GRAND HOTEL du LAC Hanoi — Hotel in Hà Nội

Special thanks to Jack, Tony, Mia, Lilly & Camellia at the front desks at Grand Hotel du Lac, whose help I will forever be grateful for. Additionally, for the excellent service on the 9th floor restaurant from Alice, Peter, Lisa & Anna. Furthermore, thanks to the doormen, especially Richard who drove me to-and-from a nearby (more extensive) gym!

My review of Grand Hotel du Lac is as follows:

This was my third visit to Vietnam, but my first time to Hanoi, hence, I was in search of a location in the heart of the Old Quarter in order to capture the vibe & vibrancy of the city. To my surprise, the Grand Hotel du Lac surpassed all my expectations: superb location, with very friendly staff who were ever keen to speak with & help customers making all feel warmly welcome, whilst advising on how to make the most of experiencing Hanoi at its best. Jack on the front desk & his team consistently went out-of-their-way to suggest excursions & day trips to ensure I got the most of my stay. Jack’s guidance on a cruise in Ha Long/Lan Ha bay was exceptional - a UNESCO site that is must-see! As were the City Jeep Tours and a unique off-the-beaten-track Village Tour to explore & experience local artisans at work, where I was even able to make my own lacquer painting & conical hat! Furthermore, the hotel itself is brand new and beautifully furnished and decorated to a very exacting standard, complementing the Old Quarter style very sympathetically.

However, during my visit, completely separate to anything to do with the hotel, I had a severe case of muscle spasms in my upper body, that required immediate attention and eventually hospitalisation. This happened at a different venue to the hotel. The bar staff at that venue kindly called the hotel managers at Grand Hotel du Lac to warn them of my situation, & to my surprise Tony from my hotel, Grand du Lac immediately came to my assistance at the bar that I was at. He took great care, helping to ease my anxiety and physical pain as I was scared because I had no idea what was happening to my body. He helped to reassure & calm me, calling assistance from medical professionals, who took me to a private clinic where I was put on an IV drip for painkillers and fluids by some very impressive Vietnamese medics who diagnosed that the cause of my condition was massive dehydration post excessive workouts! I recovered well but only thanks to the quick action of Tony who came to my rescue from the Hotel. He went beyond the call of duty of his day job, & from an humanitarian standpoint demonstrated genuine compassion & concern for a “stranger” in trouble. Hence, this review goes BEYOND commenting on just GREAT hotel service, & is more about the CHARACTER of the employees of the Grand Hotel du Lac - good humans who were prepared to extend help to a solo foreigner-in-need, something that ANY TRAVELER should want to know about when on the road, because these are the types of people you want to be surrounded by incase you come-a-cropper in a foreign place, right?

Special thanks to an impressive team at Grand Hotel du Lac who’s help I will forever be grateful for - my visit was excellent! Hence, I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a high quality new venue, which is a safe space with great service & rooftop views, great food/drink, that is in a central Old Quarter location adjacent to St Josephs Cathedral, & some super cool coffee shops & cafes. Moreover, it is staffed with decent employees who will be only too willing to go out of their way for you, especially if...

Staying here was an amazing time we loved every second of the stay. A special thank you to Lily, who helped us arrange a smooth fast-track service and transportation from the airport, ensuring we had a seamless arrival. Upon check-in, Lily went above and beyond by not only assisting us with the formalities but also taking the time to personally connect with us. She recommended fantastic local experiences, like the weekend night market, which became one of the highlights of our trip. We truly appreciated her warmth and thoughtfulness. The hotel’s restaurant was another highlight of our stay. We’d like to commend Eric from the dinner service and Emma from the breakfast service for their exceptional hospitality. They were always attentive, respectful, and consistently greeted us with genuine smiles. Their care and professionalism made every meal feel special. We also had a wonderful experience at the spa. From the warm greeting by Kelly to the outstanding massages provided by Mango and Violet, everything was perfect. My partner and I felt deeply relaxed and cared for throughout the treatments, with the therapists regularly checking in to ensure our comfort and pressure preferences. It was easily one of the best spa experiences we've ever had. We want to also sincerely thank Grace for her incredible assistance during our stay. She helped us with a smooth and easy checkout process and was so kind to help us move rooms, personally taking care of our luggage for us. Her friendliness and helpfulness made our experience even more comfortable and stress-free. Lastly I would like to thank Thomas Nguyen for his excellent hosting and service with us! He was very generous and caring and greeted us with a smile every time and always asked us how we were doing, he even recommended us places to visit as well and we were really grateful to get to know a bit about him on our last day there. As a final beautiful gesture, we were surprised with a thoughtful tote gift bag from the hotel as a parting gift. It was such a warm and heartfelt touch, and it truly made us feel valued and appreciated as guests. Overall, we absolutely loved every moment at Grand Hotel du Lac Hanoi. Every staff member we interacted with treated us with genuine kindness and respect, making us feel completely at home. If I have missed mentioning anyone by name, please know that we are deeply grateful for everything you did to make our stay so special. We cannot wait to return and create even more wonderful memories here. Thank you once again...

To start I want to commend the staff at the Grand Hotel du Lac. This was probably the most welcoming experience I’ve ever had at a regular hotel. Bertha handled my check-in and was incredibly helpful throughout my five-day stay. She went above and beyond, offering evening ginger tea and even helping me organize flowers I needed for a business matter. She was always available and eager to help. Breakfast each morning was another highlight. The buffet was fresh and beautifully presented, with real espresso coffee (no push-button machines). The staff were once again exceptional. Emily, who had just started, brought such joy and kindness to the morning that it was truly the best way to start the day. And then there’s Thomas, who greeted us personally in the lobby every time we came or went, always checking in to see if we needed anything. The rooms have a certain old-world charm that fits the character of the hotel, though some elements may feel a bit dated to those used to modern interiors. My colleague stayed in a room without a window, which can work perfectly well for travelers who value quiet and rest over natural light. However, if having a view or daylight is important to you, I would definitely recommend upgrading to one of the rooms with a window to enhance your overall experience. The pool terrace is a lovely spot to unwind, though it is on the smaller side. It’s also worth noting that there are some stairs involved in getting to it, which could be a consideration for guests who have mobility issues. A little lunch tip: while I enjoy the local street cafés, the hotel’s golden bánh mì with pork, herbs, and avocado is honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. If the human component matters to you as much as it does to me, you will love your stay here and in my opinion there is no better location than staying close to the church and lake...