Mango Hotel Hanoi

We arrived at 4:30 PM for a short stay of four hours, planning to check out at 9:00 PM. We had booked for two people but arrived with four. As soon as the hotel explained the policy, we agreed that only two of us would go in and use the room. Even so, the hotel blocked our check-in and demanded an extra 390,000 VND just to let two people enter. We refused because we knew we could book another hotel room for that price after topping up. Our booking included a breakfast buffet the next morning, which we explicitly gave up since we were leaving at 9:00 PM. There was no flexibility for a short stay. They took our money and showed terrible hospitality. Save yours and book somewhere else.

The location beside the railway station was the reason we booked, since we found it nearby without knowing what the place would be like. The rooms were average, there were lots of mosquitoes, and breakfast was poor. Prices are high even for budget travelers, and the staff weren't helpful, even in emergencies.

The train station is nearby, which was the only real plus. We got no hot water, and although apparently you're meant to switch it on in the room, nobody told us. I expected train noise, but the air conditioner was so loud I couldn't hear the trains anyway. Breakfast came with the booking, but there were only three options: soup, noodles, or egg. The staff seemed uninterested, and the stay was terrible. We'd booked another night for the next week, then cancelled and asked for a refund. Under their cancellation policy, they still kept 51%. It's cheap, but don't waste your money.

We picked Mango hotel for two nights because it sits right beside Hanoi railway station, where we planned to catch a night train to Sapa. The horns and announcements carried into the room late at night and early in the morning. There were ants in the room, and the universal chargers didn't work. No shower cap, tea, or coffee was provided either. The reception staff weren't friendly.