Lodaa is Your Ultimate Source for the Latest Lifestyle News, Trends, Tips in Health, Fashion, Travel, Food and Culture.
⎯ 《 Lodaa • Com 》
Best hotels in Hanoi 2023: Where to stay in the French Quarter, the Old Quarter and more
Best hotels in Hanoi 2023: Where to stay in the French Quarter, the Old Quarter and more
A chequered history has created a beautiful mess of contrasting neighbourhoods in Hanoi. There’s the labyrinthine Old Quarter; tree-studded French Quarter; lake-filled Tay Ho District; and the glistening modernity of the rapidly developing westside precincts. Meaning there is something for everyone. This fast-paced city (Vietnam’s capital) has everything from a fantastic food scene – in our Hanoi city guide, our writer recommends a banh mi sandwich as a great place to start – to plenty of green space for when the honking scooters get too much. But whether you’re here to take an eco-cruise along the Mekong River or want to visit Hanoi’s historic sites – such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of the man referred to as “Uncle Ho” – you’ll want the perfect hotel to rest your head. Fortunately, accommodation options are spread throughout this southeast Asia city, so, you can pair your personality with the neighbourhood. From boutique charm squeezed into the Old City, to spacious modern creations from award-winning architects, there’s an option for all tastes. The best hotels in Hanoi are: Best hotel for culture vultures: Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi MGallery Best hotel for the Old Quarter experience: The Chi Boutique Hotel Best hotel for romantic getaways: Silk Path Boutique Hotel Hanoi Best hotel for art-lovers: Apricot Hotel Best hotel for sunset cocktails: Pan Pacific Hanoi Best hotel for lake views: InterContinental West Lake Hanoi Best hotel for family getaways: Elegant Suites Westlake Best hotel for mixing business and pleasure: Lotte Hotel Hanoi Best hotel for the celebrity guestbook: Sofitel Legend Metropole Best hotel for culture vultures: Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi MGallery Neighbourhood: French Quarter As the name suggests, Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi is a stone’s throw from the Hanoi Opera House, a wedding cake structure built during the French colonial period and modelled on Paris’s Palais Garnier. This lavish hotel, with colourful rooms and a courtyard cafe, rests on Trang Tien Street, which connects the opera house with Hoan Kiem Lake. The hotel is part of the MGallery Collection, managed by Accor. An eye-catching Art Deco building across the street houses L’Espace, a French cultural centre, while the Vietnamese Women Museum is just around the corner. Best hotel for the Old Quarter experience: The Chi Boutique Hotel Neighbourhood: Old Quarter The Chi Boutique Hotel couldn’t be better placed for absorbing the cluttered atmosphere of Hanoi’s fabled Old Quarter. But despite its sardine-tin location, most rooms are refreshingly spacious, with trendy (sometimes daring) design features and chic bathrooms with bathtubs. A hip rooftop bar offering fresh angles of Hanoi’s iconic St Joseph’s Cathedral is a highlight, but The Chi’s location, just steps from some of Hanoi’s trendiest shops and restaurants, including fashion boutique Chula Fashion and artisanal restaurant TUNG, is the cherry on the cake. Best hotel for romantic getaways: Silk Path Boutique Hotel Hanoi Neighbourhood: Hoan Kiem Lake Walk out from this boutique treasure and find Hoan Kiem Lake resting right on your doorstep. Located within one of Hanoi’s characteristic “tube houses” – narrow buildings designed to allow road access for as many families as possible – rooms are typically tight, but comfortable. The hotel comes into its own on Saturday and Sunday, when the temporarily pedestrianised lake road erupts into a frenzied playground of toddlers driving miniature Ferraris and teenage dance troupes filming their next big hit. Front-facing executive rooms offer views of the lake, while solid triple glazing keeps out any noise disturbance – a necessity during weekends. Best hotel for art-lovers: Apricot Hotel Neighbourhood: Hoan Kiem Lake From the outside, Apricot Hotel may look like any other luxury city property, but drift through the entrance, ignoring the gaudy chandelier, to gaze at magnificent pieces of art that adorn a dazzling lobby. The art-loving owners have adopted the hotel to display their sought-after collection of paintings and sculptures from well-known Vietnamese artists. Bright and airy rooms, also decorated with local art pieces, serve as a calm escape from the outside bustle, while the broad rooftop swimming pool and sky bar are additional perks. Best hotel for sunset cocktails: Pan Pacific Hanoi Neighbourhood: Truc Bach If you like your sunsets dramatic and your cocktails colourful, the Pan Pacific Hanoi