Premium Dimsum Buffet Dining Experience at La Vela Saigon Hotel

La Vela Saigon’s dim sum buffet has a useful twist: instead of collecting food at a buffet counter, you order dishes at your table. The restaurant is on the hotel’s 25th floor, where a window seat can add a wide view of Ho Chi Minh City to a meal of dumplings, buns and steamed specialties.

I like the made-to-order format, which lets you sample a broad menu without piling food onto a plate, and the chance to settle in for a meal with city views. It is also a good-value way to try many kinds of dim sum at once, with more than 50 dishes on the menu.

One thing to plan for: drinks are not included, and hotel restaurant prices can make a tea or bottle of water a noticeable extra. The two-hour limit applies to ordering, not necessarily to finishing your meal, but do check the current menu and package price before booking.

At a glance

• More than 50 dim sum choices: Look for dumplings, steamed buns, chicken feet, pork ribs, wontons and seasonal items.
• Order at the table: You can request unlimited dishes during a two-hour period that begins when your first dish is served.
• Small portions suit sampling: Portions are often modest, so you can taste several dishes without committing to a large serving of each.
• A 25th-floor setting: Ask for a window table if the view matters to you. Seating requests are not guaranteed.
• Drinks cost extra: Tea, bottled water and other beverages are separate from the buffet price.
• Menu and price can change: The package is listed from US$15.85, while the headline price may show a different starting amount.

A dim sum meal, not a self-serve buffet

Herb & Spices Chinese Restaurant is inside La Vela Saigon Hotel at 280 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, on the 25th floor. The buffet is served by table order: you choose from the menu and staff bring the dishes out. That arrangement is worth understanding before you arrive. You will not be walking a line with a tray, and you can order in rounds as you decide what sounds good.

The format works especially well for dim sum because many dishes are naturally served in small portions. You might order a few items at first, see what you like, then request more. A serving has been described as three small pieces, though actual portions and availability can vary. This helps explain the appeal of the meal: you get to try a range of flavors rather than spending the whole visit on one or two large plates.

The menu is broad, with more than 50 dishes advertised. Examples include glass dumplings, scallop and seafood dumplings, Shanghai dumplings, roasted pepper duck dumplings, steamed egg custard buns, shrimp wontons and steamed shiitake mushroom sausage. You may also see chicken feet with Guilin soy sauce, pork ribs with soy sauce, porridge, soup and desserts such as coconut pudding. The restaurant’s menu can change with the season and ingredient supply, so treat any specific dish as a possibility, not a promise.

What the two-hour ordering window means

Your two-hour ordering period begins when the first dish is served, not simply when you sit down. Within that time, you can order unlimited dim sum. Once the window ends, you may finish what is already on the table. The restaurant also allows you to continue with its Asian à la carte menu, though any additional food or other consumption may bring extra charges.

That distinction makes the meal less rushed than a strict two-hour seat limit. You can pace your orders, enjoy what has arrived and still finish at a comfortable speed. One practical approach is to begin with a small selection, then add more after you have seen the portion size and tried a few flavors. Ordering everything at once can leave you with dishes you do not enjoy or more food than you can comfortably finish.

The buffet is open daily from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. A weekday lunch may suit you if you prefer a quieter room and want dishes to arrive without a busy dining room around you. The restaurant can also work for dinner, when the city view may be part of the appeal. Ask for a window seat when booking or on arrival, but do not count on it being available.

Flavors, variety and expectations

This is a chance to try a wide range of Chinese-style dishes in one sitting, but a large menu does not mean every item will suit every palate. The seasoning can be assertive, and some diners may find the flavors salty, strong or simply different from the dim sum they know at home. If your reference point is a favorite restaurant in Hong Kong or Singapore, keep your expectations flexible. The meal is an affordable way to sample local hotel dining, not a guarantee of an exact match to a particular regional style.

The selection includes familiar staples such as har gow-style dumplings, Shanghai dumplings, chicken feet and porridge, alongside less common combinations such as roasted pepper duck dumplings and scallop dumplings. That mix is useful if you are eating with a group: everyone can order a few favorites and try something unfamiliar. Still, availability depends on the season and stock, and the menu may change without notice.

