Art, History, Wellness and Sustainability Attended to at Amanaki Thao Dien

Colorful Biên Hòa pottery pieces that reveal the distinct influence of French and Japanese techniques; a hand-operated shaved ice machine; mid-20th-century barber chair; antique magnifying glass; traditional wooden mooncake makers and carefully preserved butterfly specimens: entering Amanaki Thao Dien’s charming lobby feels like stepping into a carefully arranged embodiment of Saigon’s not-so-distant past.

The pleasantly eclectic aesthetic from the lobby continues when one heads to their room as well. Carefully placed antiques such as an old abacus and sewing table rest beside original paintings from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, imparting the peaceful feeling of traveling back in time.

Preserving and sharing culture and art is clearly a priority for Amanaki, as is wellness. Simply providing a peaceful private space on a quiet street outside of central downtown helps guests pursue mental and physical peace. But those who are interested in more immersive wellness activities have many options as well. A spacious pool and fully equipped workout room make staying in shape easy while a spa addresses matters at the nexus of mind and body.

Amanaki’s commitment to history-spanning art and culture is found at NÚC restaurant next door. Guests pass bomb shells repurposed as flower planters and beneath the salvaged wings of a fighter plane before entering the former school building. The floor is constructed with wood upcycled from former worker homes in District 5 while the chairs are all individual pieces collected from different homes and estates around the region. A massive colorful painting from a young ethnic minority painter in Northern Vietnam balances these historical items with a sense of youthful exuberance.

While the entire hotel promotes its sustainability efforts, they are perhaps most central at NÚC. In addition to the recycled floor and furniture, all the dishes are repurposed while the locally sourced, seasonal and responsibly grown ingredients endeavor to have a minimal impact on resource chains. Spanning traditional tastes and methods and global innovations with attention to visual flair, the dishes embody the Saigon ethos of cherishing the past while experimenting into the future.