Oriental Central Hotel

The Oriental Central is a sophisticated and tastefully decorated boutique hotel. The small entrance is almost hard to find, hidden by a tree on a congested Old Quarter street, but once in the door, everything sparkles. The lobby is bright white and its main feature is the artfully arranged vintage black-and-white photos of street scenes in old Hanoi, a motif repeated throughout the hotel. There are stylish black-cushioned sofas for guests to relax, and attractive details are found throughout, such as fresh orchids placed in vases each morning. There isn't much other public space in the hotel besides the small breakfast restaurant behind the lobby, also adorned with old Hanoi photos and featuring a marble-topped buffet area and dark wood furniture. The hotel is a charming respite from the chaos and noise outside, and an excellent choice for couples, solo travelers, families, and flashpackers looking for a stylish spot in the heart of the tourist quarter.

Situated right in the middle of Hanoi's atmospheric and historic Old Quarter, the hotel sits on a very busy street with non-stop traffic, but the rooms have double windows and mostly face away from the street, so noise isn't a problem. Street food, restaurants, and shops can be found all around the hotel, and the famous Walking Street bar area is just around the corner for those who like to party or go pub crawling at night. It's less than a 10-minute walk to Hoan Kiem Lake and the water puppet theater, while taxis and cyclos abound if one needs transport. The Noi Bai International Airport is about a one-hour drive from the hotel depending on traffic.

The Oriental Central Hotel has just 25 rooms. Typical of many Old Quarter hotels, rooms are small, yet they are tastefully decorated with bursts of bright red throughout the mostly black-and-white spaces. White walls over light wood floors are hung with collections of black-and-white photos of Hanoi street scenes, and white lattice-work flanks red accent walls, black padded headboards, and white lacquer nightstands. Classic Rooms are tiny -- one can barely squeeze past the bed to get to the desk and minibar -- while Superior and Deluxe Rooms offer slightly more space, although they aren't large. No rooms in these categories have external windows, but the bright decor keeps rooms from feeling dim. Only the Junior and Family Suites offer windows and street views. Each room has a flat-screen TV with cable, minibar, safe, air-conditioning, and an electric kettle for making tea and coffee. Most rooms also have DVD players. Unlike many hotels in the Old Quarter in this category, one does not get a free computer to use in the room, but all rooms do have free Wi-Fi. The bathrooms are modern and clean, and have stylish brass rainfall showerheads in glass-enclosed units as well as brass fixtures on raised bowl sinks. Toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers are provided. Though this is a busy part of town, rooms stay blissfully quiet thanks to excellent sound-proofing.

The Oriental Central Hotel does not have much in the way of extra facilities. Like most hotels in the Old Quarter, it is small, and most guests here want to go out and explore the street food and local spots. The restaurant serves free breakfast featuring tropical fruits, and then closes for the day, so guests need to eat other meals elsewhere. Alternatively, the Viet Deli, at the hotel's sister property, can deliver meals to the hotel throughout the day. A travel desk in the lobby can arrange tours, transport, and all other activities in Hanoi and the surrounding area.