The Caravelle Hotel, opened in 1959 on Lam Son Square, was the headquarters of the Australian and New Zealand embassies during the American War and one of the main bases for foreign correspondents. CBS, ABC, NBC, and the New York Times all operated from here. Journalists covering the war would file dispatches from the rooftop bar while watching bombing raids over the Mekong Delta in the distance.
The Saigon Bar on the top floor maintains this history. A gin-and-tonic here in the evening — overlooking Lam Son Square and the Opera House below — is one of the more historically resonant drinks you can have in Southeast Asia. The hotel is pricier than most Saigon options but the public areas, bar, and rooftop views are worth the pilgrimage.