Soma Hideaways Arrives in Ho Chi Minh City

A new apart-hotel in Ho Chi Minh City offers a considered space enriched by local touches

Changes in travel trends are pushing hospitality providers to re-evaluate and refocus their offerings, with new brands popping up and traditional hotels launching sub-brands that promise the flavour of the destination.

Soma Hideaways is one of the former, a new brand creating apart-hotels focused on design and craft that showcase the locale, with each Soma property designed to feel at home in its locale. The first property, Soma Mot at Empire City in Ho Chi Minh’s District 2, promises the brand’s targeted balance of seclusion and immersion.

‘The neighbourhood is a cluster of high-end residential developments that’s relatively serene and enjoys river frontage with unblocked views of the city skyline. It’s not overly dense, and there are large expanses of private and public space along the river, enabling residents to unwind and rejuvenate,’ says Chee Khiang Low, Soma co-founder and chief design officer of 932 Design Group, the Singapore-based studio behind the property’s design. ‘The location is perfect and ticks all the boxes. It’s one of cultural and historical significance, and the heart of the city is literally right across a bridge.’

The brand name comes from the ancient Greek word for ‘body’, evoking warmth and contentment. And this was the guiding principle for 932’s design team, who aimed to embody the essence of traditional Sino-Vietnamese aesthetics, creating a fine balance between the traditional and contemporary.

Rooms are muted and tonal, privileging materiality inspired and mostly sourced locally. Indeed, the interior palette features a roster of Vietnamese creatives: furniture is by prominent brand District Eight, the artwork is curated from Gallery Medium, and the handmade tableware is from ceramics gallery and store Gom Sai Gon. And in keeping with the multilayered and multisensory approach, Soma also offers city experiences that encompass design, art, culture and dining.

Text by Philip Annetta
Images by Guo Jie Khoo