never fails to impress (unless it’s cloudy). The Summit is the hotel’s pride and joy; a west-facing sky bar offering spellbinding views over the twin lakes of West Lake and Truc Bach, elegantly partitioned by tree-lined Thanh Nien Street and Tran Quoc Pagoda. This is Hanoi’s best view, so it’s worth making the trip to The Summit even if you’re not staying in the hotel. If you do decide to stay, you’ll encounter near-equivalent views from the tasteful rooms. The hotel is also situated in Truc Bach, one of Hanoi’s most charming lakeside neighbourhoods, and perfect for a morning stroll. Best hotel for lake views: InterContinental West Lake Hanoi Neighbourhood: West Lake Swap a cacophony of motorbike horns for the soothing sounds of lapping water at InterContinental West Lake Hanoi. The “over-water” rooms are particularly appealing, as they fan out on small man-made islets from the central sunset bar. After watching the sun sink over the water and enjoying one too many cocktails, you can stagger back to your room in just a couple of lurches. The hotel is within easy reach of Hanoi’s best international restaurants and cafes, such as Argentinian steakhouse El Gaucho and Australian-owned coffee specialists Maison de Tet Decor. Best hotel for family getaways: Elegant Suites Westlake Neighbourhood: West Lake In Hanoi for more than a few days? Consider a serviced apartment right in the middle of the city’s expat enclave, walking distance from international restaurants, cafes, bars and, more recently, a cinema. All rooms enjoy a living room space, small kitchen, dining area and balconies – most with views of West Lake. There’s a range of room types depending on the size of your party, from single-room studios to three-bedroom suites, and you’ll have access to a capacious pool and fitness room to boot. Best hotel for mixing business and pleasure: Lotte Hotel Hanoi Neighbourhood: New central business district Hoan Kiem Lake may be Hanoi’s heart and soul, but the Lotte Centre Hanoi building, at the crossroads of two of Hanoi’s main traffic arteries, is increasingly thought of as the city’s central point. Occupying the upper tier of this 65-floor skyscraper, all the Lotte Hotel Hanoi rooms offer spellbinding views whatever the direction: West Lake to the north, the old city to the east and the new business district to the southwest. The variation in viewpoints reflects the ideal location, especially if you’re mixing business with pleasure – everywhere you could possibly want to be is no more than 15 minutes by cab. Best hotel for architecture enthusiasts: JW Marriot Hotel Hanoi Neighbourhood: French Quarter On the lookout for something completely different? Journey to the west to uncover Hanoi’s newest precinct and the city’s most dazzling contribution to contemporary architecture: the JW Marriot Hotel Hanoi. Extravagance is served up in buckets, with crisply designed rooms and various private lounges spread throughout the hotel. Plus, there are no fewer than six fabulous restaurants, including French Grill, serving (you guessed it) fine French food, and John Anthony Cantonese Grill & Dim Sum, which specialises in Cantonese cuisine. JZ Best hotel for the celebrity guestbook: Sofitel Legend Metropole Neighbourhood: The French Quarter If you’re after luxury with a healthy injection of heritage, look no further than The Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi’s French Quarter. It became the first five-star hotel in Asia when it was built in 1901 and has welcomed celebrities through its Belle Epoque doors ever since (it’s where Charlie Chaplin spent his honeymoon). With several bars and restaurants, a tranquil swimming pool and spa, and staff that cater to your every whim with a smile, you’ll be hard-pressed to leave the French colonial environs – though the central location means a street food tour is never too far away. Choose between the original Indochinese or modern wings – and be sure to tour the bunker built during the American War. HH Read more of our hotel reviews: Best Cape Town hotels Where to stay in Dubai The USA’s best hotels Read more about Asia travel: Thailand travel guide: Everything you need to know Asia’s most cycling-friendly cities The best Japanese destination swaps Read More The best countries to travel to in southeast Asia Vietnam travel guide: Everything you need to know before you go The 10 best UK city breaks for a weekend trip in 2023 Best UK hotels 2023: Where to stay for a luxury or affordable break Why this Moroccan mountain town should be your next short break The best wild swimming stays in the UK
2023-06-23 23:22
10 months since Iran's protests, Kurdish exiles in limbo
10 months since Iran's protests, Kurdish exiles in limbo
Like other Iranian Kurds who fled into exile during last year's women-led mass protests, 17-year-old Sarina tries to keep a low profile in her...
