Sao Mai Boutique Hotel

As soon as I walked into the lobby, it felt huge, stylish, and comfortable. The vibe was immediately uplifting. The staff are pros, super polite and always ready to help, but they don't hover or make things feel suffocating. For international travelers looking for somewhere to stay in Hanoi, this place is a must. The service is top tier and the stay is a 10/10. A true classic, no skips!

We booked two rooms for FOUR nights, but after the first night we were already dealing with a flooded bathroom. The drain was fully clogged and murky water was rising, so I shut off the water and had to sponge bathe to keep it from spilling into the bedroom. We told the bellman, receptionist, and cleaning lady. They agreed a handyman would come the next day, but he never showed up. We left early for a one night cruise and asked for a refund for the final night with at least 48 hour notice. Even though we paid the hotel directly, they told us to contact booking.com. We proposed giving back one room and keeping our belongings in the other, with a late checkout there since we'd return from the cruise around 3-3:30pm. When we got back, nobody remembered agreeing to that. Then they said checkout was 3pm sharp, though we arrived around 3:20, and charged us for a whole extra night. The hotel was empty, too. I've traveled all over Vietnam and never had service like this. Don't book here, it's a scam hotel.

We booked because the listing said the airport transfer was included, but that wasn't true, even though we stayed five nights in total. They also came after us five times to recalculate something, which got very annoying. You'll need a taxi or Grab to get to the old town. Breakfast was OK, though nothing special.

It's an above-average hotel, and reception can hold your bags if your check-in is early or checkout is late. Breakfast is a decent buffet: fruit, cold cuts, bread, pastries, mostly Vietnamese hot dishes, plus an omelette and egg station. Rooms are spacious and clean, with daily service if you want it, and water is topped up every day.