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amanda114
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 4:17 am Post subject: hotels in Hanoi |
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Hi
Can anyone suggest a good quality hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam specifically in the Old Quarter area.
All replies appreciated. |
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ajgeddes

Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 6:43 am Post subject: |
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| There are so many hotels of decent quality in that area. Off the top of my head, the Prince hotels are pretty good, specifically the newer one. In 2005 it was $15 or $18 a night. |
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Bibbitybop

Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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The Let's Go guide to Vietnam lists good ones that have been travel tested.
I came home drunk one night and did a flip onto the bed in a Hanoi hotel. I broke base boards and hid them. |
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amanda114
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Well you seemed to have fun! Can you suggest anything that my boyfriend and I do while we are in Hanoi? or travel tips? apart from "watch your money". |
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Bibbitybop

Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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| amanda114 wrote: |
| Well you seemed to have fun! Can you suggest anything that my boyfriend and I do while we are in Hanoi? or travel tips? apart from "watch your money". |
Watch your money is right. The Vietnamese are some of the most bold-faced liars and tricksters I've met. When you negotiate a price (like before a meal if there is no priced menu, for rickshaw rides, etc.) mark it clearly on paper and circle the final price. Even when you do this, people will demand more money and say "No, I said 200,000 dong, not 150,000!!" The proof is on the paper. Never believe "No charge" for something, like people wanting to put a Vietnamese hat on you for a picture.
I Hanoi, I liked the lake area in the middle. The Water Puppets show (NE side of the lake) is worth it. Bar and restaurant hopping is excellent and cheap. There is also a lake N-NW of the city center. There are some great restaurants up there.
Go eat cobra or other snakes in the village 7km East of Hanoi. The guidebook should mention it and motorbike taxis will get you there on a thrilling ride.
Carry a map of Hanoi and direct taxi drivers exactly where to go and which route to take. We needed to go about 7 blocks and the guy took us in a circle around the lake. I was yelling "*beep* you!" a lot after I realized what he was doing. I was sick of getting scammed that day.
I took some trips outside of Hanoi, too. Nihn Bihn is definitely worth it. Ha Long Bay is, too. We slept in a cabin boat in the bay. |
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crescent

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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Things not to miss in Hanoi:
Perfume Pagoda (day trip)
Temple of Literature.
Museum of Etymology.
Army Museum.
Hoa Lu (day trip)
Have a morning Vietnamese coffee at Highlands Coffee (3rd floor of the building at the tip of the lake)... perhaps they're still there.
Hotel:
I stayed at the Gia Bao, in the old quarter of Hanoi, 100m from the lake.
It was REALLY nice, and they will negotiate their prices if you stay more than 3 days. I got a Superior room for 27 US$/night. Buffet breakfast included, lots of big plush towels, toiletries out the yingyang.
I can vouch that the pictures in these websites are realistic... and that walk-in room rates are better than listed.
http://www.agoda.com/asia/vietnam/hanoi/gia_bao_hotel.html
http://www.vietnamhotels.biz/giabao/index.htm
Don't listen to taxi drivers who tell you certain hotels are full. They are tied to other hotels.
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Yu_Bum_suk

Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Generally I found Cambodian guest house quality for Thai hotel prices. I wasn't very impressed. |
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