Ha Long 1 Hotel***
Our brief comments:
The Halong hotel was built during the colonial period in 1935. More recently, it has spawned the Halong 2, 3 and 4 hotel located further back from the original and of a lower standard. For most of the 20th century, the Halong reigned supreme among the hotels in the area. It was the automatic choice for the senior French officers and administrators before 1954 and the upper echelons of the Communist Party thereafter.
President Ho Chi Minh slept in room 208, and Catherine Denevue stayed in the some room during the filming of the famous 'Indochine'. It's a large suite with an excellent view of the bay.
Today, the Halong Hotel has fallen well behind the engine of 'progress'. Nevertheless, it retains both charm and character, albeit somewhat faded. The large villa has wide stairways and open landings to allow a free flow of air. Rooms are large, with high ceilings and heavy wooden shuttered doors that open onto a wide balcony running the length of the building. Furniture is in keeping, and beds are surprisingly comfortable.
Some concessions to modern tastes have been made - all rooms have air conditioning, television, IDD 'phones and, in the suite, a spa bath.
Next to the hotel, separated by a neglected ornamental pool, is a large restaurant and stage used for weddings and banquets. The hotel restaurant and its menu are very Vietnamese and very basic.
The Halong Hotel is obviously not to everyone's taste - it's very basic with few facilities. Nevertheless, sitting on the terrace with a gin and tonic outside room 208 watching the boats on the bay is an echo of a bygone age - colonial grandeur at a bargain price!
Room facilities:
Room Categories |
Deluxe Sea View |
Deluxe Garden View |
Deluxe Suite |
Number of rooms |
10 |
12 |
1 |
Air-conditioner |
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Satellite television |
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Shower or bath |
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Bath with shower |
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Bath + separate shower |
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Personal safety box |
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Coffee and tea facilities |
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Laptop connection |
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Free broadband access |
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Extra bed |
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Child's cot |
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Room size (m2) |
30 |
30 |
60 |
View |
sea |
garden |
sea |
Additional room facilities: suite has a spa bath
Hotel facilities:
Outdoor pool |
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Non-smoking floor(s) |
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Pool bar |
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Non-smoking rooms only |
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Fitness/health centre |
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Vietnamese/Asian restaurant |
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Sauna |
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International restaurant |
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Massage |
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Patisserie/coffee shop/cafe |
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Jacuzzi |
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Business centre |
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Additional hotel facilities: none
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