Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon – Navigator Video

A vibrant hotel brand video following a young guest as he discovers Saigon with the help of Renaissance’s Navigator concierge – with the riverfront hotel as his base in the heart of District 1.

Camera movement: smooth gimbal moves in the lobby, lifts and corridors; quicker handheld-style motion outside to reflect the energy of the city.

Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon wanted more than a standard property video. They needed a story that shows how their Navigator concierge helps modern travellers uncover the “real” Saigon – from hidden cafés and street food stalls to rooftop cocktails and river views. We created a character-led brand film that follows one young hero through a full day and night in the city, with the hotel as his stylish home base.

Project at a glance

  • Client: Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City

  • Focus: Navigator concierge service & city exploration

  • Location: Riverfront in District 1, overlooking the Saigon River

  • Usage: Website hero, social media, paid campaigns, in-property screens

Creative approach – “One day in Saigon with the Navigator”

We built the film around a simple narrative: one young guest, one short stay, one day to discover Saigon with the help of the Navigator concierge.

The story opens in the lobby, where our hero meets the Navigator. With just a short conversation, a map and a few insider tips, his route through the city begins: street food in hidden alleys, independent cafés, buzzing intersections, a riverside walk and finally sunset cocktails on a rooftop.

Throughout the journey, the hotel remains his anchor. The viewer sees Saigon through his eyes, but always knows where he comes back to: the rooftop pool, the bar, and his room overlooking the river.

Visual language

Point of view: over-the-shoulder and close-up shots that put the viewer in the hero’s shoes as he follows the Navigator’s suggestions.

Sound and music

2. Location planning

Together with the team, we shortlisted locations a real Navigator would recommend: street food stops, cafés, markets, side streets and rooftop viewpoints within easy reach of the hotel. We then planned a route to minimise traffic and hit golden hour and blue hour at the right spots.

  • Deliverables: 45–60s brand / destination film + reels pack

  • Style: Energetic, narrative-led, urban lifestyle

  • Studio: Hotels Filmed – boutique hotel video production for luxury and lifestyle hotels

Contrast: polished marble, glass and water reflections inside the hotel vs. steam, neon and scooter traffic outside.

Navigator presence: the concierge appears at key moments – first as the “guide”, then as the welcoming face when the hero returns at the end of the day.

We chose a rhythmic, modern track that matches Saigon’s pace, and layered it with sound design: scooters, crosswalks, café chatter and street vendors outside; softer ambience, clinking glasses and muted lobby sounds inside the hotel. The city feels alive, while the hotel feels calm and premium by contrast.

Pre-production – designing the journey

1. Discovery and treatment

The hotel’s positioning within the Renaissance brand. Key Navigator messages and guest profiles. Which spaces at the property needed to be highlighted (lobby, Navigator desk, rooftop pool, bar, guestroom). Based on this, we wrote a concise treatment centred on the hero’s day.

3. Casting and styling

We cast a young male traveller who feels relatable: casual-smart wardrobe, light luggage, phone and camera in hand. The Navigator’s styling followed brand standards, with warm, confident body language that communicates trust.

4. Schedule and logistics

The project was planned across 1–2 shoot days, split between hotel interiors and city exteriors, including contingency plans for weather and traffic.

Production – capturing Saigon’s rhythm

Camera and movement

We used a full-frame cinema camera with gimbal to glide through the lobby, lifts and corridors, and more agile setups for the streets. Lens choices allowed us to stay close to the hero while still showcasing the scale and texture of Saigon around him.

Light and timing

Lobby and riverfront scenes were shot in the early morning for clean, soft light. City and rooftop sequences were scheduled from late afternoon into night, so we could capture the transition from golden light to neon reflections on the river.

Direction and performance

The performance was intentionally simple and natural. We directed the hero not to “act”, but to react – enjoying street food, pausing to take photos. The Navigator scenes were treated like real concierge interactions: a friendly conversation and tailored recommendations.

Post-production – edit, grade and sound

Edit structure

  1. Briefing: meeting the Navigator in the lobby.

  2. Exploration: fast-paced montage through streets, cafés, markets and rooftops.

  3. Return: calm, inviting shots back at the rooftop pool, bar and guestroom.

Colour grade

We gave the city a rich, saturated look with warm highlights and deep blues to capture Saigon’s presence day and night. Inside the hotel, the grade is slightly cleaner and more refined to emphasise the brand’s premium character.

Sound design

City sound layers are woven under the music track, while in-hotel ambience is softened. The result is a clear contrast: Saigon as the vibrant playground, Renaissance Riverside as the modern sanctuary.

Planning a Navigator-style story for your city hotel?

If you’d like to create a similar video for your city hotel – with a local concierge or guide at the heart of the story – we’d be happy to help.

We can develop a concept, shoot on location and deliver a full set of assets: website hero video, social media reels and a clip library your team can reuse all year.

Request a proposal

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