We traveled in Vietnam in September 2011 (two middle age couples). This hotel made a very good impression. Simple, clean, very friendly. It is located in the old center in walking distance from the famous lake, etc (not that there is too much see in Hanoi).
A special word we have to say about travel manager Mr. Vuong Manh . He was extremely well organized and helpful.
We had an overnight trip to HaLong Bay and one full day trip to five caves. He arranged everything, picked right days for these side trips, transportation, all details.
We definitely would recommend this hotel for travelers of all ages for general atmosphere and professionalism.

I don't know what this hotel is currently called but it used to be Hanoi Elegance. I decided to stay at this place because the rooms are nice and the staff was very welcoming and spoke great English. Do negotiate a better price if you want to stay here though.

Criticisms:
We stayed in room 205 which overlooked the office and was away from the street so it was very quiet EXCEPT at night when I could hear the drain from the rooms above. I think there seems to be poor plumbing. It sounded like the toilet was bubbling every time someone took a shower from above. The internet was super slow and our tv didn't work. Either that or the 3 of us just didn't know how to operate it.

Compliments:
The bed was the most comfortable thing I've ever experienced. The pillows and mattress felt like clouds. I am very picky with sheets but their sheets were so silky and soft! The rooms are very spacious and I love the computer station they have. THe bathroom was clean and the hotel staff were fantastic. No hassling, just very pleasant people. I really enjoyed my stay and would have stayed longer but it was just not in my budget. The breakfast was decent and we really enjoyed eating across the street at Yin Yang Restaurant, where Handspan tour company is located.

This hotel was to be our first destination for our first trip to Vietnam. We had heard in advance concerns echoed often on Tripadvisor about problems with airport transfers in Vietnam, and there are nearly always reviews for most hotels that find fault with the staff, rooms, or location. We made our best guesses and chose this hotel. We were not disappointed. We were picked up at the airport as planned, brought to our hotel directly, check-in was easy, and our room was perfect. We were overlooking the street so there was some sound, but not enough to keep us from having a good night's sleep. Even without considering the excellent value (prices are low, rooms include fresh fruit and flowers daily, etc.), you would not regret staying at this hotel.

Unfortunately, I need to also close with one sad note. A few days ago, we received e-mail notification from the hotel that they have decided to close this location and that their staff would be moving to the Essence Hanoi hotel – No. 22 Ta Hien street. This appears to be part of the Hanoi Elegance chain of hotels, many of which we saw during our visit. To all appearances, they would all be an outstanding choice.

While I found Hanoi chaotic, crowded, and uncomfortable- this hotel was such a wonderful place to come back to. I have the best memories from our stay here and constantly compare it to others. We had the room overlooking the lobby which was a tad odd, but it was a really smart use of space in the building. There was complimentary fruit and water, internet, umbrellas etc and it was immaculately clean and pleasant. Service was top notch including management, reception, and breakfast room staff. It was really nice to come back to and I spent a good a mount of time here when we first arrived- recuperating from food poisoning I got in China. The hotel staff directed us to a pharmacy close by so I could get antibiotics. When that subsided we'd go to the market and get bags full of lychees and I tried to find the most Americanized food I could- unfortunately my stomach did not allow me to eat much Vietnamese food, even though it's normally one of my favorites. This was a truly wonderful hotel and a very memorable stay in a great location in the city.