Authentic Hanoi Boutique Hotel

The main problem for me was how the hotel and staff treated guests’ friends. I don’t expect friends who visit a guest at a four-star hotel to be repeatedly harassed. I confirmed by phone and in person that my friend was visiting and not staying overnight, but staff were rude and kept insisting she leave a copy of her passport without giving a clear reason. They also demanded to know when she would leave, even though she only planned to visit for a few drinks in the room, with no music or loud talking. We said we’d leave in about two hours, but after one hour staff called and demanded that she leave. The whole thing felt unwelcoming and ridiculous. I’d advise others to reconsider and stay somewhere else. The location gets 5/5, and the room was decent with little to complain about. The price was decent too. Breakfast was mediocre at best. For a four-star hotel in the area, not having a spa is a drawback, though not a major one. Service is crucial for a hotel, and that’s where this place fell short.

The hotel is very centrally located, so it’s easy to walk everywhere, though the steps at the entrance are very steep. We checked in as a group and arrived early, but staff let us go straight to our rooms. We stayed three nights. It was not too bad overall, but there were issues, particularly for some in our group. Room 701 was a decent size and looked out onto the street. The air conditioning was quiet and strong, and cooled the room quickly. My room had an ideal walk-in shower, with plenty of hot water arriving fast. Some others in the group had bathtub-style showers that let water spill everywhere. We got two small free bottles of water each day. The closet had only four hangers, which wasn’t enough, and the safe wasn’t bolted down, so it could be removed from the cabinet easily. The main-floor lounge was nice, with seating and complimentary coffee, tea, and hot and cold water. The desk ledge and proper chair were useful, with plenty of outlets and decent lighting. Internet was slow, around 14 Mbps. Breakfast had a limited selection, though the quality and service were decent, and the offerings changed a little each day. One person in our group had a disagreement with staff after the room drapes fell while being closed. The night manager tried to charge for repairs, even though the drape rod had clearly come loose because the wood was rotten from water damage. Things escalated until our travel agent contacted the general manager, who eventually resolved it.

The room was comfortable and very clean, and the food and location worked well for tourists. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout, especially manager Sandy and her wonderful team. I’d gladly recommend it.

The location is really nice, with lots of shopping and a night market where you can find things at good prices. There are also nearby Indian restaurants serving North Indian food. It is a small place for a family.