Tu Linh Palace Hotel

The Tu Linh Palace is a small hotel, and it's easy to miss, with just a narrow entrance leading to a thin building on a busy street, though the tall white structure stands higher than most of its neighbors. The lobby is small and fairly nondescript, comprised of a sleek white front desk and patterned armchairs that clash with the marble floors and curlicue wallpaper. Several world clocks line the wall, while gold signage behind the front desk displays the hotels name in cursive font. As with many Old Quarter hotels, there isn't much space and everything feels a bit cramped. A small breakfast room adjoins the lobby and consists of several tables topped with red and white gingham tablecloths paired with colored vases and a model ship in built-in shelving. Spiral staircases lead up to the rooms. The hotel is priced at the lower end of the spectrum -- a step up from backpacker lodgings, but clearly aimed at the budget market.

The Tu Linh Palace Hotel is located on the western edge of the Old Quarter of Hanoi. It is a five-minute walk into the center of the chaotic and atmospheric Old Quarter, with hundreds of street food and sit down restaurants, bars, and shops to choose from. The hotel is situated on a busy and highly trafficked street, but it is wider and less chaotic than other streets inside the quarter. Hoan Kiem Lake is a 10-minute walk away, and it's easy to grab taxis and cyclos from this location to go to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (an eight-minute drive) and other sights. The Noi Bai International Airport is about an hour away, depending on traffic.

The hotel's 17 rooms are small, but pleasant, with light wood flooring and furnishings that include a small work desk, wardrobe, and nightstand. Embroidered bed runners and throw pillows add a bit of local color. Superior Rooms are the smallest and don't have windows, while Deluxe Rooms are a bit bigger and have narrow windows. Honeymoon Rooms offer the most space, with a large window overlooking the street, a small settee to lounge on, lantern-style bedside lights, and even a free bottle of wine, making these the most desirable option. All rooms have flat-screen TVs with cable channels, safes, free Wi-Fi, and minibars stocked with beer and soft drinks, though they don't have tea- and coffee-making facilities. Modern bathrooms are separated from the bedrooms by glass walls and doors shrouded in wooden blinds. Though small in size, they're equipped with walk-in rainfall showers as well as toiletries and wall-mounted hairdryers.

This small, budget hotel has limited facilities and not many common spaces. Breakfast is free and served in a small breakfast room that adjoins the lobby, but there's no full restaurant on-site. There is a computer and printer available for guests' use in the lobby and the front desk is open 24-hours. The hotel also has a small travel desk in the lobby where tours and other services can be arranged, like train and bus ticket bookings. Wi-Fi is free throughout.