Tan Khanh Anh Hotel (District 1)

Booking a hotel in Saigon is not difficult at all if you don't care about having windows, air-con, en suite bathroom, breakfast, and complimentary wi-fi that works. We had to find something clean and not too expensive in the tourist district, close to the Vo Van Kiet Highway and fitted with all of the above.  Major challenge.

Tan Khan Anh Hotel was listed on Booking.com, so I found it pretty quickly and booked a double room for 14 nights: $254. We stayed there for the whole period and were not disappointed, even if all the other reviews online did not recommend it.

The hotel is located on De Tham street, one block away from Bui Vien. The neighborhood is not really touristy, but is packed with local street vendors in the morning.

The rooms and bathrooms are large and clean, the air-con works and is not noisy; electric kettle and a small fridge in every room; complimentary breakfast - coffee, tea, several kinds of pho and omelette; free wi-fi (yet not functional all the time). The hotel also offers dry cleaning services for really affordable prices, as well as bike rentals.

Address: 53 – 55 Co Bac Str., Cau Ong Lanh Ward, District 1, HCMC; Ph: (08) 39208645 / 46 / 47 / 48; Fax: (08) 39208649; www.tankhanhanhhotel.com. Major credit cards accepted.