Sherman's Travel

Expert Review

This sprawling 359-room hotel opened in December 2007, with a main building and romantic two-story pavilions built right out onto West Lake, where they appear to be floating on the water. The inviting rooms offer quasi-Vietnamese modern interiors with a blend of cream walls and dark timber, rich fabrics and textures, and local accents like headboards made from hill tribe textiles. All have private balconies with views of the lake or Hanoi’s skyline, oversized bathtubs, and flat-screen TVs; upgrade to a suite and you’ll nab yourself a Bose sound system to boot. Dine on contemporary Asian and Vietnamese cuisine at the hotel’s signature Saigon restaurant and head to the Sunset Bar, situated on its very own island, for sleek cocktails and stunning views. The drawbacks? The hotel’s a ten-minute taxi ride from downtown, there are some soundproofing issues, and service is only just starting to approach smoothness.

Tags: luxury | expensive