The Rose Lounge at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is known by several names.
Priority Pass lists it as the Rose Business Lounge, while various other platforms refer to it as the Rose CIP Lounge. Additionally, the lounge pass provided during check-in and baggage drop designates it as the ‘SASCO Rose Lounge’. For the purpose of this review, we will refer to it simply as the Rose Lounge.
Lounge Location
The lounge is situated near Gates 8-9 within the international terminal of Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The airport’s layout is rectangular, and if you are navigating from immigration, you will find the lounge positioned at the far left end of the terminal, a considerable distance from most departure gates.
It is a 10-15 minute walk to the lounge, so please allocate sufficient time if your boarding gate is located at the far right of the terminal.
Entry & Lounge Information
Upon approaching the Rose Lounge, you will notice that access requires descending one floor from the main concourse to the reception area. This layout provides a panoramic bird’s-eye view of the lounge from above before proceeding downstairs.
Conveniently, an elevator located directly in front of the lounge ensures full accessibility.
The Rose Lounge serves as the primary facility for Business Class passengers of several airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, with which I was traveling. Additionally, as a designated Priority Pass lounge, it can experience peak occupancy, especially during weekends. However, during my visit on a weekday, the lounge was approximately 60% occupied, offering plenty of available seating.
Dining Area and Buffet
The lounge features a full-buffet catering system, devoid of table service. The staff’s primary responsibilities include clearing tables and replenishing the food selection. My visit coincided with the Christmas season, which introduced a range of seasonal offerings to the buffet.
However, the quality of the buffet was somewhat disappointing. The dishes did not live up to the rich flavors typical of Vietnamese cuisine available downtown.
While lounges, particularly contract lounges, are not renowned for exceptional food, some locations, notably in Hong Kong and Singapore, manage to offer decent culinary experiences.
The buffet primarily consisted of carbohydrate-heavy dishes with limited protein options. Despite sampling several items, I found the food generally unsatisfactory. I will let the accompanying photographs further illustrate the buffet’s lackluster condition.
Seating Area and Vibe
As previously mentioned, the lounge is distinctly P-shaped, as viewed from the bird’s-eye perspective, with the washrooms and a silent zone located at the far right end.
The seating arrangement within the lounge is primarily in clusters of four to six, which can make the area feel more congested than it is, especially if some guests choose to occupy seats for extended periods.
While most seating options are equipped with charging ports, it’s important to note that they are not universal; adapters may be necessary.
The lounge’s seating is divided into two main areas: one encircling the buffet and another further afield, offering more privacy. I recommend avoiding the seats directly in front of the washroom entrance if possible.
Despite the underwhelming buffet, the lounge boasts commendable views of the apron, providing a spectacular vantage point for watching aircraft take off and land.
During my stay, I was fortunate enough to witness my Malaysia Airlines B737-800 aircraft arriving, which was a highlight of my visit.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Rose Lounge serves as a satisfactory refuge for frequent flyers with complimentary access.
As an aficionado of airport lounges, I would advise against arriving overly early solely for the lounge experience, although arriving ahead of time is prudent given the often extensive immigration queues at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
At the time of this review, various credit cards from CIMB, Alliance Bank, Ambank, and other Malaysian financial institutions offer access to the Rose Lounge.
However, based on my less-than-stellar experience, I would recommend conserving your lounge visits for another occasion unless you have a significant wait before your flight and need a space to recharge your devices and have a snack.