At Secret Garden Vietnamese Restaurant (19 Le Cong Kieu, District 1), we believe that authentic Vietnamese cuisine and a tranquil dining atmosphere should be welcoming to everyone. Whether you are an elderly traveler savoring your first trip to Vietnam, a guest using a wheelchair or walking aid, a parent navigating with a stroller, or someone recovering from a recent surgery or injury, we want you to feel informed, prepared, and cared for before you even step through our doors.
Transparency is the foundation of hospitality. Rather than letting you arrive and encounter unexpected challenges, we have created this honest, detailed accessibility guide to help you understand our layout, plan your visit with confidence, and allow our team to prepare the best possible experience for you. 🌿
🏛️ Understanding Our Building: A Historic Space with Character
Secret Garden at 19 Le Cong Kieu is housed in a building that reflects the charm of old Saigon. Our design is a tribute to Vietnam’s Northwest Highlands, featuring rustic brick elements, wooden pillars, and earthen-textured walls surrounded by a lush tropical garden.
While this creates a warm, immersive atmosphere, it also means our space is not a modern, purpose-built facility with wide elevators and step-free corridors. The building retains the architectural character of a traditional District 1 structure, which includes multiple levels connected by staircases and some areas with natural elevation changes.
We share this openly so you can make the best decision for your comfort and safety. 💚
🚶♀️ Getting to Our Entrance: The Street Approach
The Sidewalk on Le Cong Kieu Street
Le Cong Kieu is a historic, narrow street famous for its antique shops. The sidewalk is:
- Paved but uneven in places: As with many older streets in central Ho Chi Minh City, the paving stones may be slightly raised, cracked, or uneven due to tree roots and decades of use.
- Narrow: The walkway is shared with pedestrians browsing antique displays. It is generally passable for a single wheelchair or walking frame, but it requires slow, careful movement.
- Flat gradient: There are no steep hills on Le Cong Kieu itself. The street is relatively level, though you may encounter small curb edges (2–5 cm) where the sidewalk meets the road.
🅿️ Drop-off Recommendations for Mobility Guests
If you are using a wheelchair, walker, or have difficulty walking long distances, we recommend:
- Ask your Grab/taxi driver to stop at the corner of Le Cong Kieu and Pasteur Street. This is the widest, flattest point of approach.
- The distance from the drop-off point to our entrance is approximately 80–120 meters (a 1–2 minute walk at a slow pace).
- If you use a wheelchair, a companion can assist over the small curb edges, or you may ask our staff to meet you at the street entrance to help guide you in.
💡 ヒント： If you let us know in advance that you have mobility concerns, a member of our team can step out to the street entrance to greet you and assist with navigation into the restaurant.
🚪 The Entrance & Ground Floor
Entering the Restaurant
Our main entrance features:
- A single step-up (approximately 10–15 cm) at the threshold. This is a low step, but it is present.
- A wooden-framed doorway that is approximately 80–90 cm wide—sufficient for most standard wheelchairs, but snug for larger motorized models.
- A short, flat corridor leading into the main ground-floor dining area.
Ground Floor Layout
The ground floor is our most accessible level. It features:
- Flat, solid flooring (polished concrete/tile) with no internal steps.
- Wooden tables and chairs arranged with reasonable spacing between them.
- The tropical garden area visible and partially accessible from the ground floor (some garden paths may have small gravel or uneven stone sections).
- A designated area near the entrance where we can arrange seating for guests who prefer minimal walking once inside.
♿ Wheelchair Note: The ground floor is navigable for standard manual wheelchairs. However, turning space between tables may be limited during peak hours when the restaurant is fully seated. We strongly recommend visiting during off-peak times (10:00 AM – 11:30 AM for lunch, or 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM for afternoon tea) for the most spacious experience.
🪜 Stairs & Upper Levels: An Honest Overview
The Staircase
To access our upper-level dining areas and the full rooftop garden experience, guests must climb a staircase. Here are the honest details:
- Number of steps: Approximately 15–20 steps (varies slightly by section).
- Width: The staircase is approximately 90–100 cm wide.
- Handrails: There is a sturdy wooden handrail on one side.
- Step height: Each step is a standard height (approximately 16–18 cm).
- Lighting: The staircase is well-lit, but it is enclosed and does not have a ramp or elevator alternative.
⚠️ Important Notice
There is no elevator or ramp to the upper levels. Guests who use wheelchairs, have severe knee/hip limitations, or cannot climb stairs will find their dining experience limited to the ground floor area.
We understand this may be disappointing, especially as the rooftop garden is one of our most beloved features. However, we want to be completely transparent so that no guest feels surprised, uncomfortable, or unsafe upon arrival.
What the Ground Floor Still Offers
Please know that even without accessing the upper levels, the ground floor provides a complete and beautiful Secret Garden experience:
- 🌿 You are still surrounded by lush tropical plants and garden views.
- 🪵 You still enjoy the rustic wooden architecture and warm ambiance.
- 🍲 You have access to our full menu—no dishes are restricted by seating level.
- 🤝 You receive the same warm, attentive service from our team.
🚻 Restroom Accessibility
We want to be upfront about our restroom facilities:
- Location: The restrooms are accessible from the ground floor corridor.
- Door width: Standard width (approximately 70–80 cm).
- Interior space: Functional but compact, as is common in older District 1 buildings.
- Grab bars: Currently, we do not have dedicated grab bars installed, though the walls are solid and can provide support.
- Wheelchair access: The restroom is not specifically designed for wheelchair users (limited turning radius, no roll-under sink).
🛠️ Our Commitment: We are actively exploring improvements to our restroom facilities. In the meantime, if you require restroom assistance, please do not hesitate to alert our staff. We will do our very best to accommodate you with dignity and care.
👨👩👧 Families with Strollers
If you are visiting with a baby or toddler in a stroller:
- The street approach: Manageable, but the uneven sidewalk requires careful pushing. A lightweight, foldable stroller is ideal.
- The entrance step: You will need to lift the stroller over the 10–15 cm threshold. Our staff are happy to help!
- Inside the restaurant: The ground floor has enough space for a compact stroller, but during busy hours, you may prefer to fold it and store it near your table.
- High chairs: We have a limited number of high chairs available. Please request one when booking so we can ensure one is ready for your arrival.
- Upper levels: Not recommended with a stroller due to the staircase.
🤝 How Our Staff Can Assist You
Our team is trained to be attentive, patient, and proactive. Here is how we can support guests with mobility concerns:
- Pre-arrival consultation: Call or message us before your visit. Tell us your specific needs (wheelchair, walking frame, cane, knee surgery recovery, elderly guest, etc.), and we will advise on the best seating arrangement.
- Street greeting: If you notify us of your arrival time, a staff member can meet you at the Le Cong Kieu entrance to guide you in and offer physical support if needed.
- Priority ground-floor seating: We will reserve a table on the ground floor, close to the entrance and restrooms, with a stable chair and adequate legroom.
- Chair assistance: If you need a chair with armrests (easier to stand up from), a chair without wheels, or a chair positioned away from the walkway, just ask.
- Menu assistance: If reading the menu is difficult due to vision concerns, our staff are happy to read options aloud and explain dishes in detail.
- Pacing your meal: There is no rush. Take your time, and let us know if you need anything adjusted.
📅 Tips for Planning Your Visit
To ensure the smoothest possible experience, here are our recommendations:
⏰ Best Times to Visit for Mobility Guests
| Time Slot | Why It’s Ideal |
|---|---|
| 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Restaurant is quiet, ground floor is spacious, staff can give full attention |
| 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Between lunch and dinner rush, relaxed atmosphere, easy navigation |
| Weekday mornings/lunch | Fewer crowds on Le Cong Kieu street, less foot traffic on sidewalks |
⚠️ Times to Avoid (If Possible)
- Friday & Saturday evenings (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM): The restaurant and street are busiest.
- Public holidays (Vietnamese New Year, National Day): Very high foot traffic.
- Heavy rain days: The street and entrance step can become slippery.
📞 Book in Advance
Always call or message us before visiting if you have mobility concerns. This allows us to:
- Reserve the most accessible table.
- Brief our team on your arrival.
- Confirm any specific needs (chair type, space for a walker, proximity to restroom).
🗣️ What to Tell Us When Booking
When you contact us, feel free to say something like:
“Hello, I would like to book a table for [date/time]. One of our guests has [mobility concern: uses a wheelchair / has difficulty climbing stairs / is elderly / is recovering from surgery / uses a walking frame]. Could you please arrange a ground-floor table near the entrance? Thank you!”
Or, if you prefer to communicate in Vietnamese, show this to a local friend or hotel concierge to call on your behalf:
“Xin chào, tôi muốn đặt bàn cho [ngày/giờ]. Trong nhóm có một vị khách [gặp khó khăn khi đi lại / dùng xe lăn / người lớn tuổi / đang hồi phục sau phẫu thuật]. Anh/chị có thể sắp xếp bàn ở tầng trệt, gần lối vào và nhà vệ sinh giúp tôi không? Cảm ơn rất nhiều!”
🌟 Alternatives & Additional Considerations
If the Ground Floor Does Not Suit Your Needs
We understand that for some guests, even the ground-floor layout (with the entrance step and narrow street approach) may present too many challenges. If this is the case:
- Consider takeaway/delivery: We can prepare your favorite dishes for pickup or arrange delivery to your hotel. You can still enjoy our cooking in the comfort of your own space.
- Ask about group arrangements: If you are part of a larger tour group, we may be able to suggest the most comfortable configuration for your specific situation.
Nearby Accessible Alternatives in District 1
If, after reading this guide, you feel our space is not the right fit for your mobility needs, we genuinely want you to have a wonderful dining experience in Ho Chi Minh City. Do not hesitate to ask our team for recommendations of nearby restaurants with full wheelchair ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms. Your comfort matters more than anything. 💚
🔮 Our Ongoing Commitment to Improvement
We acknowledge that our historic building presents accessibility limitations. However, we are committed to continuous improvement. We are actively exploring:
- 🛠️ Installing a portable ramp for the entrance step.
- 🪑 Adding armrest chairs and wider seating options on the ground floor.
- 🚽 Researching restroom modifications to improve accessibility.
- 📋 Training our staff further in disability awareness and assistance protocols.
If you have specific suggestions or feedback after your visit, we welcome them wholeheartedly. Your experience helps us grow. 🌱
📞 Contact Us to Plan Your Visit
We are here to answer every question, ease every concern, and make your dining experience as comfortable and joyful as possible.
📍 Address: 19 Le Cong Kieu Street, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
📞 Phone / WhatsApp: +84 28 3620 5525
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Facebook: 検索する シークレットガーデン 19 Le Cong Kieu to message us directly with any accessibility questions.
🕐 Operating Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Daily)
✨ Everyone Deserves a Seat at the Garden Table
At Secret Garden, hospitality means more than serving delicious food. It means ensuring that every guest—regardless of age, mobility, or physical ability—feels welcomed, respected, and cared for.
We may not be a perfect, modern facility, but we are a space filled with warmth, greenery, and people who genuinely want you to enjoy your time in Saigon. With a little advance communication and preparation, we can make your visit smooth, comfortable, and truly memorable.
Reach out to us. Tell us your needs. Let us prepare the garden for you. 🌿💚
We look forward to welcoming you at 19 Le Cong Kieu. ✨