Mercury Central Hotel Hanoi

We had a comfortable stay as a family in a balcony room. The location made it easy to reach attractions and places to eat, and it suited travellers on a budget. Breakfast was good, and all the staff were friendly and helpful. Thanks to Lina, who proactively arranged all the logistics. It's a three-star hotel, so it isn't perfect, but we had a good stay.

The reviews didn't match what we found, and in my opinion this hotel doesn't deserve a star. Our superior room was so dirty that the staff upgraded us to a deluxe after we complained. The bed linen hadn't been changed and was stained, and the floor was dirty too. A staff member even suggested we wear the slippers. We hoped the new room would work, but there were lizards inside. We canceled the booking, but didn't get a refund, though the staff member apologized a lot. I can't recommend this hotel. We crossed the street and checked into The Haron Hanoi instead. The room was small but fantastic: clean, comfortable, modern, and with professional staff. It was cheaper too.

Staff were accommodating and went well beyond their job descriptions to make sure we were okay. Trang and Lina were among them, and I'm sorry I forgot the other woman's name. The location is perfect, and the family room with a balcony is worth the price. We were upgraded for the first night and it was amazing, though for the cheaper rooms I'd probably look elsewhere. We spent the next two nights in a windowless room. The hotel is old, so manage your expectations. Breakfast was decent, but the congee is instant. There were visible stains on the chairs and general wear and tear. One Sony TV had a strange “demo” setting that stopped us watching properly, though we managed to resize the screen to get rid of it. We had to ask twice for replacement pillowcases. They do provide complete hygiene kits.

We spent four nights here and really enjoyed it. Our room was a seventh-floor Jr Suite with a large balcony looking over the city toward the lake. We often sat out there to unwind and have a drink before dinner. The location is excellent, close to the sights around the Old Quarter, and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful.