In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
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Hotel Majestic
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
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During the Viet Nam war,
simple noodle shops frequented by military officers were run by communist
commanders. Waiters reported overheard conversations to their bosses and this
intelligence would be given to guerrilla leaders who adjusted plans accordingly.
Secret agents would slink
in by side doors to then-decrepit hotels and meet their handlers to deliver or
receive information. In these hotels, pillow talk was a very powerful weapon for
gathering data and bar girls were among the recruits passing information to Viet
Cong spymasters.
Ho Chi Minh City - formerly
known as
Saigon, a name that is still commonly used today - was abuzz with
spies. Rumors about the identities of spies were common topics of
conversation.
The war culminated in a
communist victory in 1975.

Hotel Majestic - the
only colonial era hotel with river views
Opened in 1925, the
Majestic was the city's finest hotel. But it has gone through several
reincarnations over the years. Viet Nam has had a tumultuous history, and during
WWII, the Japanese Imperial Army used this structure as a military barracks.
After the reunification of
Vietnam in 1975, the name of the hotel changed to Mekong Hotel and became a
government guest house. Recently, this building was renamed again to the
original Majestic and this 6 story building is now a 5 star hotel.

Filled with restaurants
and shops
Boasting of both French
Colonial and classical French Riviera styles of architecture, The Majestic faces
the Saigon River where you can watch the dinner river cruises that go up and
down the river.
Hotel Majestic Saigon is
undoubtedly one of Ho Chi Minh City's famous landmarks.

Expansive lobby
In 2011, Saigon Tourist
announced plans to build an almost 2 trillion dong expansion. Much of its 90
year old facade has been retained, as can be seen from the sweeping arches of
the lobby and the private balconies of each room, allowing guests to take in the
busy street life of the city below.

A bar we visited 10
years ago!
As far
as location goes, the world famous Ben Thanh Market is within walking distance
and the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedra, the Union Square shopping center and
Reunification Palace are all nearby.
We were
here in The Majestic 10 years ago and posed in front of this very bar. When we
were here before, the inside of The Majestic did not have all the stores and
restaurants it has today.

Here we are 10 years
ago!
Same bar, same people, all
10 years ago.
The Hotel Majestic has been
in the hands of the city government for most of its post 1975 life and some say
it still carries a bit of that government feel. The Majestic's Cyclo Cafe
remains one of Saigon's most fashionable dining spots where you can enjoy both
Western and Vietnamese fare in a hotel that is steeped in history.

Billy with a cyclo
driver 10 years ago
It seems that Saigon is
even busier than it was 10 years ago, but if you want to go into a Colonial
time-warp, The Majestic is just the place.
For more information and to
find out current room rates, contact:
The Majestic, 1 Dong Kho
Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Tele: 84-8 3829. 5517
Email:
majestic@majesticsaigon.com.vn
www.majesticsaigon.com.vn
Hotels
and Travel Information
For more stories and photos
of Vietnam, click here

About the Authors
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are
recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on
topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of
information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com,
they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since
1991. They wrote the popular books, The
Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your
Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website
bookstore or
on Amazon.com.
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