Gia Bao Hanoi Hotel (s)
If you read my overview of Hanoi Vietnam you will already know that a very popular area for tourists and the residents of Hanoi alike is the area surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake. For a short trip to Hanoi this area is surely the most convenient, best area to stay so after a night in Church Hotel which was a few minutes away we decided to move hotels to experience another.
Gia Bao Hotel was featured in (my friend’s) Hanoi Wallpaper Guide which showcases “a tightly edited discreetly packaged list of the best a location has to offer for the design conscious traveler.”
The Wallpaper guide recommended two rooms in the Gia Bao Hanoi hotel which both happened to be available. The rooms it recommended were 504 and their biggest room on the top (7th) floor.
I took room 504 and my friend took the top floor which had a balcony. I liked room 504 which felt like home and had a nice feel as you could tell someone carefully decorated the room, not that I care about decor but it was definitely noticable.
My friend chose the top floor room which was more expensive and had a rather large outdoor deck with furniture on it. He found his room to be excessively loud as there was a construction project next door along with the honking Hanoi traffic which was loud on the top floor but rather quiet in room 504.
Across the Street from the Older 7 Story Gia Bao Hanoi Hotel
There are 2 Gia Bao Hotels!
The suite on the top floor was too loud for the tastes of my friend so he asked to be moved. It turned out they would move him to their other hotel which happened to be brand new. As you can see on the map, the 2nd Gia Bao location is very close to the older first one. He enjoyed his newer and quieter room in the 2nd Gia Bao location as I enjoyed my location. Even for two friends, one without a cell phone staying at separate locations the distance was not an issue at all.
Overall Impression
I thought the Gia Bao was the best hotel room I stayed at in Vietnam by far. Everything including the large Samsung LCD television was appreciated. The only thing which I can nitpick about was the bathroom was not as nice as I think every hotel’s bathroom should be. Not that I’m a “design-conscious traveler” but the Hanoi Wallpaper Guide really painted an accurate portrait of the hotel and the room. My room (below) #504 cost $50USD which was around the same price most mid-level hotels cost in Hanoi and Saigon but it was far nicer than all the other ones I stayed at. The service was friendly and helpful and the location was great. If I had to pick a hotel in Hanoi for a return visit, either Gia Bao location would be on the top of my list. Visit the Gia Bao Hotels website for booking and more info.
Last 5 posts by Mike Behnken
- Developing the Right Camera Kit for You: Part I: - July 31st, 2010
- Bangkok's Best Kept Secret? Places to Eat in Bangkok: Sanjorn Cookshop - July 1st, 2010
- Places to Visit from Bangkok: Ancient Siam - July 1st, 2010
- The Great Wall of China - June 11th, 2010
- Beijing, China - June 10th, 2010
