I stayed in the Hanoi Lakeside Hotel...
I stayed in the Hanoi Lakeside Hotel for 4 days as part of my friend and I's free and easy holiday trip. Location was very good. It was just s short walk to a main shopping area. The location was also good as it was situated in a quiet and safe lane of the Old Quarter with many fine eateries, especially French food. Service was excellent. The staff were friendly and helpful. We received a free upgrade to a deluxe room on arrival and they were willing to let us check out 2 hours later without additional charges to meet our flight schedule. There is a simple menu for breakfast every morning and we love the fried bacon egg, bread and buttery taste coffee. The facilities were within our expectations for a budget 3 star hotel. There are 2 computers with free internet access on the ground floor that is very much appreciated for working backpackers like us to check email. The room was clean. It comes with 3 free bottles of mineral water and tidbits. There is not much scenery as we were facing the water tank and some residential houses.
The only minus point of the hotel was the location of our room. We can hear cats crying eerily and sounds of waters gushing down the pipes hidden behind the walls of the bed every day and night. The sounds may put off some light sleepers and young children. But I believe its due to the residential houses around the area and the design of the building. It is thus not the fault of the hotel.
Overall, we are happy with our experience in the hotel and will definitely highly recommend it for backpackers, couples and business travellers.