Hotel Majestic Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City

Due to my itinerary in June of 2004, I had the opportunity to check-in to the Majestic on three different occassions over a two week period. The hotel is a stunning example of well renovated 1920s French architecture. The resturant is good (but walk down the street and stop in for a meal almost anywhere - VN food is outstanding). The location is excellent. However, room quality is definately a "pot luck" experience. My first room: Excellent. It featured large heavy wood framed sliding doors opening to an interior courtyard with view of the elegant pool. The second room: Not quite a nice. Windows opened to unpleasant view of roof ventilation. The third room: The room itself was fine, but in the morning we were awoken by an inexplicable unending loud banging sound, apparently generated by the hotel staff, from the floor above. Complaints to the front desk did not solve the problem, ruining my mood for what was otherwise a great trip. Would I stay there again? Probably not. I would go a half-block into the city and try The Grand (looked fabulous from the exterior) or The Continental. If you love historic structures: It's either The Majestic, The Grand or The Continental. P.S. I almost forgot to mention! Not one bathtub plug in all three rooms I stayed in functioned properly. Once in the "down position" I was force to pry the plugs open with a butter knife (which was provided to each room daily along with an excellent plate of fresh fruit.). Also, if you took a shower, it was impossible to stop water from draining on to the marble bathroom floor. How are these basic design problems ignored?