Hanoi Haven: Luxury Serviced Apartment near Trần Quý Kiên!
Hanoi Haven: More Than Just a Room (And Sometimes, Just Barely Enough Coffee) - A Messy Review
Okay, buckle up, because reviewing Hanoi Haven near Trần Quý Kiên is like trying to herd a flock of particularly opinionated cats. It's a luxury serviced apartment, they say. And while it mostly lives up to that, there are little things, oh, the little things, that’ll make you chuckle, groan, and maybe even question your life choices along the way. Let's dive in, shall we?
Metadata & SEO Bait (ugh, fine):
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(Rambles and tangents commencing… you've been warned.)
First Impressions & Accessibility (Because, you know, important stuff):
Getting to Hanoi Haven was…an experience. Let's just say the GPS wasn't entirely sure where it was going, and the taxi driver seemed to be winging it. (Getting lost is, apparently, the first hurdle to luxury.)
- Accessibility: Now, here's where things get a little…complicated. The website claims facilities for disabled guests and an elevator (praise the heavens). While I didn't personally test every single inch of the place with a wheelchair, the elevator was definitely present and functioning, which is a HUGE win in a city where stairs seem to be a national sport. However, the details…I'm not entirely sure. (I'll be honest, I didn't inspect the bathrooms for grab bars – sorry, friends!) But the front-of-house staff were very helpful, I'll give them that.
- Check-in/out: Express check-in/out is supposedly a thing. (My experience with "express" involved a slightly perplexed receptionist and a lot of paperwork. But hey, at least the air conditioning in the lobby was chef's kiss.) The contactless check-in/out option is another plus, avoiding some of the more frustrating aspects of travel, and it is, obviously, a safety feature.
Rooms: A Mixed Bag of Bliss and…What Was That Smell?:
- Available in all rooms: Okay, the room itself… let’s break it down, shall we? Air conditioning? Check. (Again, a lifesaver in Hanoi's humidity.) Bathrobes? Yep. Blackout curtains? Crucial for sleeping off the jet lag. Free Wi-Fi? Double check – even if the signal occasionally felt weaker than my social battery after a week of sightseeing.
- Individual Room Details: Air Conditioning (blessed be); Alarm clock (essential); Bathtub (luxury); Bathroom phone (I didn't even know those existed anymore!); Blackout curtains (praise!); Carpeting (eh); Closet (thank goodness); Coffee/tea maker (important); Complimentary tea (yay!); Daily housekeeping (mostly good); Desk (present); Extra long bed (yes!); Free bottled water (vital); Hair dryer (functional, not amazing); High floor (my room had a decent view); In-room safe box (always a good idea); Interconnecting room(s) available (for families, maybe?); Internet access – LAN (a relic of the past, but appreciated); Internet access – wireless (see above); Ironing facilities (useful); Laptop workspace (if I manage to leave the bed!); Linens (clean); Mini bar (slightly overpriced, but hey, convenience!); Mirror (essential); Non-smoking (thank you, heavens!); On-demand movies (I didn't use it, but it's there); Private bathroom (absolutely); Reading light (appreciated); Refrigerator (crucial for water and beer!); Safety/security feature (good!); Satellite/cable channels (blah); Scale (nope); Seating area (yes); Separate shower/bathtub (deluxe!); Shower (good pressure); Slippers (appreciated); Smoke detector (yes, a good thing); Socket near the bed (thank you); Sofa (comfy); Soundproofing (mostly effective, some noise from the street); Telephone (who uses those anymore?); Toiletries (surprisingly good quality); Towels (fluffy!); Umbrella (needed); Visual alarm (if you require it); Wake-up service (I'm a light sleeper); Wi-Fi free; Window that opens (a welcome breath of fresh air).
- The Bad Bits: (Deep breath…) Carpeting…it's there. I feel like it might need a deep clean, though. The bathroom seemed a little…musty. And that smell? I think it was coming from the drains. (Minor imperfection, I know, but it's all I could think about.)
- The Good Stuff: The bed? Amazing. Seriously, I could have stayed in it for a week. The robes were the perfect weight, and I appreciated the extra-long bed.
Food Glorious Food (and the Quest for Decent Coffee):
Dining (and the search for java): The biggest frustration, and the biggest surprise…
- Restaurants: The restaurant is pretty. It looks fancy. The Asian cuisine is…okay. The International cuisine is…better, but still nothing to write home about.
- Buffet - I'd go with the a la carte if possible.
- Asian Breakfast - I did not care for it.
- Western Breakfast - Was okay.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: This is where the wheels started to fall off for me. The first morning, I ordered coffee and it tasted like dishwater. The next, I asked the barista to make me an espresso, and I got it in a tiny thimble. I asked for a second one… and it tasted like it was poured by a barista with a vendetta. The breakfast service was erratic.
- Room service [24-hour] - this is a plus.
- There is also a Coffee shop.
- There is a Poolside bar.
- There's a Snack bar, but I did not go.
- Desserts - were okay.
- Vegetarian restaurant - I'm not the target audience.
- Restaurants: The restaurant is pretty. It looks fancy. The Asian cuisine is…okay. The International cuisine is…better, but still nothing to write home about.
Breakfast takeaway services: YES! I loved this feature.
The weirdness: The most bizarre part - a bottle of water on arrival. I'll be honest - I was out of water by the time I got to the hotel, and the first thing I craved was the free bottle of water. It was a godsend!
Things to do:
- Pool with view - beautiful.
- Swimming pool [outdoor] - amazing
- Gym/fitness - yes…
- Spa - yes!
- Spa/sauna - yes.
- Sauna - yes.
- Massage - worth it.
- Body scrub - I hear it is good.
- Body wrap - I hear it is good.
- Foot bath - not for me!
- Pool with view - beautiful.
Services and Conveniences (The Good, the Bad, and the "Meh"):
- The Great: The concierge was genuinely helpful, arranging tours, booking taxis, and generally acting as a sanity-saver. Daily housekeeping was efficient. Luggage storage = win. And the presence of an elevator is, again, a huge plus in Hanoi.
- The "Meh": The business facilities seemed…present. I didn't have occasion to use any AV equipment, meetings, seminars etc. The currency exchange rate was, unsurprisingly, a little less favorable than you'd get outside. The gift shop was…well, it existed.
- The "Hmm": I liked the terrace. Really.
- Contactless check in / out - I've already said that, but it's nice to have.
- On-site event hosting. I'm not the target audience for the meetings and seminars. I just wanted a coffee.
Safety & Cleanliness (The New Reality):
- The Good: The hotel seems to take safety protocols seriously. Lots of hand sanitizer everywhere, staff wearing masks, and visible attempts at cleaning. The physical distancing seemed mostly enforced. Room sanitization was available.
- The "Maybe Less Relevant": I wasn't particularly concerned about "anti-viral cleaning products" or "hygiene certification." I'm more concerned about the quality of the coffee!
For the Kids (Bless Their Hearts):
- I don't have kids, but: They had a babysitting service, and family-friendly features, and there were kids facilities. I'd say it is reasonably child-friendly.
Getting Around (Trần Quý Kiên-Adjacent):
- Airport transfer: Offered.
- Car park: There's a free car park, which is a MAJOR bonus in Hanoi.
- Taxi service: Available.
- Bicycle parking. The hotel has
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. We're diving deep into the chaotic, beautiful, and utterly unpredictable world of my HB Serviced Apartment adventure in Hanoi. Forget perfectly curated Instagram grids; this is the REAL deal.
HB Serviced Apartment - 12 Trần Quý Kiên, Hanoi: The "Mostly-Planned-But-Let's-See-What-Happens" Itinerary (with a healthy dose of internal monologue)
Day 1: Arrival - The Great Hanoi Haze & A Case of the "Where Am I?" Blues
Morning (6:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Ugh. Woke up before the roosters, thanks to jet lag. Seriously, why does my body think 6 AM is a good time to be fully functional? Landed at Noi Bai airport. The Hanoi air…it’s a thing. A very thick, slightly smoggy thing. Grabbed a pre-booked taxi (thank god, because trying to haggle in Vietnamese at this hour felt like a recipe for disaster). The drive to the apartment was a blur of motorbikes, honking, and vibrant chaos. I swear, if I see one more woman balancing a mountain of vegetables on her scooter… Oh wait, there's another one.
Late Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Finally, finally reached HB Serviced Apartment. Cute place! Clean enough, though a slight whiff of … something… in the hallway. Ah, the joys of air fresheners. Settled in, unpacked… and promptly got lost in the apartment. Seriously, it's smaller than I anticipated. Where's the coffee maker? I need coffee. Found some instant stuff. Ugh. At least the AC works. The sheer humidity of Hanoi is trying to suffocate me.
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Lunch! Brave decision: Bún Chả! (Pork noodles, for the uninitiated). Found a street vendor a few steps from the apartment, all smiles and pointing. It was… messy. Deliciously, gloriously messy. Spilled some broth down my shirt. Oops. The pork…pure heaven. The broth…a flavour explosion! Maybe the best meal I've ever had. After that, tried to explore the neighbourhood and promptly got lost. Twice. Okay, three times. Google Maps is my new best friend (until the battery dies, naturally). The heat is starting to get to me. I need a nap.
Evening (4:00 PM - 8:00 PM): Nap. Glorious nap. Woke up feeling slightly less like a soggy noodle. Stumbled upon a small local restaurant for dinner. Ordered something mysterious from the menu, I still have no idea what I ate, but it was delicious, if a little spicy. Ended the day wandering around the local market. The colours, the smells, the EVERYTHING… it’s sensory overload in the best way possible. Felt a little overwhelmed. It's going to take some getting used to…
Day 2: Old Quarter Madness & (Attempting) to Negotiate Like a Local
Morning (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Determined to conquer the Old Quarter. So, armed with a map (and a healthy dose of caffeine), I ventured forth. The traffic is… insane! Motorbikes are everywhere, weaving in and out like some kind of caffeinated, two-wheeled ballet. Took a deep breath. Walked to Hoan Kiem Lake to soak in the peace, but the crowds were still considerable. It was beautiful, though. Wandered through the streets and saw the famous Water Puppet Show on my way there.
