Hanoi Elite Hotel

The Hanoi Elite Hotel is so small that guests might miss it if they blink. It's a cute little place from the outside, housed in a smart white building with a small hotel sign, plus a larger white-on-white insignia against the facade. A large glass window allows guests to look out at the alleyway the hotel is in, which is a quiet respite from the congestion and chaos of the Old Quarter. The lobby and restaurant are sharp, but tiny, with white tables and chairs, plus a brown cushioned banquette next to a mirrored wall. There are some lovely touches, though, like the colorful stained glass window and a carved white bookshelf. It's a quiet spot, mainly used those who want to be smack in the midst of all the best of the Old Quarter without being completely swallowed up by it. Most guests are couples, though a few families and solo travelers do pass through.

The Hanoi Elite Hotel sits in a quiet alleyway in the middle of the historic Old Quarter. While the hotel's alley has no traffic and is quiet, both blocks on either side are traffic-clogged and chaotic by day, and then become popular Walking Street pub and party areas after dark -- which revelers will love, but those seeking an escape might not. Cars cannot get into the alley, meaning one has to cart luggage in or out for taxi and transport pickup and drop off. It's about a 10-minute walk to Hoan Kiem Lake and the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater from here, and there are countless restaurants, bars, and shops all around. Noi Bai International Airport can be reached within an hour's drive from the hotel. 

There are only 12 bright and cheerful rooms at the tiny Hanoi Elite Hotel, with modern amenities and simple, stylish decor: light wood floors and contemporary walnut-veneer furniture; white bedding with olive-green accents; lantern-style bedside lamps. Wood laminate floors and dark padded headboards add a further distinctive touch, though rooms are small. Each room has a laptop for guest use, along with a flat-screen TV with cable, and an HD Home Movie box with a selection of hundreds of feature films. Rooms also have safes, minibars, electric kettles for making free tea and coffee, bathrobes and slippers, plus free Vietnamese snacks and fruit baskets. Bathrooms have large, glass-door shower units with rainfall showerheads, plus a scale, hairdryer, and toiletries. Each of the rooms in the front of the hotel has only a very narrow window, but the walls are white and the lighting good enough that this is never an issue. Rooms at the back have larger windows, although they don't provide any views worth mentioning. There is not much difference between Superior and Deluxe Rooms other than beds and rooms being a tad larger. The hotel also has a Family Suite, which isn't big and has low ceilings, but does have two beds. The hotel lacks an elevator, and those who are on floors four to six will be getting plenty of extra exercise each day -- something to think about in Hanoi's heat and humidity, and for guests with mobility issues.

Like most other hotels in the Old Quarter, this hotel has few features beyond its small restaurant in the lobby, where guests can have a free a la carte breakfast each morning. There is room service delivery from a nearby restaurant in case visitors don't want to go out for other meals. The hotel staff can also arrange tours and transport for guests. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Babysitting services can be arranged as can laundry services.