Tu Linh Palace Hotel

The staff were friendly, and the hotel is near the mosque for Muslim guests as well as other tourist sights. But I can’t recommend it: the rooms were dirty and didn’t match the pictures. There was no soap or cleaning supplies in the bathroom. You also can’t switch off the room light without removing the key card, and once it’s out, you can’t charge your phone or use the AC. Those are the reasons I’m giving it one star.

The staff were really kind, helpful, and accommodating, and the location is great. The rooms were a gamble, though. Our first room was in the 4 series, where the AC wouldn’t cool, and the bathroom offered no privacy because of a weird partial sticker on what was really a glass shower door. Things improved a lot after we moved to a 1 series room. Bathroom doors don’t work properly in most rooms, so I’d suggest the 1 series for couples. If you’re not traveling as a couple, I’d skip this hotel.

The staff made this trip easier, with tips on what to see, help booking outings, and airport pickup and drop-off arranged for us. They booked us a great trip to Sa Pa and the Perfume Pagoda. It’s a small boutique hotel in the Old Quarter, so we could walk to the lake, shops, and food. Breakfast was a nice start to the day, and the price was reasonable. I absolutely love the place and the staff, and would stay here again if I return to Hanoi.

My twin room was smaller than I expected. You have to keep things tidy to make the space work, or you’ll be stepping over your own luggage. Breakfast was okay, and for the price the service was appreciated and felt like a good deal. There wasn’t food prepared, though, so we had to eat out before coming back to the hotel.