lighting, the fragrance, the music, the cleanliness and the overall sense of care. These details may appear minor individually, but together they define the guest experience. 

I also look carefully at how the hotel is being used. Are guests comfortable? Do they feel relaxed? Are the public spaces inviting? Does the hotel encourage people to stay, meet, dine and enjoy themselves? 

For me, the most important question is whether the hotel has a clear personality and whether that personality is consistently expressed through both the physical environment and the service. 

What can visitors to Park Hyatt Saigon expect in terms of dining experiences? 

Dining is a central part of the Park Hyatt Saigon identity. Each restaurant and bar has its own distinctive character, while together they offer guests a complete culinary journey. 

Square One brings together the finesse of French gastronomy and the vibrancy of Vietnamese flavours. Opera celebrates refined Italian cuisine in a warm and convivial setting. Park Lounge is known for its elegant afternoon tea and timeless atmosphere, while 2 Lam Son offers creative cocktails and a more contemporary evening experience. The Pastry Boutique and Chocolaterie complete the offering with refined French pastries and artisanal chocolates. 

We want our dining venues to appeal not only to hotel guests, but also to the local community. They should be places where people come to celebrate, conduct business, meet friends or simply enjoy an excellent meal in a beautiful environment. 

Our objective is for every venue to offer a memorable experience, combining quality, creativity, atmosphere and genuinely attentive service. 

Top to bottom: Square One restaurant, Park Lounge and 2 Lam Son. Images courtesy of Park Hyatt Saigon.

How important is sustainability in your culinary approach and how will you reflect this across the hotel’s dining venues? 

Sustainability is an important part of responsible luxury. It must be integrated into the way we source, prepare and serve food, while maintaining the quality and creativity our guests expect. 

We place strong emphasis on local, seasonal and ethical sourcing. Approximately 95 per cent of our vegetables, fruits and herbs are sourced locally, and we work with certified sustainable fisheries wherever possible. We are also reducing food waste, maximising the use of ingredients and increasing plant-based options. 

Our culinary teams are encouraged to understand the origin of each ingredient and to work closely with local producers, farmers and artisans. This approach supports the local economy while allowing us to offer food that is fresher, more seasonal and more connected to Vietnam. 

In the future, we want our dining venues to showcase the richness of Vietnamese produce even more strongly. Sustainability should not feel like a compromise. When handled properly, it improves the quality, story and integrity of the dining experience. 

Tell us more about the spa and wellness facilities at Park Hyatt Saigon. 

Xuan Spa is designed as a peaceful sanctuary in the centre of the city. It draws inspiration from the natural ingredients and traditions of the Mekong Delta, including fresh herbs, local grains and fruits. The spa includes three private treatment rooms and one double treatment room. 

Guests can also enjoy our 20-metre outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre. These facilities provide a valuable balance to the energy and intensity of Ho Chi Minh City. 

Wellness today is about more than individual treatments. It is about creating an environment where guests can slow down, restore their energy and feel cared for throughout their stay. We see wellness as part of the wider guest journey, including sleep quality, healthy dining, movement, relaxation and the opportunity to reconnect with oneself. 

What is your vision for the future of Park Hyatt Saigon over the next few years? 

Our vision is to ensure that Park Hyatt Saigon remains one of the defining luxury hotels in Vietnam and continues to evolve as one of the grand dames of Asia. 

We will continue to protect and curate the hotel’s unique identity, heritage and architectural character, while improving comfort, functionality, sustainability and operational resilience. Any future investment must build on the soul of the property rather than replace it. 

We also want to strengthen our signature experiences and create deeper connections with Saigon’s culture, art, cuisine and community. The hotel should continue to be both an international luxury destination and a meaningful part of the city. 

Our ambition is not simply to preserve the past. It is to carry the spirit of Park Hyatt Saigon forward and ensure that it remains relevant, distinctive and loved for many years to come. 

The Park Hyatt Saigon is part of the World of Hyatt network. Tell us more about the key benefits for its members. 

World of Hyatt gives our guests access to a global network of hotels and a loyalty programme that recognises their relationship with Hyatt. 

Members can earn and redeem points, receive member-exclusive rates and enjoy additional benefits according to their membership level. At Park Hyatt Saigon, members can also earn points through qualifying dining experiences charged to their room. 

The programme provides value and recognition, but it also helps us understand our guests better. By knowing their preferences and travel patterns, we can create more personalised experiences, whether they are staying with us in Saigon or visiting another Hyatt property around the world. 

What makes a hotel stay an unforgettable experience? 

An unforgettable stay is created through emotion. It is the feeling a guest takes away after they leave. 

That feeling may come from a beautifully prepared room, a thoughtful welcome, a memorable meal, a meaningful local experience or a colleague who remembers something personal about the guest. True luxury is often found in details that are discreet and sincere. 

The most memorable experiences are rarely created by one spectacular moment alone. They are built through a series of thoughtful interactions that make the guest feel comfortable, recognised and genuinely valued. 

Our responsibility is to understand what matters to each guest and to create experiences that feel natural rather than forced. When service is sincere and the surroundings have a strong sense of place, the hotel becomes part of the guest’s personal story. 

How do you see the hospitality industry evolving in the next few years? 

The industry will become more personal, more experience-led and more conscious of its environmental and social responsibilities. 

Guests will expect technology to make their stay easier, but they will also value genuine human interaction more than ever. Hotels will need to offer stronger local identity, better wellness experiences, more flexible dining and greater transparency around sustainability. 

We will also see greater demand for meaningful experiences rather than purely traditional luxury. Travellers want to discover the destination, meet local people, understand the culture and enjoy experiences that cannot simply be replicated elsewhere. 

The most successful hotels will combine operational excellence with emotional intelligence—using technology where it adds value, while ensuring that hospitality remains fundamentally human. 

Left to right: Saigon city skyline and street. Images courtesy of Unsplash.

What are your favourite spots in Saigon that you personally recommend to guests visiting the Vietnamese city? 

Saigon is a city surrounded by rivers, and one of the most interesting ways to discover it is from the water. A river journey allows guests to see the different wards and districts from a completely different perspective. 

I also recommend exploring the city by Jeep. It is an exciting way to experience the energy, movement and contrasts that make Saigon unique. Guests can discover different neighbourhoods, enjoy Vietnamese street food and experience the city beyond the traditional tourist routes. 

At the same time, Saigon has developed an exciting and creative dining scene, with many restaurants presenting refined Vietnamese cuisine in contemporary ways. I encourage guests to explore both the traditional and modern sides of the city. 

For a more personal experience, I recommend allowing our Concierge team to create a tailored itinerary based on each guest’s interests. Some guests may prefer art and history, while others may be interested in art, architecture, food, shopping or the local way of life. 

Saigon is best understood through its contrasts—the historic and the contemporary, the refined and the informal, the quiet courtyards and the vibrant streets. That combination is what makes the city so compelling, and it is also what makes Park Hyatt Saigon such a special place to stay. 

Be sure to check out their dining experiences during your next stay at Park Hyatt Saigon.

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