Searching for 1965 Saigon Hotel

My husband was in Saigon during the war years, and was housed in a hotel called The International. It housed mostly Military Police of the 716th. We are returning there in 3 weeks and are trying to locate it. We do know that it is NOT the hotel currently called the International. If anyone has any information, it would be greatly appreciated if you would contact me.

Searching for 1965 Saigon Hotel

Hi Trabel:

If you look on the internet there are a couple of sites that have maps that show the locations of the military hotels in the 1960%26#39;s. That being said, you%26#39;re going to find that Saigon has grown and a lot of the buildings changed in 40 years. I went back with my wife in November of 2007. I was stationed in Saigon in 1969-70. Places like the Rex, Brinks and Plaza are pretty easy to find. Even with our guide assisting we couldn%26#39;t find the Five Oceans out in Cholon. You may have some luck with the International as it was closer to the city. Also someone at your hotel may be able to assist. The 716th was a great outfit and performed well during the Tet Offensive. A couple of my drinking buddies were in the 716th!

Searching for 1965 Saigon Hotel

Hi Trabelbug2,

I sent you a message yesterday. Please check and let me know if you still need any help.

Be well,

NanViet

Dear Blue,

It was great to hear from you. Thanks so much for your suggestions, which we will follow.

My husband appreciated your kind words about his outfit. He says the 716th had a, ';lot of drinking buddies!';

Where did you hire your driver? We will only be in Saigon for 1 day and this could be the best way to see the city. We have names of several places to hire a car and driver...which did you use?

Any info you might have regarding the city would be good. We won%26#39;t need a hotel, but restaurant and sites to see would be welcome. We are also going to Nah Trang.

Again, thanks so much...

Trabel:

Our 2006 trip was at the tail end of a trip that took us from Bangkok to Kathmandu to Lhasa, overland to Kathmandu, back to Bangkok and then to Saigon. The Saigon portion was arranged by Plesant Holidays and they used the services of Saigontourist. We arrived around noon on a Friday, had lunch on the roof of the Rex and then just walked around the downtown area and had dinner on the roof of the Majestic. On Saturday, we took a day trip to Can Tho and the Mekong Delta and had dinner in the Majestic dining room. On Sunday we took a city tour and flew back to Bangkok and on to NYC that night.

You will probably save a lot of time having a guide take you on a city tour that will include Reunification Palace, the War Museum, a couple of markets and other land marks. They should also be able to find the International. Be prepared that parts of the War Museum will be tough to take.

Just for nostalgia%26#39;s sake I would have your lunch on the roof of the Rex. It really has not changed that much in 40 years. As an alternate, the roof of the Majestic.