The Empress Hotel is a charming, small hotel whose hallmark is service. While not luxurious, it boasts some upscale touches like terra cotta tile and marble. Deluxe rooms are cozy (read that as small!) but well laid out, with two twins or one queen bed. More spacious are the suites, with a small living room and separate bedroom.

The Empress Hotel also boasts a small fitness center, coffee shop, and sports bar, every bit as cozy as the guest rooms. Not surprisingly the Empress Hotel has recently begun to receive recognition from guidebooks and the local press, including an award as 1999 best Boutique Hotel by Vietnam Economic Times.

While technically in District 1, the Empress Hotel is about two clicks from the prime tourist area. If you're like us and prefer to walk everywhere, it can be a bit inconvenient; but then, you also avoid the beggars, petty thieves and con artists that troll Le Loi and Dong Khoi streets. While most business travelers will seek out the bigger and more fashionable haunts in town, leisure travelers will appreciate the Empress Hotel' modern amenities, personal service and cozy feel.