Blossom Hill Inn · Shantang

The river scenery at the hotel is lovely. At night there’s traditional Chinese dance and singing, too. We stayed seven nights, and the cleaner was helpful, even washing our clothes.

We were charged extra fees that hadn’t been mentioned when we booked. On arrival, we also found lipstick marks on the sheets, which made me suspect they might not have been changed or washed. The front desk woman and man were extremely rude to me and my girlfriend. It was a horrible experience overall. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place.

The restaurant serves tasty local food, with views over the canal from a spacious dining area. In the evening there are folk music and dance performances, including Binh Dam singing and ancient dance, which bring some Jiangnan culture to the stay. The wooden buildings, red lanterns and carefully decorated gardens look like an old film set and make a great backdrop for photos. It’s right in the middle of Shantang Street, handy for evening walks, the canal and nearby historic sites. If you report a bad smell or dust in the room, staff will change it right away. Some rooms feel worn and dusty around the wall corners and curtains, and there can be a slight smell from the plumbing or old carpets. The bathroom has no door and sits close to the bed, which is awkward for groups. There’s no hair dryer, not many power outlets, and the TV screen is small. The busy walking street also means noise at night.

The location is great and the service is good, though the facilities could use better upkeep.