I am looking out at Vietnam’s largest city from the country’s tallest building. Sitting in a comfortable chair facing the floor-to-ceiling window, I have taken in the view in daylight and darkness at dusk and dawn. It’s ever-changing and always hypnotic.

Out there is Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon (many inhabitants still use that name). The building is Vinpearl Landmark 81, situated in a new riverside district 2.5 miles northeast of downtown. The hotel, which occupies floors 47–71, is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

We arrived by a car booked through Grab, the local app comparable to Uber. After a 10-minute drive from downtown, we pulled up at the ground-floor lobby. Staff took care of our luggage, and we were whisked by elevator directly to the 48^th-floor reception. We stepped out into the dazzle of afternoon sunshine and our first glimpse of that view.

After check-in, we headed to another bank of elevators, activated by our room card. Our destination automatically went into the system; we didn’t have to press any buttons. The numbers on the elevator screen scrolled up to 58.

© Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection

The corridors were much brighter than we’d anticipated. As we circumnavigated to our room, huge windows on each side of the building flooded the spaces with light, affording views in all four directions. Our room faced toward the airport, and from the corridor windows we can also gaze at downtown (dazzlingly lit up at night) or the suburban districts.

Our premier room is spacious and well-appointed. A large window in the bathroom allows us — if we want — to look through the bedroom to the city view while in the bath, or we can pull down the blind to separate the two spaces for privacy. Which do we prefer? That’s a secret guarded by 12 years of marriage.

There’s a desk at which I sit, and a large TV on the wall facing the vast, king-sized bed. In short, all the comforts expected of a high-end hotel room. Club rooms additionally offer access to the 71^st-floor Club Lounge, where complimentary breakfast is offered every morning, and snacks and drinks are available throughout the day.

© Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection

Our breakfast is served in the 66^th-floor Oriental Pearl restaurant. In a vertical hotel, it is easy to feel disconnected from the facilities and other guests, but breakfast here is a daily hub of activity. Various buffets offer fresh fruit, cereal and yogurts, bread and toast, and cooked options. On both mornings we have had window tables, with the waking city spread beneath us. The Cloud, next to the 48^th-floor reception, is a sophisticated bar that comes into its own at night.

One floor below is Akoya Spa, as well as a fitness center and the swimming pool. The swimming pool deck can get a little windy, but in the extreme heat of Ho Chi Minh City that’s no bad thing. In advance, we had reservations about the hotel’s location. On the map, it seems remote from downtown and the major attractions. Thanks to Grab, the commute proved quick and easy, and when the new metro system begins operations in July, a nearby station will provide another transport option.

Landmark 81’s immediate neighborhood has its own charms. Several residential blocks provide homes for thousands of families, and are served by many restaurants, convenience stores and other facilities. This area is popular with Korean expatriates, so there is no shortage of great Korean food. Directly beneath the hotel is a large, modern shopping mall complete with ice rink. Across the road is a large riverside park with one corner set aside for a formal Japanese garden.

At night, Vinpearl Landmark 81 is transformed into a giant beacon of colored light. Standing sleek and tall beside Saigon River, it lives up to its name. For two nights this city landmark is also our home.

Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection

720A Dien Vien Phu, Vinhomes Central Park
Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
tel 84 28 39718888