Two nights in Hanoi! But where?

June 17, 2016 8:54 PM

Hotel recommendations for Hanoi, for a couple nights in August?

Coming in by bus from China, returning by air a few days later. May end up spending all our time in the Old Quarter. Any other tips for such a short visit?

posted by Rash to Travel & Transportation around Hanoi, Vietnam (8 answers total)

For a hotel I'd recommend one of the Elegance Group hotels.

I stayed at The Essence in Hoi An and loved it. I wish I had stayed at one of these in Hanoi. I stayed at The Church Hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake and the Cathedral - it was perfectly nice, if a bit garish.

Besides the old quarter, I had a really nice day at the Fine Arts Museum and the nearby Temple of Literature.

I also found The Rusty Compass blog invaluable while I was traveling in Vietnam.
posted by maggiemaggie at 9:59 PM on June 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

We stayed at the Hanoi Art Boutique Hotel and it was lovely and reasonably priced and the staff were wonderful. Trust them on their advice about taxi scams.
posted by jujulalia at 4:00 AM on June 18, 2016

A friend just got her room broken into and belongings stolen in the middle of the night when she was asleep. That was at the Essence hotel in Hanoi last month. Bad luck maybe, but I'd think twice.

I stayed at the Sofitel Metropole and spent all my time in the Old Quarter which was very much within walking distance. Beautiful hotel with lots of history - there's even a bomb bunker on the hotel grounds which they only recently discovered when renovating the poolside bar.. it's now restored and daily guided tours are available for hotel guests.
posted by hellopanda at 6:13 AM on June 18, 2016

I liked Tu Linh palace. They are affordable and had great service.
posted by egeanin at 12:26 PM on June 18, 2016

I also recommend the Elegance Group hotels. I have no idea how they train their staff, but found the staff and service some of the best I've ever had and very friendly.

With any hotels in Vietnamese cities, I advise checking carefully as to whether the room has an external window or just a light well or internal window. As many of the buildings are built up against each other, I have stayed in several places without an external window.
posted by AnnaRat at 4:09 PM on June 18, 2016

Also stayed at the Essence Hanoi and liked it very much. Right in the middle of the old quarter but somehow still very quiet inside. The breakfast buffet is truly mind-bending.
posted by ostro at 4:47 PM on June 18, 2016

Response by poster: Well contrary to your suggestions I made a reservation at the Impressive. I'll let you know how it all turned out.
posted by Rash at 9:27 PM on July 18, 2016

Response by poster: The Impressive Hotel is very good! Its location is around the corner from St. Joseph's cathedral, at 54-56 Au Trieu Street, [phone].
posted by Rash at 8:00 PM on August 8, 2016