Aira Boutique Hanoi Hotel & Spa

The staff made the biggest impression on me. They were welcoming and attentive, and I watched them help several people while I waited in the lobby. Tom, thanks for the great service. They also gave us useful tips on avoiding overcharges from taxis, bike rides, street vendors, and shops. There are plenty of tourist traps around, so enjoy yourself but be careful. The staff helped us a lot during our stay, so be generous with them and consider leaving a tip. The hotel is just outside the old quarter, in a great spot. Our room was beautiful and comfortable.

The rooms were clean and full of character, with quiet, effective air conditioning and handy streaming boxes. Breakfast was great, and the pool on the seventh floor was refreshing. We also enjoyed finishing the day at the SkyBar. We booked two rooms at the Aira for six nights, then needed to extend before arriving. The team handled it without any trouble, and communication beforehand was great. Staff helped us throughout the trip: one morning someone sewed a button back onto my son’s shirt, and Christine arranged a Halong Bay trip with private transport. We’ll be back.

The WiFi could be better. It kept cutting out during my Zoom call, though that’s just one thing to improve. I was 99.99% satisfied. We stayed two nights in a balcony junior suite before heading to Sapa. The staff’s hospitality was the highlight, and the room was superb. Our street-facing balcony meant we could smoke, yet the room was completely soundproof despite busy traffic and loud construction across the road. Breakfast was perfect, the skybar was nice and included one free beer per guest, and the location was spot on. It cost around 3,800 THB a night, about 3M+ Dong. They stored our luggage free while we waited for the 22:40 night train to Lao Cai, and you could even shower if you wanted. An absolute gem in the old town. If I’m back in Hanoi, I’d choose it again in a heartbeat.

We hope to stay here again. It’s a fantastic hotel, just a few minutes’ walk from Train Street, though it’s on the pricier end of local options. The lobby and rooms have been newly renovated and are well maintained. Staff were friendly and very helpful, and breakfast had a good range, including cooked dishes and buffet options. The bottled water and soft drinks in the in-room minibar were free. A trainee waitress made breakfast especially enjoyable both mornings. She was positive, kind, and helpful.