Athena Hotel

This was the most expensive hotel I've booked in Vietnam so far, and also the one that disappointed me most. It was my fifth hotel on this trip and, unfortunately, the worst experience. The bed was genuinely comfortable, and my room had a view, lots of windows, and a small terrace. That was a real highlight. The small pool was a nice extra, and the location was very good, with plenty of little restaurants right by the entrance. The breakfast barely had any choice: tasteless cold cuts, no vegetables to go with them, and coffee. The decor looked charmingly vintage and a little kitschy in the photos, which I liked, but in person it felt like a neglected, outdated grandma's house. Maybe the look could work if the place were maintained, but it wasn't. At checkout I was charged for two tiny bottles of water, with no price information in the room. Every other hotel I've stayed at provided them free. Another small disappointment at the end of a letdown. I wouldn't recommend it, especially for the price.

The hotel service was the worst I've ever experienced.

Good points: central location, a swimming pool, air conditioning, a room, and motorbike rental. Less good: breakfast is basic, and noise carries late into the night from the many nearby karaoke places and bars with live music.

The rooms were poor quality and not maintained regularly. On the second floor there was no window and no fresh air. The hotel was expensive and terrible, with no breakfast because there were only a few visitors. Instead, they gave 50.000 VND for breakfast, which I found very funny. The staff's attitude wasn't good. They kept passports or ID certificates, and otherwise you had to leave a deposit. The hotel replied that visitors had to follow its regulations. Please think carefully before booking. I won't come back.