Hanoi Carina Hotel

We booked four nights and left after one. The room we got had no window, dust all over, no working AC, dirty sheets, hair on the bath towels, black mold on the walls and in the bathroom, and a sink that wouldn't drain. They said we could switch rooms the next day, so we gave it a chance. The replacement was bigger, but the quality wasn't any better. The hotel felt like a health hazard, and we weren't going to stay. The staff and owners were rude. Their kids were noisy and running around at all hours. When we politely said we'd leave, the woman started yelling at us in Vietnamese. We asked for a refund for the unused nights and were told Agoda had to handle it. That turned into nearly a month of Agoda saying it hadn't heard back from the hotel, before finally saying the hotel had denied the refund. We spent one of four nights in a terrible room and had to move elsewhere. I've been backpacking for months and don't need anything fancy, but dirty and moldy is where I draw the line. The good reviews don't match what we experienced, and I think they must be paid for. It's disappointing Agoda partners with them. This was the worst experience I've had in all my years of travel.

The owner's a nice person, so just be respectful if you arrive while the family is having dinner or the kids are having a tantrum. The location in Old Quarter is handy, especially for ducking inside for a quick break from Hanoi's humidity. The room isn't especially nice, but everything worked for me: the bed was okay, and both the AC and shower worked. It's fine if you're traveling and won't spend most of your time indoors. If you're not a solo traveler and can't handle an authentic Asian middle class experience, this may not be the place for you.

The family who owns the hotel was really friendly. We arrived at 3am, and the owner kindly gave us that first night free. Our original room was at the top of the hotel, with cigarette butts on the floor, a half-broken bathroom door, and AC that didn't work properly. We paid to upgrade to a balcony room, and it was much better. I'd suggest booking a balcony room from the start. Thanks for the good service :)

The owners spoke good English and gave excellent service. We could leave our bags before check-in and go out freely, and since there weren't many guests, they let us choose our preferred room. The location is so convenient that we walked everywhere without getting tired. They had all the basics covered: a kettle, fridge, plenty of shampoo, tissues, and a comb. Just know there's no iron. Everything was superbbb!