I stayed here for 1 night, checked out for Halong Bay and re-checked in again for 2 nights. The hotel is located approximately 10 minutes (or less) away from the Old Quarters. There are 2 entrances to the hotel. Hilton Hanoi no doubt is located next to the Opera House and is diagonally opposite the designer brands like Gucci, Cartier, Mont Blanc and Longchamp, to name a few.

The room is spacious. There is a bathtub and a separate shower area. The staff are courteous and they smile all the time! There is a heated pool but I did not use the facilities as it was winter when I visited Hanoi. Once I checked in on the first day, I was given a map of the area and a little book on Hanoi and Halong Bay (where to eat, what to see and what to do). These materials were very helpful for leisure travelers like me to know more about the city that I am in.

The Concierge staff also advised us to take only the big sedan taxi (like Toyota Vios, Innova or Daewoo) instead of the smaller ones (like Hyundai). I did not encounter any taxi scam by using the hotel taxi. They charge the same price that is VND12.000 as the starting price. I've never paid anything more than VND38.000 for a taxi from Hilton to Hang Dieu at the Old Quarters. Besides, the Concierge staff is able to recommend authentic restaurant for food. Bravo! We enjoyed the food very much at a reasonable price

There is free WiFi at the lobby. The speed is OK. Sufficient for me to get in touch with my family and friends back home. For business travelers, I would suggest to use the internet in the room. I believe it would be faster. It is, however, chargeable. Currency exchange service is available too. The rate was good - approximately USD1 to VND 21.000. It is good to carry some VND with you to kick start your days in Hanoi

Breakfast starts as early as 6am which is awesome as we need to leave for a walking tour as at 6:30am. Ba Mien (the name of the coffee house) has the best bacon and ham. I enjoyed these 2 items everyday without fail and I truly enjoy them. The pork bacon ain't too crispy and the honey ham is perfect to go with local chilli sauce. There is an extensive pastry corner and menu varies from Indian curry, Japanese sushi and miso soup and udon, Chinese porridge and dim sum, Thai green curry and seafood fried rice, local pho (ga & bo) and a wide selection of fruits, cold cuts and cheese.

This is the place to stay when you are in Hanoi. I look forward to stay at Hilton Hanoi again!