Halios Hotel Halong

The restaurant breakfast only had two options, noodle soup or a sandwich, and the food was disappointing. We kept having to ask for basics like condensed milk and ice after they ran out. Even with few guests, service was slow and unwelcoming, and the staff weren’t very friendly.

I booked a suite in the Hon Gai area of Halong Bay because I liked the white Western-style exterior and wanted the room with a round bed. We were given a regular twin room instead, supposedly because its air conditioner had broken. Nobody mentioned this at check-in. I only learned about it after entering the room and asking reception. The booking was for a corner room, but ours had just one small window. It felt damp and smelled moldy as soon as I walked in. The balcony had masks and cigarette butts left by previous guests, and the towels weren’t neatly folded. There were used shampoo bottles on the floor, plus a large stain on the TV screen, as in the photo. The hotel didn’t seem to be cleaned well overall. We tried to relax with a long bath, but hot water from the tub faucet spilled out onto the floor, which kept getting wetter. There was no room wear, only a hand shower, and the TV wasn’t smart, like at other three-star hotels. This room didn’t feel like a suite at all. Breakfast was the worst of the more than 40 hotels we stayed at in Vietnam this time, as shown in the picture. I really don’t understand the high reviews. It was a disappointing hotel that looked better than it was. The room tour video is on YouTube. Search for hakurepo(Hakurepo) or the hotel’s name.

There’s a spacious lobby with a restaurant, and the marble floors look great. The hotel was very neat and clean. They offer free bicycles, and you can rent a motorbike at reception. It’s close to the famous Sun wheel tourist attraction.

The location worked well for everything, and the staff were very nice. They cleaned our spacious, very clean room every day and did our laundry too. Breakfast was alright. This has been the best hotel we’ve stayed at so far.