Food is ordered to the table, and dishes have been described as arriving hot and fresh. Service pace can vary with the day and how busy the restaurant is, but the order-at-table setup means you can ask staff for another round rather than waiting for a buffet station to be replenished. If one dish misses the mark, a small serving makes it easier to move on and try another.

Views and room atmosphere

The dining room sits high above the street, and its city outlook is one of the clearest reasons to choose this meal over a dim sum restaurant at street level. A window table can make lunch feel like a pause from the city, while an evening visit may give you a view after dark. The actual outlook depends on your seat, and windows may not always be spotless, so I would treat the view as a welcome extra rather than the meal’s main attraction.

The setting is comfortable and suitable for a date, family meal or business gathering. The hotel address may suggest a grand dining room, but do not book expecting every corner to feel formal or lavish. The restaurant’s value is more about the combination of a high-floor setting, attentive service and a large menu than about elaborate surroundings.

The room can feel quiet when there are few diners. That may be a plus if you want an unhurried meal, though it may feel less lively if you are hoping for the energy of a packed dining room. Choose based on the kind of meal you want: calm and comfortable, or busy and social.

The price, with drinks added in

The package is listed from US$15.85, while the headline starting price may appear as US$17.45. Prices can vary by date or offer, so check the total for your selected option before you pay. At either starting figure, the main value is the ability to order across a large menu for two hours, rather than paying separately for each small plate.

This is most worthwhile if you enjoy trying several kinds of dim sum and have a good appetite. If you usually order just one or two dishes, an à la carte meal may be a better fit. The small servings help you sample more, but the buffet price still makes less sense if you are not hungry or do not care for the menu’s range.

Budget for drinks separately. Tea, bottled water and alcoholic drinks are not part of the dim sum package, and the restaurant’s beverage prices may feel high beside the buffet cost. Tea has been priced differently on separate visits, so ask for the current price before ordering. If you want to keep the bill predictable, check beverage options at the table before choosing.

The buffet covers dim sum only. Other personal expenses, tips and gratuities are not included, and additional tax or service charges may apply to other restaurant consumption. That is another reason to separate the attractive package price from the full cost of your meal.

Practical details before you go

The restaurant is at Herb & Spices Chinese Restaurant, 25th floor, La Vela Saigon Hotel, 280 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ward 8, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. The hotel is the meeting point. Opening hours are listed as 11:00 am to 9:00 pm daily, but make sure your chosen booking time fits the voucher’s date and time.

The activity has no age limit. Outside food and drinks are not allowed. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, contact the restaurant before booking. Ingredient and allergen information is not guaranteed, and the menu may change with seasonal ingredients and stock.

The voucher is valid only on the specified date and time, if one is shown. Changes are generally allowed until 24 hours before the activity, with exceptions for some bookings, including those made with certain passes or promotional offers. A full refund is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, based on local time.

Is this dim sum buffet worth booking?

I would book this meal if you want a relaxed, high-floor restaurant setting and enjoy sampling a lot of dim sum for a set price. The table-service format, wide menu and two-hour ordering window make it easy to explore several dishes, and the view can turn an ordinary meal into a pleasant break in Ho Chi Minh City.

I would be more cautious if you are looking for a particular regional style of dim sum, expect drinks to be included, or judge a meal mainly by luxurious surroundings. Go hungry, order in rounds, check the current beverage prices and request a window seat if the view matters. With those expectations in place, this is a practical and appealing choice for a dim sum lunch or dinner.

FAQ

How long can I order dim sum?

You can order unlimited dim sum for two hours, starting when the first dish is served. After that, you can finish your meal, or continue ordering from the Asian à la carte menu.

Is this a self-service buffet?

No. You order dishes at your table, and the staff bring them to you.

Are drinks included in the buffet price?

No. Drinks, including tea and bottled water, are charged separately. Other restaurant consumption may also incur extra tax or service charges.

Where is Herb & Spices Chinese Restaurant?

It is on the 25th floor of La Vela Saigon Hotel, at 280 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ward 8, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

What are the restaurant’s opening hours?

The listed hours are Monday through Sunday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Does the menu stay the same?

No. Dishes may change depending on the season, ingredient availability and stock.

Can children take part?

Yes. The activity has no age limit.

Can I get a refund if I cancel?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using destination local time.