Indochine Palace

The breakfast spread was generous, with plenty of choice and stations where they made omelettes, bún bò, and pho to order. The restaurant and room service both had the same enormous menu, from Hue dishes and Vietnamese food to Western and other international options. There's also a big outdoor pool, a bar, a lobby lounge with live jazz on weekend evenings, and a restaurant. The whole hotel has a grand feel, with expansive spaces and huge rooms. It was built only about 15-20 years ago, but its architecture is styled after the grand hotels of the Indochine era. If I hadn't known, I might have thought it was 125 years old. The artwork throughout was lovely, and the rooms had careful details and a polished finish. There were lots of good bathroom products, and my wife called the bath "perfect." The bed was soft and plush rather than firm. WiFi was free across the hotel and streamed without buffering. I didn't try video calls, though. Oddly, when I had active noise cancelling on, my headphones seemed to pick up the TV broadcast from the station opposite. The staff were friendly and helpful, and housekeeping kept our room in great shape. The hotel itself was an experience, and I was glad I chose it over the other five-star options in Hue.

Kha at reception deserves a special mention. After a long day, she gave us helpful ideas for nearby sights to see. The evening live jazz was fantastic, and both the location and service were hard to beat. I don't have words for how awesome this hotel is. It's a must-stay in Hue.

Across four cities and six hotels on this trip, this is the only place that went out of its way to celebrate an important occasion for our group. For a hotel this large, that personal touch was unusual and really stood out. It's centrally located, within a 10-minute drive of the Citadel and local markets. You can also walk to the Go!shopping complex next door. Our room was quiet, and the bedding was great. I didn't get a chance to try the outdoor pool at the back, though it seemed busy whenever we rode the elevator overlooking it. The breakfast range was reasonable and changed a little over our three-night stay. Staff on the floor were attentive, and Vy at the Concierge was especially kind, sharing tips on how to make the most of our time. I'd recommend it.

The buffet was extraordinary, with a huge range of Eastern and Western dishes, and staff kept everything replenished quickly. The hotel's location was also very good, with lots to see on foot. We enjoyed our three-night stay. Our room was huge and nicely appointed. There wasn't much drawer space, though, which seemed ironic given the massive chests of drawers in the hallways that just held lamps.