Empress Hotel is a 3 star boutique hotel, opened in 1996, with 40 guest rooms. It was awarded The Best Boutique Hotel HCMC in 1999. While not luxurious, it boasts some upscale touches like terra cotta tile and marble. Rooms are cozy (read that as small!) but well laid out. Bachelor rooms are tiny, but are priced as loss leaders and always sold out. Deluxe rooms are available with two twins or one queen bed. Of course at these prices, you can splurge on a Deluxe Suite, with a small living room, bedroom and two baths! (There are only four of them, so be sure to reserve them well in advance!) The Empress also boasts a small fitness center, coffee shop, and sports bar, every bit as cozy as the guest rooms. Rates include a cooked-to-order American breakfast.

    While technically in District One, the Empress is about two klicks from the prime tourist area. If you're like me 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' modern amenities, personal service and cozy feel.