'Spy rendezvous' at the century-old Majestic Hotel

Along with the Continental, the Majestic was one of the two most luxurious hotels in Saigon in the first half of the 20th century. In 1948, the Majestic belonged to the Indochina Tourism and Exhibition Department. After the Geneva Accords in 1954, the International Commission on the Ceasefire between the Viet Minh and the French Allied forces established its office there. Therefore, in the 1940s and 1950s, the Majestic was not only a retreat for the elite, officers, and generals, but also a "news center"—a place where intelligence agents, secret agents, spies, and foreign journalists regularly gathered to gather information about the Vietnam War.

'Điểm hẹn gián điệp' ở khách sạn trăm tuổi Majestic- Ảnh 1. — Majestic Hotel - Sketch by architect Bui Hoang Bao

Previously, this was the Hôtel d'Annam. Many sources state that in 1925, Uncle Hoa (Hui Bon Hoa) - one of the four wealthiest men in Saigon at that time - bought it and rebuilt it into the luxurious Majestic Hotel. However, it is more accurate to say that it was Uncle Hoa's children, as Uncle Hoa passed away in 1901, 24 years earlier.

'Điểm hẹn gián điệp' ở khách sạn trăm tuổi Majestic- Ảnh 2. — When it was first built, the Majestic was in the Art Nouveau style - a sketch by architect Bui Hoang Bao.

'Điểm hẹn gián điệp' ở khách sạn trăm tuổi Majestic- Ảnh 3. — Reception Hall - Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang

'Điểm hẹn gián điệp' ở khách sạn trăm tuổi Majestic- Ảnh 4. — Sketch by Nguyen Vu Minh Tung, student at Nguyen Tat Thanh University.

'Điểm hẹn gián điệp' ở khách sạn trăm tuổi Majestic- Ảnh 5. — Majestic is the first 5-star hotel managed by Vietnamese people - Sketch by designer Le Quang Khanh

The Majestic Hotel and Uncle Hoa's House (Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts) were both designed by the same architect, in the Art Nouveau style (*) . Initially, the hotel had four floors. In 1965, two more floors were added and the building was renovated in a modern style based on the designs of architect Ngo Viet Thu. In 1994, the Majestic was again renovated in the Renaissance style. At the end of 2011, two additional towers of 24 and 27 floors were added to the hotel. Through numerous renovations, the hotel has changed its appearance compared to its original state.

'Điểm hẹn gián điệp' ở khách sạn trăm tuổi Majestic- Ảnh 6. — A corner of Majestic - Sketch by Bom Sketcher

As the first 5-star hotel managed by Vietnamese people, Majestic has hosted former French President François Mitterrand, former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino, and others.