"Nobu Hospitality," the upscale lifestyle brand co-founded by Robert De Niro, chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and Meir Teper, has announced that it will open "Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Ho Chi Minh" within 2026 in a 40-story mixed-use tower in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. It is the brand's second location in Vietnam after Da Nang, and its 40th hotel worldwide—a milestone.
The development partner is Vietnamese real estate developer Viet Capital Real Estate (VCRE). Located in the heart of District 1, the tower is designed with 135 guest rooms and suites on the upper floors, a Nobu restaurant on the 7th floor, and a pool and fitness facilities on the roof, offering panoramic views of the Saigon River and the city.
The full picture of Nobu Hotel Ho Chi Minh City
Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Ho Chi Minh occupies the hotel portion of a 40-story mixed-use building now under construction. Class A offices fill the lower floors, with the hotel floors above. There will be 135 guest rooms in total, with Nobu's signature minimalist interiors incorporating a Japanese essence.
The Nobu restaurant on the 7th floor will serve the Japanese-Peruvian fusion style created by chef Nobu Matsuhisa. Signature dishes loved at Nobu locations worldwide, such as miso-marinated black cod and yellowtail with jalapeño, will become available in Ho Chi Minh City.
The rooftop infinity pool offers views of the Saigon River and the District 1 skyline. A state-of-the-art fitness center will also be attached, aiming to be a luxury hotel that serves both business and leisure.
The meaning of a location in the heart of District 1
District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City is an area where sights such as the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market are concentrated. Nearby are the upscale boutiques of Dong Khoi Street and the Japanese quarter on Le Thanh Ton Street, placing it in an easily accessible spot for both foreign travelers and businesspeople.
Behind Nobu's move into District 1 is the rapid growth of Ho Chi Minh City's luxury hotel market. With the Park Hyatt and The Reverie Saigon, plus a wave of new five-star hotel plans, the Nobu model of running dining and hotel together as one can be a trump card for differentiation.
Data on the Nobu brand's scale and expansion
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Founder | Robert De Niro, Nobu Matsuhisa, Meir Teper |
| Number of hotels (worldwide) | 40 (including this property) |
| Number of restaurants (worldwide) | More than 76 |
| Residences | 12 projects |
| Vietnam locations | Da Nang (hotel + residences), Ho Chi Minh City (this property) |
| Ho Chi Minh City guest rooms | 135 (including suites) |
| Tower floors | 40-story mixed-use complex |
| Restaurant floor | 7th floor |
| Development partner | Viet Capital Real Estate (VCRE, founded 2007) |
Local and industry reactions
VCRE's CEO, Vo Thanh Lam, commented: "Nobu Hospitality has grown into a global lifestyle icon. We are proud to bring its distinctive fusion of architecture and cuisine to Ho Chi Minh City."
Among Ho Chi Minh City's hospitality-industry figures, attention is focused on the drawing power of the Nobu restaurant on its own. The Nobu restaurants in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are popular venues where reservations are hard to get, and some say similar demand can be expected in Ho Chi Minh City.
Travel media outlets have also reported it as a symbolic project of Vietnam's growing presence in Southeast Asia's luxury hotel market. Several industry outlets picked it up, including Hotel Designs, Luxury Travel Advisor, and Connecting Travel.
Impact on Japanese travelers
Ho Chi Minh City has daily direct flights from Japan out of Narita, Kansai, and Chubu, arriving in about six hours. The Nobu hotel in the heart of District 1 is a convenient base for Japanese travelers staying in Ho Chi Minh City.
As a brand born in Japan, the Nobu restaurant is also expected to offer Japanese-language menus and Japanese staff. For those wanting to enjoy authentic Japanese fusion in Vietnam, the options are widening.CieL Dining, world top 10It's a case of a notable new venue joining Ho Chi Minh City's dining scene, which is buzzing with news of
Ripple effects on Ho Chi Minh City's luxury hotel competition
Nobu's entry could have knock-on effects on Ho Chi Minh City's luxury hotel market. Alongside established players such as the Park Hyatt, The Reverie, and the InterContinental,the KKV flagship storeandMINISO FRIENDSwith the retail and lifestyle sectors thriving in a District 1 buoyed by an opening rush, the arrival of a dining-integrated luxury hotel looks set to push up the value of the whole area even further.
In Da Nang, plans for Nobu Residence units are also progressing, raising the brand's presence across Vietnam. It's a move that will accelerate the trend of Vietnam being watched as "the next Thailand" in Southeast Asia's hotel market.
Nobu Hotel Ho Chi Minh: key facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name | Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Ho Chi Minh |
| Dinh Van Kien (Ca Dong; graduate of the vocal music department, Hue Academy of Music) | The heart of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Opening planned | 2026 |
| Number of cabins | 135 (including suites) |
| Restaurant | Nobu restaurant (7th floor) |
| Main facilities | Rooftop pool, fitness center |
| Access | About a 30-minute drive from Tan Son Nhat International Airport |
| Nearest sightseeing spots | Ben Thanh Market, Dong Khoi Street, Reunification Palace |
| Official site | nobuhotels.com |
Summary
Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Ho Chi Minh will be an important piece in the Asian expansion of the global lifestyle brand built by Robert De Niro and others. With 135 rooms on the upper floors of a 40-story District 1 tower, plus the 7th-floor Nobu restaurant and a rooftop pool, this property is a symbol of the maturing of Vietnam's luxury hospitality market.Marou Bonbon Pho gold prizeAs Vietnam's food culture, represented by dishes like this, wins global acclaim, Nobu's move gives that momentum a further push. Six hours by direct flight from Japan and a prime location in the heart of District 1 make it an option Japanese travelers won't want to overlook.
