Babylon Grand Hotel & Spa

The rooftop bar was a nice surprise, though the cocktails were poor, so beer or wine is a safer choice. Breakfast was pretty good, especially the pho, and the staff were pleasant and helpful. There are some good restaurants on the next street, including a great French restaurant called Khue. The hotel itself was in rough shape. Taps wouldn’t shut off, the shower unit came off the wall while I was using it and hit my shoulder, the roof was mouldy, the sheer curtains were coming loose, and the soap dispenser didn’t work. Noise carried throughout the floor, probably because of all the hard surfaces. I’ve spent plenty of time in Asia and am used to different standards, but this was two stars at best. The walk to the Old Quarter is long, and motorbikes parked on the footpath slow you down. I’d use Grab. I couldn’t recommend staying here.

The room and service were good, and everything else at the hotel was fine. But water leaked from the bathroom whenever someone showered. Receptionist Daisy was rude. She kept repeating the same thing instead of understanding my clear explanation, and came across as aggressive and defensive for no apparent reason.

Restaurants and pharmacies are within walking distance, so the location worked really well for my family and me. We had a very good stay: the rooms were good, the food was good, and water was provided regularly. The staff were very hospitable.

The spa was top-notch, with lots of treatment and massage packages at very reasonable prices. Breakfast was wonderful and plentiful, and even though the dining area was busy, it was immaculate. Everyone I dealt with, including the cleaning staff, spoke English fluently. The staff were the best, helping me get a pizza delivered and bringing it up to my room. They even gave me eye drops so I didn’t need to go out to a pharmacy. I highly recommend this hotel.