millie2112

Hoping, the experts will jump on and help me.
I would love some hotel advice for Hanoi. I have booked Imperial Hotel and Spa in the old quarter.
https://hanoiimperialhotel.com/

Now I am wondering if this area is OK. I know it is in the old quarter, but am not really sure if it will be OK. We are 62 and 69. Very active, and love walking around. But prefer the evenings to be quieter as we are usually asleep by 10pm. (I know.. but we have a routine, and I tend to suffer from insomnia).

Wondering If we should be looking at closer to the French quarter. What about Airia Boutique Hotel or the Oriental Jade. Looks like both are futher away from the lake.

Also, planning to do a one day tour of Ha Long Bay. It will be a big day, but I am not sure when we will be back in Vietnam again. Is there a preferred company that I should be looking at. Prefer smaller group sizes.

thanks in advance

Larsay

The Imperial is a good hotel located in a small street, busy during the day but very quiet at night, for restaurants generally close at 21:00 and bars at 22. No loud-speakers blasting in the streets, we are not in crazy Thailand !!!!:. Good location a few minutes walk to both Hoan Kiem Lake and the cathedral. Several restaurants in the street ; stay away from the Italian 4 Pizzas next to the hotel; it used to be very good, it is now below average.

I live in Hanoi since 2007 and have visited Halong Bay at least 6 times; DO NOT GO for one day only !!!! ! It takes 6 hours round-trip to go from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, 8 hours to Halong City + one hour to embark and sail to the peaks, , which means that your actual cruise among them is a few hours only. Besides, you miss the most mesmerizing, watching the sunset and waking up in the middle of a stunning scenery.

Agency indispensable, complicated to go on your own, especially if you do not speak Vietnamese, + scams. Here are my travel notes about Halong :Of all the ways to visit Halong, private junks are by far the best for several reasons :

- You are the only passengers onboard

- Smaller than collective junks, a private one can sail through smaller channels and stop on isolated beaches inaccessible to collective junks

- Whereas collective junks must all spend the night in the same bay by police order, private junks can do it anywhere and do so in small isolated bays.

- Better food and service.

Of course, it is more expensive but you have to consider that cruising in Halong Bay is a trip of a lifetime worth some larger expense. Be careful of companies that propose a “private” junk of more than 3 cabins. They are not private junks and you end up with passengers whom you do not know.

One of the very best Halong agency specialist is Oriental Bridge Travel
www.orientalbridgetravel.com
The company has its OWN private junk, Oriental Sun, which allows a total control of the onboard quality and maintenance. Moreover, It also proposes other junks, private and collective, going from Deluxe to excellent superior ones, ALL carefully selected for their extreme quality..

Please do not hesitate to ask me questions

crellston

Your hotel is in a pretty decent location close to the lake and the restaurant etc. in the old quarter. Like you I suffer from insomnia and always look for a quiet room. I have never found this to be and issue in Hanoi and have stayed in literally dozens of different locations over the years. I certainly wouldn't locate to the French Quarter which doesn't have the same atmosphere. It is more about upscale shops etc. Last time there in October we stayed at La Siesta Premium Hang Be and loved it. It is a place I would return to.

If I recall correctly from your previous posts, you are only in Hanoi for 5 days? If so, I probably wouldn't bother with a day or overnight as there is so much to see in the city itself (but I am not a particular fan of Halong Bay). You are correct that it will be a very long day. Plan on 3 hours plus each way. Lots of tour operators went bust during the pandemic so I hesitate to suggest one but, in the past we have just asked our hotel to recommend one or arrange it for us. They have a vested interest in making sure that you leave as a satisfied guest! Alternatively, as this forum doesn't get a lot of traffic, I would suggest asking on the Tripadvisor Vietnam Forum which is way more active.

millie2112

Thank you both very much. I appreciate your feedback.