In over 30 years of travel in Asia and elsewhere I have rarely felt as ‘at home’ as I did at Ben Thanh Retreats. From the moment we arrived and were allowed to check-in early to the moment we left we were always greeted with a smile, and a chat. A small hotel in a quaint lane where locals live, have shops and a small morning market, being away from a busy street, this hotel is the perfect quiet getaway for visitors to Ho Chi Minh. Clean, very well-kept rooms with en-suite bathorooms, a refrigerator and all-important airconditioner for those not used to the heat of Southeast Asia combine to make a wonderful place to wake up, and a wonderful destination at the end of a day discovering the city. However, it is the people at the hotel that make it special. The family and staff running Ben Thanh Retreats go out of their way to help, be it offering help with tours to nearby attractions, getting laundry done, or trying to search for more specific information as I asked about local markets off the beaten track. Nothing is too much trouble – in English, Mandarin, and perhaps other languages too. And breakfast – simple but delicious. I still miss the fresh fruit served with a cheeky smile by the youngest family member, before the coffee and fried egg banh mi I asked for daily arrived. I stayed for a full week, and loved it all. This is a hotel I will be more than delighted to return to when I next visit this vibrant and historic city.

The room was spacious, breakfast was good, the location is great and staff was very friendly. We could use the extra bathroom downstairs to take a shower before we left for the airport which was really nice.

As a non-smoker I am a bit sensitive to cigarette smell so I guess most people would not notice, but there was a subtle smell in our room. I assume the balcony attracts smokers. We booked a tour to the Mekong Delta which was by far the weakest tour we did in our three weeks in Vietnam and also one of the most expensive, but of course the hotel is not directly responsible for the content of the tour.

The best hospitality we have experienced! The family who owns this hotel is absolutely lovely and went above and beyond to make our stay perfect. From the first minute, they were trying to do everything to make us as comfortable as possible: waited for us even though our plane arrived late and we arrived later than expected to the hotel, offered a beer or water as soon as we walked in, showed us their favorite spot for Banh Mi, gave us a free upgrade on the room we booked, let us check out late so we could rest before our next flight… honestly we are still shocked at how hospitable these people have been to us. The room we stayed in was big, comfortable, and had everything we needed. The entire hotel was spotless, extremely clean. The hotel is close to everything (street food, cafes, restaurants, markets) and at the same time in a quiet street so we could sleep really well. The breakfast was really fulfilling and delicious, they even asked if we wanted any more food after we were done. This place is great value for such a good price and it made our stay in Ho Chi Minh so so much better. Thank you so much to this family for accommodating us so well and we wish nothing but success and good luck for your business!

From the moment I stepped inside this beautiful little boutique hotel tucked away in a quiet lane, away from the hassle of the main streets, I was greeted with such kindness and care. The staff are exceptional, attentive of every need. They treated me like family. The rooms were impeccable and were thoroughly cleaned and serviced every day. Breakfast was served downstairs in little tables facingvthe lane. I was there for awhile - 10 days - as I was having some serious dental work done just around the corner, so I did become part of the family and it was sad to leave these beautiful people and this beautiful little retreat.

Everything was quite perfect.

The staff were exceptional. On arrival we were advised on good local restaurants, money changers and supermarkets and given a map showing all the best attractions. An amazing welcome!! This friendliness lasted throughout our whole stay. Our cleaner was also lovely and did a great job. The location was superb to access everything we wanted. The breakfast was simple but very nice and fresh. Even when a couple of things weren't completely satisfactory, they were rectified in the day. Being tucked away off the main road meant it was free from road noise.

Very very disappointed that a room 'with an inner courtyard view' turned out to be a room with a window that looked onto the wall of the adjacent building, about 12 inches away. Therefore there was no natural light or air into the room. It would have been more honest to indicate that the room had no outward view. There was some noise (building work) but not sure if it was internal or external.

Great location, walking distance to major landmarks in HCMC. Quiet neighbourhood down the alley but still need to be aware of the scooters darting about. Walk to markets and local shopping precinct via the alley. We were able to discover so much staying here and the staff were lovely. Liked the daily breakfast and convivial atmosphere plus the cook is a gem! We would stay here again as it's great value.

Nothing to dislike.

The staff at this hotel, particularly Edward and Jade, were lovely to deal with. Nothing was too much trouble and they had a lot of useful information to make my navigation of Ho Chi Min City just that bit easier! The bed was comfy, the shower was hot and the breakfast was delicious! The rooms are just like as shown in the photos - they are huge and airy and spacious- and the wifi works super well. More water and towels and a room freshen up are just part of the daily service. And the location is very central to so much and it is close to the bus station (Central Bus Station) to take you to the airport (Bus 109 for 15,000 dong) and the train station is nearby as well. Plus - it is quiet - being down one of the city's many wide alleyways, it removes one from the noise and hustle and bustle that is iconic of many of Vietnam's beautiful cities. I loved the local vibe, which included lots of choice for eateries. I will definitely stay here again when I return to HCM City!

Overall a great little hotel tucked away in the alleys of HCMC and within easy walking distance of the city. The room was great with a nice high ceiling, good air con and fridge and safe. The breakfast was a select menu of items (I went for the omelette every morning and highly recommend) along with hot drinks and juice and fruit, I found it very filling to start my day with and enjoyed sitting out in the small courtyard eating my breakfast while watching I would just like to also thank the exceptionally helpful and friendly staff who I encountered during my staff there :)

My only feedback would be that while a kettle is provided in the room there aren't any hot drink sachets provided (e.g. coffee, teagbags, creamer). I think it would be great for these to be provided so you could make your own coffee or tea when relaxing in your room :)

The staff was amazing! They went above and beyond, even delivering our breakfast and a little cake on my birthday to our room so we could enjoy it on our balcony. The breakfast is simple but the banh mi is delicious and warm! The rooms are not large and the bed could be a little more comfy but extremely clean and all you need if you're out exploring the city all day. At first I didn't like the balcony being so close to the other buildings across the small alley but eventually fell in love with the charm.

I wish we had known that the entrance to the hotel was down a small alley. We had know idea what to do when our driver dropped us off. But eventually fell in love with the charm of the little alley. But be prepared for a short walk down the alley to the hotel.

Loved the location - a really quiet area but a 5-10 minute walk to walking street etc. A few reviews have made complaints about the alleyway entrance but the instructions sent before check in are very clear as to how to get there and we had no issue, it’s also not a dodgy alleyway it’s super safe it’s just an alleyway! The staff were so friendly and helpful. Really enjoyed our breakfasts as well where you order a hot dish from a menu and they also give you a fruit platter. Spacious room and was very clean.

Only small things were just that the water pressure was pretty low and it would’ve been nice to have a bin in the room as well as in the toilet but otherwise perfect and exactly matched the description online.