Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group on Wednesday announced plans to set up its first five-star hotel in Viet Nam.

Under an agrement signed with Union Square Saigon Company on Wednesday, Manadarin Oriental will develop the hotel at the Union Square Saigon building in HCM City which has four facades looking over Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi, Le Thanh Ton, and Le Loi streets.

The hotel will come up between the fourth and ninth floors of the existing building. The remaining floors will continue to house the shopping mall and food and beverage areas.

Scheduled to open next year, it will have 228 guest rooms, six restaurants and bars, a spa, and an outdoor pool of international standard.

Richard Baker, chief relationship officer of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, said: “Our hotels and resorts have their own personality with a distinctive sense of place, thereby reflecting the best of their city or country. We look forward to creating unique experiences in the heart of HCM City.”

The hotel is being designed by architect and designer Patricia Urquiola, the designer of the renowned Mandarin Oriental Barcelona in Spain and one of the most famous interior designers with many award-wining interior masterpieces and architectural projects all over the world.

Mandarin is the owner and operator of a global chain of luxurious hotels, resorts and residential services that have won many prestigious awards like Conde Nast Traveller, Business Traveller UK, DestinAsian, Forbes Travel Guide, and Best Hotel Awards.

It operates 31 hotels and eight penthouses in 21 countries and territories. — VNS