The Rice Hotel 131 Bui Vien

The Rice Hotel 131 Bui Vien is a 3-star hotel in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, directly on the lively Bui Vien walking street, with air-conditioned rooms, private bathrooms and family rooms. It suits visitors who want to be in the middle of the city, close to the bars, cafés and backpacker crowd of the walking street, and families who need a larger room.

The rooms range from the Standard Queen Room, at 12 m², to the Executive Suite, at 35 m² with a living room and a separate bedroom. Most have a flat-screen TV, a minibar and an electric kettle, and each has a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The Suite with Balcony and the Executive Suite both have terraces with city views.

On site there is a restaurant serving Chinese, British, French and Vietnamese cuisines, a bar with cocktails, a coffee shop and an outdoor seating area, plus a minimarket and a tour desk. Private check-in and check-out and a 24-hour front desk make late arrivals easier, and breakfast options range from continental and American to Asian and vegetarian dishes.

The eight room types at The Rice Hotel 131 Bui Vien are all air-conditioned and have a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer, so the difference lies in size, bed layout and outlook. Double and queen rooms with one king-size bed cover most needs; the Standard Queen Room at 12 m² is the most compact, while the Deluxe Queen Room at 20 m² and the Superior Queen Room at 17 m² offer more floor space.

For families and small groups, the Comfort Triple Room with Shower sleeps three with a single bed and a large bed, and the Suite with Balcony at 26 m² adds a separate bedroom and a terrace with city views. The Executive Suite is the largest option at 35 m², with a living room, a separate bedroom with two large beds and room for four guests.

The on-site dining is the strongest side of the property: two restaurants, a bar, a coffee house and a minimarket for everyday purchases. Evening entertainment includes a nightclub with DJ sessions, and outdoor furniture gives you a place to sit outside.

Practical services include a 24-hour front desk and 24-hour security, private check-in and check-out, luggage storage, daily housekeeping, ironing, laundry, a tour desk, a lift and room service. Free WiFi covers all areas. The hotel has no parking available, so guests arrive by taxi or ride-hailing car.

Rooms come with a private bathroom with a shower, a hairdryer, free toiletries and towels, a refrigerator, an electric kettle, a clothes rack and a desk. Family rooms are offered, and telephone and internet services complete the list.

The Rice Hotel 131 Bui Vien stands directly on Bui Vien walking street in District 1, where the bars, cafés and backpacker crowd of the street are within a short walk of older pagodas and churches. The street is pedestrian and busy after dark, so the rooms at the front are the ones to ask about if you want a quieter night. Chùa Phước Hậu pagoda is 50 m away and Saigon Evangelical Church 250 m, while September 23 Park is 400 m away for a short walk. Coffee Friends & Fun, Sahara Bar Lounge and Baba's Kitchen are all 50 m away, for coffee, drinks or an evening meal.

Ben Thanh Station is 800 m away and Saigon Railway Station 2.3 km, while the Bến xe buýt Sài Gòn bus station is 300 m away, a handy stop for long-distance coaches. Tan Son Nhat International Airport lies 5.5 km away, and the airport transfer is best made by taxi or ride-hailing car. The final metres to the door are usually on foot along the walking street, so pack light if your bags are heavy.

For a day out, Ben Thanh Market is 950 m away, a covered market for food stalls, clothes and souvenirs. The Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum is 850 m away, housed in a French colonial building, the War Remnants Museum is 1.4 km away, and Nha Rong Wharf on the Saigon River is 1.6 km. Together they make a full day of sightseeing on foot and by taxi from the hotel.