The Continental hasn't quite kept up with the times as well as the Caravelle, which it faces across Lam Son Square, but then prices haven't rocketed as much either. So if you're looking for a taste of historic Saigon, this is an ideal spot, as its faded grandeur fits the part perfectly. It has been subject to several renovations since the 1950s, when it featured in Graham Greene's "The Quiet American," but as it's government-run, these renovations are half-hearted, and you'll notice details like threadbare carpets and creaking stairs. Nevertheless, it's much cheaper than other central hotels, and if you check in to room 214, where Graham Greene stayed for a couple of years, you can settle down at the desk and write that novel that's in your head.