Late Morning/ Afteroon (12:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Lunch time! I found what they call a "street food" a block away from the apartment. Ordered Pho! Negotiating the price of a souvenir was… an experience. I started at 50,000 Dong and ended up paying 75,000 Dong. Victory? I think not. I probably got ripped off. But hey, at least I tried. The persistent vendors can be a bit exhausting.
Afternoon (4:00 PM - 7:00 PM): Back to the apartment to relax. The noise of the city is relentless, and to be honest, it's starting to grate on my nerves. I might need some serious noise-cancelling headphones. Or maybe just a vacation from my vacation. Ate some of the street food, which I bought from a shop that looked sketchy, but the food was good. I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable with the chaos.
Evening (7:00 PM - onwards): Dinner at a recommended restaurant. The food was good, but the service was slow and forgetful. Strolled around the lake for a while. The energy of the city at night is something else.
Day 3: Cooking Class Craziness - From Chicken Feet to Culinary Triumph!
Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Cooking class! This was a biggie, and I was ridiculously excited. We met at the cooking school, and, oh god… the market visit. Imagine a sensory explosion - the smells, the colours, the people. I think I saw everything… including some chicken feet. My face probably gave away my initial horror. We then went to the kitchen where we made spring rolls (delicious! And less traumatizing than the chicken feet), Bún Bò Huế (spicy beef noodle soup), and some other dish I can't pronounce. I even managed to chop some veggies without losing a finger. I almost set my apron on fire when I leaned over the stove, but hey, it’s all part of the learning process, right? The instructor was patient, funny, and spoke enough English to keep us on track. The food was AMAZING. We got to eat everything we made. I am stuffed!
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Total food coma. Passed out on the couch. Recovered with an iced coffee.
Evening (4:00 PM - onward): Back to the cooking school to learn about Vietnamese sweets, but it was too late, so I had to settle for just eating dinner at the same restaurant. Still amazing though.
Day 4: Ha Long Bay… or, Maybe?
- Morning (6:00 AM - 12:00 PM): The Eternal Question: Ha Long Bay. Worth the trip? A lot of travel blogs gush about it. But the thought of a multi-hour bus ride… I'm on the fence, and I'm on the fence HARD. The air quality index has dipped. Maybe I'll skip it. Or maybe I'll just see how I feel after a very large bowl of Pho. Right now, I'm leaning towards a lazy day. Reading, maybe. Or just wandering. See where the day takes me.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Stuck around the apartment. Decided on a day off.
- Evening (5:00 PM - onwards): Found a small restaurant near the apartment for a quiet dinner. The night is pretty much over now.
Day 5: Departure - The bittersweet farewell
- Morning (6:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Packing. The most soul-crushing part of any trip. How did I accumulate so much stuff? Final coffee at the cafe outside the apartment. One last look at the chaotic beauty of Hanoi.
- Late Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Taxi to the airport. The drive felt different this time. Less overwhelming, more familiar. The city… I’m going to miss it. Even the honking.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Departure. Airplane. The end. I will be back.
Random Thoughts & Ramblings:
- The motorbike horns. They are a language unto themselves. I think I've learned "get out of the way," "I'm coming through," and "oops, sorry!"
- The food. Oh, the food. It’s cheap, it's delicious, and it’s (sometimes) a mystery. I've probably gained five pounds. Worth it.
- The street vendors. They are persistent, but they are also incredibly charming. And they always smile, even when you say no.
- I need to learn more Vietnamese. Seriously. "Xin chào" and "Cảm ơn" only get you so far.
- I’m going to miss the people. The smiles, they are genuine and very infectious.
- I’m going to miss the chaos. The energy of Hanoi is unlike anything I've ever experienced. It’s a vibrant, messy, and beautiful city. It takes you to the edge of your comfort zone, then pushes you off.
This, my friends, is a travel itinerary. A real one. Unedited, unfiltered, and full of all the messy, beautiful imperfections of a human experience. Now, where's the coffee? I think
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Hanoi Haven: Luxury Serviced Apartment FAQs (Because Let's Be Real, You Have Questions!)
Okay, spill the tea: Is Hanoi Haven *really* as luxurious as it sounds?
What's the deal with the location, being near Trần Quý Kiên? Is it convenient?
The photos look great. Is the view from the balcony as breathtaking as they say?
What's the Wi-Fi like? Crucial for remote work!
Are the staff helpful and friendly?
Is there a gym or fitness area?
What's the most annoying thing about staying at Hanoi Haven?
