Saigon-Halong Hotel****
Our brief comments:
 The Saigon Halong was originally a small villa hotel located on a wooded hillside overlooking the bay. Built in 1997, it had five villas containing twenty-three rooms and suites.
However, a further 205 rooms in a fifteen-storey tower were added in March 2002, transforming the original low-rise, low key development into Ha Long Bay's largest hotel.
 The villas are quite attractive from the outside, but are showing their age inside - facilities are limited and furniture and decor has an institutional feel. Each villa block has a built-in garage, possibly anticipating long-stay visitors that failed to materialise.
If you can get over the 'in your face' architecture, the interior of the main block is quite good. Rooms are well above average size with decent quality wood furniture and fittings. The 'mountain' view from the Superior rooms at the rear of the building is OK, but the panorama of the bay from the Deluxe balconies makes the extra cost worthwhile. The bathrooms at both levels are small and basic. Suites are well laid out with a pleasant dining area and a larger bathroom. 
There are two main restaurants, one of which is at the top of the building with superb views of the bay. Between them, they serve Vietnamese, Chinese and western meals. The menus and wine list are somewhat limited, but prices are good. There are three bars, one with live music performances.
The pool is in front of the building - adjacent is an attractive wood and thatch pool bar that offers barbeques. The fitness room is small, and saunas are only available after 1pm when the massage area opens.
Inspected November, 2004
Room facilities:
Room Categories |
Superior |
Deluxe |
Executive Suite |
Presidential
Suite |
Villas |
| Number of rooms |
88 |
104 |
12 |
1 |
23 |
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) |
38 |
41 |
82 |
164 |
35 |
View |
mountain |
sea |
sea |
sea |
garden |
Additional room facilities: bathrobes
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: ADSL (broadband) Internet connection available in the lobby, tennis court, rooms for disabled people, babysitting, bonsai garden
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