Dream Boutique Hotel and Spa

The first night of our Hanoi holiday in early November 25 turned into a nightmare. We arrived from Sydney around 11pm local time on Saturday after a nine-hour flight, and hotel manager Philip told us our room had been given to another guest. We were sent to another hotel without any advance notice. Dragging our bags through the Old Quarter crowds that late was exhausting. The replacement turned out to be a shop with rooms upstairs. It was barely one-star quality, with no toilet paper or bottled water, and I was told I’d have to pay for water. We couldn’t sleep because of the room and didn’t shower because the bathroom was so bad. We went back to Dream Boutique Hotel early the next morning to confront Philip and waited over breakfast. The breakfast was poor and had hardly any choice. When we finally spoke with Philip on the phone, I told him he’d taken advantage of our late arrival by changing our hotel without telling us, even though we’d paid Dream Boutique hotel in advance. I’d rate that hotel two stars at most, but the substitute was barely one. I asked for a refund, and Philip said I could move to another hotel. We couldn’t bring ourselves to pay for a new place without knowing whether Trip.com would refund us, or how long it might take. After arguing on the phone for a while, Philp agreed to refund about 17 Australian dollars. Our room at the hotel was noisy and not very clean, and its bathroom leaked, with the shower and toilet all in one space and no separate shower. We also met other guests who hadn’t had a good experience there. If you have another choice, please don’t stay here.

The staff were the best part. Mr. Philip, the manager, was especially helpful, honest, and courteous. Everyone worked hard and was ready to help. People in Vietnam are really nice. The Old Quarter is Hanoi’s busiest area, with almost no room on the streets, and the rooms here are very small. I wouldn’t choose it for a luxurious or comfortable stay, though that isn’t the staff’s fault. It works well for getting around and seeing local sights.

It’s a two-star budget hotel in a good spot, and the staff were friendly. I got there for one night. Don’t choose a room with a window if you need sleep, the area is extremely loud at night and I managed five hours at most.

The room was spacious, clean, and quiet, and the omelet at breakfast was delicious. There was a nice variety of food, too. The staff were friendly and efficient. I’d stay again.