“The Rex. For years, its name meant ‘The Five O’Clock Follies’ — the daily press briefing where journalists gathered, drinks in hand, to hear official versions of a war that refused to end. But the Rex is more than that. It is the witness on the boulevard, the rooftop that saw Saigon transform from a colonial outpost to a modern metropolis.”
What began in 1927 as the Rex Garage — a French-owned auto repair shop and showroom — transformed in the 1960s into the hotel that would become synonymous with the American War. The Rex was the headquarters for the U.S. military’s Joint U.S. Public Affairs Office (JUSPAO), and its rooftop bar, the famous “Rex Rooftop,” hosted the daily briefings journalists sarcastically nicknamed “The Five O’Clock Follies.” Here, correspondents like David Halberstam, Neil Sheehan, and Peter Arnett gathered to hear official press releases — and then went out to find the real story. Today, the Rex stands as a monument to that era — not glorifying, but remembering.
The same balcony where history was spun and stories were filed. Tonight, it serves signature cocktails with uninterrupted views of Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Live music, cool breezes, and the ghostly echoes of correspondents long gone.
Photographs line the walls — Walter Cronkite, Henry Kissinger, Bob Hope, and the countless reporters who called the Rex home. Each floor tells a chapter of the hotel’s layered past.
Rooms have been renovated for contemporary travelers, but the bones remain — high ceilings, generous space, and windows that open to Saigon’s most famous pedestrian boulevard.
From traditional Vietnamese cuisine at C’est Saigon to all-day dining at The Garden Brasserie. Breakfast here is a feast of pho, dim sum, fresh pastries, and the energy of District 1 streaming through the lobby.
Step onto Nguyen Hue Boulevard — Saigon’s grand pedestrian promenade. The Opera House, Dong Khoi Street, the river, and the city’s best restaurants are all within minutes. The Rex places you at the absolute center of modern Saigon.
Tet (Lunar New Year): Nguyen Hue Walking Street transforms into a massive flower festival. The Rex rooftop offers front-row seats to the city’s most spectacular celebration.
Reunification Day (April 30): Special historical reflections and commemorative events.
December: Christmas lighting on the boulevard — the Rooftop Garden becomes a festive escape above the city lights.
Year-round: Tailored press-themed events and private gatherings in the hotel’s historic meeting rooms.
Location: 141 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City — on Saigon’s most famous walking street, steps from the Opera House, Dong Khoi, and the Saigon River.
Rooms: 286 rooms across 9 floors. Executive floors offer panoramic city views. Suites feature private balconies overlooking Nguyen Hue.
Best season: Year-round destination. December–April offers dry weather perfect for rooftop evenings.
Rates: From $179 per night.
| Check In | 12:00 pm |
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| Check Out | 12:00 pm |
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