Best Hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter

Old Aug 29th, 2016, 04:25 PM
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Best Hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter

My family will be staying in Hanoi for a few days and we are struggling to pick a hotel to stay in. We are looking for a hotel that has an excellent and central location in the old quarter (close to temples, Pagodas, good restaurants and street food stalls, Hoan Kiem Lake, water puppet theater, and street markets). We would like to be able to walk to most of the main attractions in the old quarter from the hotel. We have mainly considered the Art Trendy Hotel and Hanoi Elegance Diamond Hotel. Please let us know if which one of these hotel would be best! We are also open to any new suggestions.
Thank you!
graceeo is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2016, 06:29 PM
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We have stayed in quite a number of different places in Hanoi and, as far as location is concerned much prefer the area to the west of the top of Hoan Kiem lake. We last stayed in the Sunline Hotel on Bao Kahn St and found it to be very good.

A block back from the lake and 2-3 mins walk to the big junction at the top of the lake. It has the advantage of being a very quiet street ( by Hanoi standards) and within walking distance of many of the sights. Also close to st Joseph's cathedral, a pleasant area where a few of our fav. restaurants are located.

Being close to the top of the lake means that it is only a 2 min walk to go and watch the Tai Chi at dawn - assuming of course, that you are and early riser!
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Old Aug 29th, 2016, 06:37 PM
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It's been several years since I was in Hanoi, but I cannot say enough good things about the elegance hotels in the old quarters. It would definitely be my pick if I were to return to Hanoi. What a great city...you will love it.
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Old Aug 29th, 2016, 07:52 PM
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I stayed at the Hanoi Art Hotel. The location meets all your requirements, and the service is superb. There's a fabulous made to order breakfast, which is all-you-can-eat, including pho.

I pestered them via email for about a year before my stay, and they answered all my questions quickly. They arranged my Halong Bay Cruise, and they even have a shower for guests that are coming back from Halong Bay or Sapa, and have a little time before heading to the airport.
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Old Aug 29th, 2016, 11:12 PM
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I got a trusted recommendation for Hanoi 3B Homestay for next February...

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...tay-Hanoi.html

http://www.hanoi3bhomestay.com/

Paid US$132.75 [in VND] for 5 nights B&B + airport pick-up. If you look at the website above you'll see that they can organise all sorts of trips/packages.

And if you look at the first link the reviews look like excellent vfm.
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Old Aug 30th, 2016, 07:33 AM
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While I expect LL's homestay is not what you are looking for, you have gotten lots of good suggestions. As you can see, there is no "best" hotel in the Old Quarter.
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Old Aug 30th, 2016, 09:32 PM
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perhaps the reason you're struggling with choice is that there are many reasonably-priced ("budget" level compared to many parts of the world)good hotels in the old quarter!! Spoiled for choice.
I stayed in Essence Hanoi, and Essence d'Orient. Two separate but adding hotels which share a dining room. Lovely clean rooms, fantastic awesome-level staff, part of the same company that runs the Elegance hotels both you and dgunbug mentioned. Great location opposite lively "Beer Corner" which is closed to car traffic ( BIG plus in Hanoi!) in the evenings. What i particularly liked about the Essence d'Orient is that the second floor front rooms have balconies which face the street, so you can close-up watch the action if, at the end of a long touring day, you 'd rather not be right IN it for long.
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Old Aug 30th, 2016, 09:33 PM
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typo strikes again: adjacent hotels. Speaking of the dining room, the breakfasts are excellent and varied
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Old Aug 30th, 2016, 11:08 PM
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@Kathie>>

Why? The 3B Homestay doesn't take tour groups, it's slightly away from the ericentre yet easily walkable, it's on the airport side of the Old Quarter, it's family run, it's excellent vfm, and it comes well recommended.
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Old Aug 30th, 2016, 11:49 PM
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3B Homestay looks very good to me and great value. May well give it arty next time.

We used a similar place, Ms Yangs homestay in Saigon, several times during our time in Vietnam and wouldn't dream of staying anywhere else when we return. The personal service in places such as these can really make a trip. "Normal" hotels just can't compete.

The problem with Hanoi hotels, particularly in the $50-100 price range is that they have all become very, very similar (and even have similar sounding names - it is no wonder people find it hard to choose!
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Old Aug 31st, 2016, 12:06 AM
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@Crellston>>

Tvm. I'll report back when we've been.

Hope you're having a great time in South America.

A South Atlantic winter, all at sea in 1982, is the closest I've got!
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Old Aug 31st, 2016, 07:56 AM
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Why do I think Graceeo is not looking for your homestay? Because in this thread she asks for "best hotel" and her many other threads about this trip also are asking for better hotels. I know you love homestays, LL, but not everyone does. I wouldn't answer someone's request for a homestay with a recommendation for a hotel.
Kathie is offline  
Old Aug 31st, 2016, 11:52 AM
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Kathie. The Op states that she is open to new suggestions. My suggestion was a new suggestion. I provided the hotel website and the reviews on TA.

There's homestays and there's homestays. There's hotels and there's hotels. The range is vast. Have you even looked at the links I posted? Tbh I don't expect you to, as you're not the Op who asked the question.

What's your positive contribution to this thread been?
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Old Aug 31st, 2016, 12:12 PM
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Just another homestay for the hoi polloi like LL...

https://howieshomestay.com

... I wish.
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Old Aug 31st, 2016, 02:15 PM
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The 3B Homestay looks fine.. Not like a "homestay" as I think of it (there's at least one other FF thread on this topic). Rather, a hotel room, but with conveniences of home e.g. a modern kitchenette area, similar to Homewood Suites and Hyatt House in the USA. Maybe they should have named it
"Like-a-Home Stay"?

One of the youtube vids on the howieshomestay site calls it "Camp Howie"! What a place!!
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Old Aug 31st, 2016, 02:54 PM
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Cali. For 1 g per night it should be. I looked too. Damn!
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Old Aug 31st, 2016, 05:25 PM
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JW--yup, too much for us retired RNs!
Now I can't even pick-up "doubles" to pay for travel. Only local trips for awhile.

But I digress... Sorry, all.
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Old Aug 31st, 2016, 05:30 PM
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.
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Old Sep 1st, 2016, 02:23 PM
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Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa

As for Old Quarter, the Hanoi Elegance Diamond Hotel is excellent. However, the best hotel in the Old Quarter is Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa. http://www.hanoilasiestahotel.com/ Tne most luxury, a great location, a top hotel restaurant. On Friday night, the street is pedestrian only (no cars or scooters), and you walk into the live street music when you exit the hotel. The only negative I had was I found it difficult to confirm online we would have a balcony. You have to email or call for that.

As for French Quarter which is 10 minute walk from Old Quarter and easier to get around and with much nice architecture, the best hotel in my opinion is Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. An absolutely stunning hotel. We really enjoyed our stay there. Unfortunately, the price was high. We paid $275 per night for the big room and with awesome club benefits (including butler). A great presentation on the food. However, you can stay in the basic room without club benefit cheaper, and especially if you join Accor and get a 40% discount, the room can be as little as $120 per night.
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Old Sep 1st, 2016, 08:52 PM
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Clay, what year, and what season, were you at the Metropole? $120/night ever with an Accor discount seems unbelievaly low.
I agree...a great hotel, but it came at a higher price in October last year.
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