From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

Despite an uninspiring aluminum-and-glass exterior, the 21-story, 305-room InterContinental Asiana Saigon is a solid business hotel that isn't missing out on the bold modernization that's reshaping this city. In the lobby, a trio of 18-foot-long silk tube lamps dangle above fresh white orchids on a dark wood table, just one of many appealing decorative elements scattered throughout the property. The first luxury hotel to open in central Ho Chi Minh City in the last four years, the Asiana Saigon's modest palette of beige, sage green, and pale orange is set off by lively flourishes and textures, such as wavy walls made of bent bamboo. In the rooms, glass desks, white leather loungers, and iPod docks make the space multi-functional and work-friendly, while the lusciously soft beds are pure pleasure. Room decor is minimal, but the sliding wall partition made of twisted twigs that leads to the bathroom is a pretty touch. Each of the three restaurants and two bars oozes with character, especially the boudoir-like bar where guests lounge on aubergine velvet daybeds. Staff, though professional and prompt, are overly stiff and could stand to loosen up. —2010 Hot List

Which room to book: South-facing rooms have city views; the other side looks out onto a building.