26 August 2010 (Thurs): There are differences among five-star hotels across national boundaries due to different rating standards as there are also many different standards of five-star hotels within the same country. I realised the latter when I stayed at this in Hanoi. It's located on Cat Linh Street.
It certainly differs from Sofitel Plaza and Daewoo Hotel, for instance, in terms of service standard and ambience. Some say the staff at this hotel are cold - their greetings being more subdued and the level of their confidence differs from that of the staff at Sofitel Plaza. The staff here also look more demure and some even unfriendly. But some "warm up" after a few days.
There is a casino located at a discreet corner with scrawny "guest relations officers" in mini-mini-skirts. They told me that US dollars are the only currency used. That's not true as I saw them holding DONG notes instead.
Beside the casino, there is a beer counter which was never crowded. It's spacious, and that's what I like. I saw the usual guests every evening. More local residents appeared in the evening when pastries and buns are sold at a discount. The pastries looked good, but I couldn't buy them even if they were cheaper. I've got a complimentary breakfast everyday and I like the way bacon was done here:
I'd rate the room that I stayed in "average" by five-star standards. I checked into one that smelled of tobacco. I asked for a change.
After four days I asked for a change again because running water from the room right above could be heard. Urg ! Someone checked in and the ceiling was too thin. At first, the receptionist informed me very convincingly that the hotel was changing the 'pump'. Then when I called her again after 20 minutes, two workmen came to investigate and then they finally changed my room after another lady came up to confirm that there was indeed noise.
Overall I like the quiet here. It caters more for tourists than the businessmen - although I spotted Japanese and other Asian businessmen. I also could read business magazines and the Nikkei Shimbun. I prefer the breakfast buffet here than at the Sofitel Plaza where bacon was soggy and greasy (never crispy), if not burnt.I thought food at Sofitel Plaza has slipped a great deal in standard. It used to be one of those best places to eat ten years ago.
The breakfast spread here was ordinary to me until I went to the Sofitel Plaza Hotel. I finally realized that it tasted much better and fresher here. At least the miso soup was alright and the fruit, good. The salad was also crispier, but the rolled sushi was bad - as in many breakfast buffets across the country.
But having said all the above, I had the worst club sandwich here. Look! Greasy and unappetizing. I could have gotten a banh my (Viet sandwich outside the hotel),certainly many times lower in price and many times up in terms of taste.
Put aside the memory of biting into this tough dough, I don't mind staying in this hotel again since I've gotten to know the names and faces of some of its nice staff. Its breakfast has also made up for the club sandwich many times.
