Church Hotel**

Our brief comments:
Usually, we only list a hotel if it has at least a 3*** rating unless it's in an area where there is no alternative. However, although it's located in the centre of Hanoi, the 2** Church Hotel puts many supposedly superior establishments to shame.

Opened in September, 2004, and located a few steps away from St. Joseph's Cathedral (hence its name), the Church is Hanoi's first genuine bijou hotel. The term means 'small and elegant' and it qualifies on both counts.

When your taxi pulls up outside the narrow building, you'll be greeted by smartly-uniformed porters who'll collect your luggage. A smiling receptionist will complete the formalities and a silent lift will whisk you to one of the 20 rooms.

There are three levels of accommodation. Standard and Superior differ only in the view they afford. Each has a large, comfortable bed or beds, a good quality wooden floor and stylish modern furniture. The bathroom is average size, but well equipped with high quality sanitary-ware and fittings.

There are two Suites. One is the usual arrangement of a large sitting room with good furniture with an opening leading to a similar sized bedroom. The bathroom is below average size for a suite, but a good corner bath compensates.

The other Suite is the only room on the top floor. It's an attractive open space with large windows on both sides with very good views of the nearby Cathedral and other features of the heart of Hanoi. The bathroom is a bit larger than those downstairs.

It's reached by a narrow flight of stairs (the lift stops one floor below) so occupants are truly the kings and queens of their castle! For newlyweds on a budget, it's ideal as a honeymoon hideaway in the centre of the capital city.

The design and colour scheme is well done throughout the hotel.

There is a small but attractive dining room on the ground floor. The Church Hotel offers only breakfast, a straightforward choice of simple international set combinations of bread, eggs, toast, paté, sausage, ham and so on, as well as 'pho' (classic Vietnamese noodles) and, surprisingly, dim son.

However, the hotel has an arrangement with the up-market fast food outlet next door. In any case, the hotel is right in the middle of the tourist area, so restaurants of all kinds and prices are a few minutes walk away.

The Church Hotel has all the basic facilities as well as free ADSL (broadband) Internet connection and safety boxes in all rooms, so, if you can survive without Jacuzzi, business centres and similar frills (and not paying for them!), it's good value for money. You'll have to book early, though - it's going to be very popular!

(Inspected December, 2004)

Room facilities:

Room Categories	Standard	Superior	Suite
Number of rooms	12	6	2
Air-conditioner
Satellite television
Shower or bath
Bath with shower
Bath + separate shower
Personal safety box
Coffee/tea facilities
Laptop connection
Free broadband access
Extra bed
Child's cot
Room size (m2)	18	22	45
View	city	city	lake/city

Additional room facilities: fresh fruit in rooms

Hotel facilities:

Outdoor pool		Non-smoking floor(s)
Pool bar		Non-smoking rooms only
Fitness/health centre		Vietnamese/Asian restaurant
Sauna		International restaurant*
Massage		Patisserie/coffee shop/cafe
Jacuzzi		Business centre

*Breakfast room only

Additional hotel facilities: