Hotel Indigo Saigon The City hosts event to reimagine city’s beloved alleyways

At the event last week, the hotel transformed its Saigon – Gia Dinh Room into a soulful homage to the city’s beloved alleyways, those quiet, unassuming corridors of daily life that cradle Ho Chi Minh City’s most intimate stories. Gone were the expected four walls. In their place stood a memory-laden hem (alleyway) scene: bamboo grasshoppers, timeworn tea tables, wooden cabinets, an antique sewing machine, delicate lotus blooms, and the gentle glow of golden light, each element crafted to evoke nostalgia and invite connection.

Hotel Indigo Saigon The City hosts "An Evening In The Hem"

More than an appreciation night for media partners, the event was a heartfelt invitation to discover how Hotel Indigo Saigon The City brings stories to life through its spaces. Every gathering here is not just a meeting, it’s an experience, told through the language of light, texture, music, and above all, cuisine that speaks with the voice of the neighbourhood.

The curated menu, titled “An Exquisite Flavour of Hem”, unfolded like a culinary memoir. It began with seared Hokkaido scallops nestled atop carrot purée, kissed with lemongrass-makrut lime sauce and a crown of caviar, a graceful introduction that stirred the senses. A refined ravioli consommé with green lobster, Iberico Bellota ham, sun-dried tomatoes, and edamame foam followed, sophisticated, yet comforting.

The main course, a marbled MB3 beef tenderloin with seared foie gras, truffle mushroom jus, and creamy potatoes, brought depth and indulgence. And to close, a serene Sapa peach mousse with sakura jelly and roasted peach, sweet, delicate, and light as a whisper. Every dish was a moment to pause, a tribute to Ho Chi Minh City’s street flavours told through the lens of elegance and craft.

Hotel Indigo Saigon The City offers a curated menu, titled “An Exquisite Flavour of Hem”

The Saigon – Gia Dinh Room is a testament to the hotel’s design philosophy: that spaces should speak. With its fluid layout and locally inspired details, it’s the perfect backdrop for creative workshops, press events, bespoke launches, or meaningful private gatherings. It is not just where events are held, it’s where they are felt.

Throughout the hotel, this narrative continues. The lobby welcomes guests into the spirit of old Ho Chi Minh City: a Phoenix bicycle stacked with vintage suitcases, an art installation titled Bags of Burden, evokes journeys of resilience and return. Reception counters mimic street vendor carts, echoing the city’s lively pavements.

A hidden alleyway beside the lobby glows with soft light and stories, inviting guests into a microcosm of Ho Chi Minh City’s everyday charm. The guest rooms reinterpret traditional Ho Chi Minh City homes through a modern lens, while The Shipyard restaurant draws inspiration from the legendary Ba Son Shipyard, a cornerstone of the city’s industrial and cultural soul.

Rooted in the heritage of District 1 (now Saigon Ward) and designed to reflect the rhythm of its surrounding neighbourhood, Hotel Indigo Saigon The City by IHG is not just a destination, it is a living story. Here, every corner, every moment, and every gathering is an invitation to feel something more, a sense of place, a spark of memory, and a connection that lingers long after the night ends.