2023-07-22 11:56
Elon Musk's Tesla sued over allegedly exaggerating range estimates
Elon Musk's Tesla sued over allegedly exaggerating range estimates
A group of Tesla owners has sued Elon Musk's car company, claiming it had exaggerated
2023-08-05 00:28
The Ukraine war, propaganda-style, is coming to Russian movie screens. Will people watch?
The Ukraine war, propaganda-style, is coming to Russian movie screens. Will people watch?
The Russian authorities have announced an endeavor to boost production of movies glorifying Moscow’s actions in Ukraine this year
2023-08-28 13:23
A lifetime subscription to this AI image generator is on sale for 88% off
A lifetime subscription to this AI image generator is on sale for 88% off
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Pixilio is on sale for £32.70, saving you 88% on
2023-11-01 13:57
World Sepsis Day: What is the condition and its symptoms?
World Sepsis Day: What is the condition and its symptoms?
Sepsis is an illness that affects nearly 50 million people worldwide each year, with around 11 million deaths attributed to the condition. In the United States, at least 1.7 million adults in the US develop sepsis annually, and nearly 270,000 die as a result, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. It affects 245,000 people in the UK each year, with around 48,000 deaths, according to the UK Sepsis Trust. World Sepsis Day commemorated on 13th September every year, strives to raise global awareness of the life-threatening condition. The day is seen as “an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against sepsis,” the Global Sepsis Alliance says. Here is everything you need to know about sepsis: What is sepsis? Sepsis Research says when the condition strikes, the immune system “overreacts” and begins to attack the infection and everything else around it “including the body’s own tissues and organs.” “Any type of infection — bacterial, viral or fungal — can lead to sepsis,” it adds. When sepsis occurs, it can cause inflammation and cause blood clotting around the body, if it does not get treated, it can result in death, organ failure and tissue damage, CDC says. Sepsis cannot be caught from another person, the NHS explains. What are the symptoms? The World Health Organisation (WHO) explains that the condition is a “medical emergency,” so if you think a person is exhibiting signs of sepsis or if you are showing signs – make sure you call 999 or go to the emergency room immediately. According to WHO, common signs and symptoms include: • Fever or low temperature and shivering • Confusion • Difficulty breathing • Clammy or sweaty skin • Extreme body pain or discomfort • High heart rate, weak pulse or low blood pressure • Low urine output Symptoms in children include: • Fast breathing • Convulsions • Pale skin • Lethargy • Difficulty waking up • Feeling cold to touch What are the causes? The Mayo Clinic says any type of infection can lead to sepsis and those that more commonly cause the condition include infections of: • Lungs, such as pneumonia • Kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system • Digestive system • Bloodstream • Catheter sites • Wounds or burns “Sepsis often presents as the clinical deterioration of common and preventable infections such as those of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary tract, or of wounds and skin. Sepsis is frequently under-diagnosed at an early stage - when it still is potentially reversible,” the Global Sepsis Alliance says. Who is most at risk? The people most at risk of the condition, according to Mayo Clinic, are: • People with lower immune response, such as those being treated for cancer • People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). • People with chronic diseases such as diabetes kidney disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). • people who are in intensive care or longer hospital stays. • People over the age of 65 • Infants How many cases are there globally? The WHO says a scientific publication estimated that in 2017 there were 48.9 million cases and 11 million sepsis-related deaths worldwide, which accounted for almost 20 per cent of all global deaths. That same year, almost half of all global sepsis cases occurred among children with an estimated 20 million cases and 2.9 million global deaths in children under 5 years of age. How can it be prevented? The Global Sepsis Alliance says the best to to avoid sepsis is by preventing infection. This can be done by undergoing vaccinations, ensuring that you only come into contact with clean water, washing your hands properly and if you are giving birth - making sure it is in a clean and sterilised environment. Can sepsis be treated? Sepsis can be treated with appropriate treatment such as antibiotics – this should be given as soon as possible. The CDC says sometimes “surgery is required to remove tissue damaged by the infection”. “Antibiotics are critical tools for treating life-threatening infections, like those that can lead to sepsis,” the CDC adds. Read More 5 things everyone needs to know about eczema 13 potential cancer symptoms you should get checked out How can I improve my teenager’s low mood? Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor says he’s ‘asymptomatic’ after end-of-life diagnosis Nine hours of parallel surgery: how Britain’s first womb transplant was carried out Bursts of activity that make you huff and puff ‘linked to reduced cancer risk’
2023-09-12 03:21
The user behind @x on Twitter has no idea what happens next after Elon Musk's X rebrand
The user behind @x on Twitter has no idea what happens next after Elon Musk's X rebrand
Over a weekend, Elon Musk announced he was "bidding adieu" to the entire Twitter brand
2023-07-26 05:52
6 tragic incidents involving American XL bully dogs
6 tragic incidents involving American XL bully dogs
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is seeking to ban American XL bully dogs in the country
2023-09-16 21:24
Gucci CEO Bizzarri to leave company in September
Gucci CEO Bizzarri to leave company in September
Kering managing director Jean-Francois Palus has been appointed to lead star label Gucci after a management reshuffle at
2023-07-19 00:58
Bayern Munich sign two huge names amid Kane transfer saga
Bayern Munich sign two huge names amid Kane transfer saga
Bayern Munich might be on the verge of buying England captain Harry Kane in a sensational €100m deal – but it has just made two very different signings. The German football club has just announced that Prime, the energy drink created by YouTube personality KSI and Logan Paul, is its “hydration sponsor”. The multi-year deal will see Prime Hydration sold at the Allianz Arena on match days, and the brand plans to expand retail operations in the German market later in the year and launch FC Bayern X Prime limited edition bottles. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “FC Bayern is delighted to partner with Prime and bring the company to the German market.” said executive board member Andreas Jung. “This partnership with a young, dynamic brand confirms our global growth and aims to reach a new audience for FC Bayern.” “It has been truly special to watch Prime grow so exponentially over the last year, but growth doesn’t happen without partners like FC Bayern Munich,” said Prime co-founders, Logan Paul and KSI, in a statement. “We are so excited to work with such an established and successful group of individuals and we look forward to hydrating all parts of this star club.” Prime has drawn criticism in recent months after doctors said it contained too much caffeine for children under the age of 16 – one of its major markets – to drink in large quantities. The Prime website and Prime Energy label both warn that the drink is not recommended for children under age 18, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women or women who are nursing. US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer even called on regulators to investigate the company. The drink brand has become so popular, particularly with children and teenagers, that they are often being sold for 10 times their retail price on eBay. There is now even a tracker app that allows customers to verify stock before visiting stores. On Twitter last year, KSI – real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji – added that the beverage was being sold on the “black market”. The YouTuber shared screenshots of bottles being sold for £15 on eBay and said: “This annoys me so much. We’re trying so hard to increase the supply as much as possible to try and combat the black-market selling. “Me and Logan ain’t made any money from Prime. It’s all going back into the business to increase the supply. We’re trying people.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-10 23:16
Mother accused of abducting her daughter 6 years ago in Illinois has turned herself in, local authorities say
Mother accused of abducting her daughter 6 years ago in Illinois has turned herself in, local authorities say
The woman accused of abducting her daughter from an Illinois suburb six years ago has turned herself in, days after the girl was found safe in North Carolina and then reunited with her custodial father, local authorities said.
2023-05-18 08:21
'Black Mirror's
'Black Mirror's "Beyond the Sea" gives us one of the series' darkest endings ever
Black Mirror has left us reeling with many a twisted ending over the years, but
2023-06-16 00:28