9 BYen Thai Street, Hanoi, Vietnam | (937) 315-4602
In a traditional market alley that is chaotic by day, but quiet at night
In the heart of the atmospheric Old Quarter
Numerous restaurants, bars, and shops close by
Freebies include Wi-Fi and breakfast
Deluxe rooms have windows
Free laptops for guests' use in each room
Room furnishings and amenities are worn
Cars are not allowed into the alleyway leading to the hotel, meaning walking in luggage (but staff can assist)
Rooms are small and not too far removed from being backpacker digs at inflated prices
Many rooms lack windows
No facilities in the hotel other than a small breakfast area
The Cheering Hotel is a small hotel located in a narrow traditional market lane in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. The alley that leads to the hotel is chaotic and crowded during the day, but quiet at night. There are only 17 rooms at the Cheering Hotel, and all are small and could do with a bit of an update, as there is not much separating them from nearby backpacker lodgings other than extra amenities like flat-screen TVs, minibars, and hot water kettles, plus free laptops in the rooms. Only the highest category Deluxe rooms have windows. The hotel has a small breakfast area, but it doesn't serve any other food; fortunately, the location puts guests within easy reach of restaurants, bars, and shops. The best thing going for the place is the authentic slice of old Hanoi life that is right outside the door, but with the prices not too far below other nearby options like the Art Trendy or Calypso Grand, you may want to compare prices at other budget properties.
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Scene
Tiny lobby and no public places other than a breakfast niche -- but the real scene lies right out the front door
There isn't much of a scene going on at the Cheering Hotel -- for that you'll need to step outside. The lobby here is tiny, just a check-in desk with a few chairs to sit in, and some tour posters on the walls. It's pretty narrow and cramped, with a passage leading back to the few tables that serve as the hotel's breakfast niche. The stairwells are extremely narrow, and there really is no room here for any kind of decor, nor does it look like the hotel has made any attempt. The real treat lies just out the front door, as the narrow alleyway that the hotel is in is a traditional market lane by day, with throngs of vendors, motorcycles, and good old Hanoi chaos. Those who want a cheap place to stay in an atmospheric part of the Old Quarter may like it here.
Location
In a narrow alleyway in the Old Quarter that's chaotic by day but quiet by night, and near plenty of restaurants and shops
The Cheering Hotel is located in a narrow alleyway in the heart of the Old Quarter of Hanoi, most popular with tourists. By day, the passageway is jammed with vendors, motorcycles, and passersby, but it is dead quiet at night. It's very atmospheric and photographers will love it, although the chaos and noise may be a bit much for some. The hotel is near a countless number of restaurants, bars, and shops within walking distance, and the famed Hoan Kiem Lake and water puppet theater are less than a 10-minute walk away. The international airport is about one hour by car from the hotel depending on traffic. One downside of the location is that automobiles cannot enter the alleyway, so one needs to walk the 100 yards or so to get out to the main road.
Rooms
Each room comes with a free laptop for guest use, but standard rooms have no windows.
There are only 17 rooms at the Cheering Hotel, and they look fairly weathered, with worn furniture like old cabinets, and even the perks like free laptops appear to have seen far better days. Several rooms had desk lamps (which didn't work during our visit), and the place is not too far removed from being just a backpacker's lodging. On the bright side, all rooms do come with free laptops, Wi-Fi, and breakfast, and all have stocked minibars, flat-screen televisions with cable channels, and electric hot water kettles for making tea and coffee. There are no safe boxes in the rooms though, although there is a public safe deposit at the front desk. Bathrooms are small, and they do feature rain shower heads, although like the rooms, they are also in need of some polishing. The entry-level Superior rooms are cramped, and both they and the Executive rooms lack windows. The Deluxe rooms do have windows, although one doesn't get much of a view other than of the nearby rooftops and construction.
Features
Just a small breakfast niche; no other facilities, but staff can assist with tours and travel
There aren't really any features at the Cheerful Hotel. There is just the hotel's small breakfast niche located behind the lobby. There are four tables here set up for the free breakfast served each morning, although the kitchen closes after that, so you'll have to go out to eat other meals. There aren't any other public spaces in the small hotel, and just a few chairs in the lobby, which isn't a great place to hang out. The staff can arrange transport and tours though, and will also carry guests' luggage out to the main road, due to cars not being able to access the alleyway that the hotel is in.
