Although it doesn’t quite live up to the name, Impressive Hotel, near Hanoi’s St Joseph’s Cathedral, is still a very good option for the midrange traveller. Located on Au Trieu Street, a quiet narrow road that runs between Ly Quoc Su and Phu Doan, Impressive Hotel is in the more chic area of Old Quarter, with a number of midrange … read the full post

From the outside, the Golden Lotus Hotels look much like any other mid to upper-range place in Hanoi: narrow frontage, gold signs, big-glass doors and a uniformed doorman, but these would be our affordable luxury choice in Hanoi and would suit a couple with a mid-range budget or looking for a treat while in town. … read the full post

May de Ville Backpackers Hostel opened about a year ago and wasn’t shy about it: it’s 10 storeys tall and has a large lit sign on the roof, visible from afar. The name is somewhat deceptive as although it has some features of a backpacker hostel, such as dorm rooms and lounge area, the reception … read the full post

Central Backpackers’ Hostel offers both dorms and private rooms, all with air-con, at rock bottom prices to suit the real budget crowd — with free beers for an hour each night thrown in. The focus here is cheap, cheap, cheap. Located between JOMA coffee shop and Pho Ly Quoc Su on Ly Quoc Su itself, … read the full post

Little Hanoi Hostel 2 is a sister hotel to Little Hanoi Hostel (or Hotel, depending on where you look) on Hang Ga Street, which we’ve always liked, and though very different in style, we like this one too: it’s clean, comfortable, welcoming, quiet and less than a minute’s walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. Little Hanoi … read the full post

Tucked away between a travel agent and a clothes shop, the entrance to Hanoi Cozy Hotel 2 is as intriguing as it is hard to spot. With no street frontage apart from a doorway, it’s difficult to imagine what hides within. Located at the southern end of busy Hang Be Street, Hanoi Cozy Hotel 2 … read the full post

With a bright yellow and red sign and windows adorned with travel offers, the exterior of Camellia Hotel 6 has nothing to differentiate it from the countless other budget hotels in the area, but it’s an expat and traveller favourite for good reason. Located down a vibrant alley off Dinh Liet, a few minutes’ walk … read the full post

Centrally located in Old Quarter, Essence Hanoi stands out along Ta Hien with its white frontage, stylish signage and uniformed doorman, which all hint at the quality within. Essence is within easy reach of the delights of the 36 streets as well as Hoan Kiem lake and the French Quarter. It’s also easy to pick … read the full post

Scorning the trend to build tall, the sprawling low-rise InterContinental Hotel in Hanoi stands quietly proud alongside its high-rise neighbour the Sheraton. Jutting out into the northern edge of West Lake, the Intercontinental makes up for its distance from the atmosphere of the Old Quarter with its lake views and its proximity to the restaurants … read the full post

It’s impossible to miss the most recent addition to the Hanoi Backpackers’ Hostel stable, with its seven-storey, eight-metre wide frontage slap-bang in the middle of the most tourist-orientated area of Old Quarter. The original Hanoi Backpackers’, on Ngo Huyen near St Joseph’s Cathedral, is still going strong, but the new venue combines more modern styling … read the full post