The Alcove Library Hotel

The staff were very friendly, and the location was great. It was safe and the bed was fairly comfortable, though the place is old. We rented three rooms before our departure, and the Google photos looked much nicer than the real rooms. One door could be pushed open without unlocking it. We reported it and the front desk said they'd fixed it, so hopefully the problem really gets sorted. There are plenty of other places at about the same price, but this worked in a pinch.

The hotel is close to the airport, though a little far from District one. The service was excellent. Our room was great, with working AC, good water pressure, and hot water right away. Housekeeping and towel service were great too. I had a great stay.

The lobby is gorgeous, with a book theme throughout, and it gave me a colonial France feeling. The staff were incredibly friendly and courteous. I loved the very comfortable beds, strong air conditioning, and large shower with really hot water. There are lots of nearby traditional and Western food options, with a Starbucks around the corner, though you may not need it because the top floor serves excellent breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including Vietnamese and Western favorites. Whenever I'm in Vietnam, this is the only hotel I'll stay at.

I wouldn't be keen on staying several days here again. The service and treatment didn't meet my expectations, though I think the place could improve enough to reach a solid four stars. For now, two stars feels right. Housekeeping on day two was lacking: there were no bathroom amenities, the bathrobe hadn't been reset, and they didn't replace the water, so I had to go to the front desk late at night to buy some. The staff did provide oversized bath towels, which was a nice perk. The bathrooms and sinks also seem sensitive, so be careful what you put down them. I picked the hotel for a short stay because it's near both the airport and the city. The price was reasonable, but the property is showing its age, and the room lighting could be improved. It has the Eros rooftop bar and a new restaurant, B A O. One night, the front attendant insisted I leave my bike at a 24-hour garage 150 meters away. When I returned late, it was shut and unattended. That could have been a problem. Restaurant and bar guests seemed to be allowed to park onsite, so being sent away when I wanted to park briefly before dinner and enjoy the rooftop bar made me feel unwelcome and undervalued.