Luminous Viet Hotel

Breakfast was amazing, with a good range of local dishes, and the staff were very helpful. Thuy at the front desk speaks English really well and goes out of her way for guests. Our room was small. The big windows behind the bed looked nice, but faced the entrance to another room, and the noise sometimes woke us.

Ho Hoan Kiem Lake and its famous red bridge are just a short walk away, with restaurants, shops, and lots of French Colonial buildings to explore nearby. We had a great stay, and Mr Xian was an accommodating host who went out of his way to help. I'd happily stay here again.

The room they called their best, the one with a balcony, was dirty. There were crumbs on the furniture and shopping bags left by the previous guest. When I turned on the jacuzzi tub, it smelled like a sewer. The air vent was shared with the neighboring room, so I could hear everything, from brushing teeth to talking and coughing. For $45 USD, they offer nothing that stands up to the competition. Avoid if you can.

The old town location is excellent, and there's great Banh Bao just to the left as you leave the hotel. The staff were friendly and took care of what we needed. The bellman handled our bags and always opened the door, even late at night when he was sleeping in the lobby. Prices are good, but the rooms are dated, the internet was slow, and the floors could use a proper sweep before mopping. Early check-in costs about $10. The hotel fills up, so I wish I'd booked one of the nicer rooms ahead of time.