The most enchanting view of in the whole of Hanoi.
While many visitors to Vietnam might opt for a budget boutique hotel, I’d say — splurge a little and treat yourself to a luxurious stay at InterContinental Hanoi Westlake.
Our first impression of the hotel
Without a doubt, we were immediately enchanted by the view.
We’ve seen photos of it on the booking website, but seeing it in person for the first time was something else. We stayed in the main building, so we had a gorgeous view of the other villas floating on the lake.
But if you want an unobstructed view of the lake, you can request to stay in the fringe buildings. Buggies are available on site to transport you to and from the lobby.
The room
We stayed in their Twin Bed Classic Lake View Room.
Even though it was their entry-level room, it was huge. Plenty of floor space, a television, a study table, and the toilet?
The toilet was arguably as big as some of the boutique hotels out there. Double sink, a bathtub, and a shower screen; everything you need and even plenty more space. You could probably fit a table tennis table in here.
I’m not that particular about my mattress and pillows, but I do find most hotel pillows a little softer than what I would prefer. Some hotels do offer pillows of different hardness, but none as extensive as InterContinental Hanoi Westlake.
Choose up to 10 different pillows for a good night’s sleep. In addition to different hardness levels, you can even opt for the “crazy” ones like a Water Pillow, a Rattan Pillow, and a long body pillow.
All you have to do is call Instant Service to request your pillow of your choice, and they’ll send it over right away.
What about the food?
InterContinental Hanoi Westlake’s dining establishment includes: Milan Restaurant (authentic Italian cuisine), Saigon Restaurant (authentic Vietnamese cuisine), and their all-day dining Cafe Du Lac Restaurant, where we tried their breakfast buffet.
Gotta say, one of the most extensive spreads, so the usual egg station and pastries, a pho live station — a staple in most Vietnamese hotels.
We were also surprised to find a huge assortment of Indian and Chinese cuisine, which was quite up to standard for a breakfast buffet.
However, the most popular establishment of all is their Sunset Bar, a cocktail bar by the lake, offering an unparalleled view of the sunset.
The amenities
Like most InterContinental properties, this one was fully equipped with a gym and pool.
The gym is pretty standard. It’s spacious, and you get a nice view of the pool and lake from the treadmill.
Is it a prime location?
While the hotel isn’t located right smack in the middle of Hanoi’s most popular attractions, it is located within a 10-minute Grab ride to most places, such as Hanoi Train Street, Hanoi Old Quarters, several popular cafes and museums, as well as famous landmarks like Tran Quoc Pagoda.
Of course, it’s located right on Westlake itself, which is a great place for a stroll.
InterContinental Hanoi Westlake by IHG
Location: 05 P. Từ Hoa, Quảng An, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội, Vietnam
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