Sheraton Hanoi Hotel*****

Our brief comments:
Situated on the shore of Hanoi's largest lake, the Sheraton is about a ten-minute taxi ride from the city centre. The hotel was built around 1998, but an economic slump in SE Asia halted investment leaving the building completed but empty.

Stronger fiscal conditions and rapid growth in tourism enabled construction to resume and the first phase of operation to begin in 2004.

Architecturally, the hotel reflects its origins in an earlier stage of hotel development. The building is a monolith with few distinctive features to soften its appearance. The uneasy juxtaposition of a cluster of Asian style serves to emphasise the main building's bland facade.

Things improve inside. The lobby is imposing with a large stained-glass cupola as its centerpiece. It's a spacious area, well furnished and grandiose. Adjacent is the Oven D'or, a large international restaurant - its buffet meals are excellent value. Across the courtyard in front of the main entrance is the Hemisphere's restaurant, also international but with an à la carte menu and an Asian bias.

The gardens on the lake side of the hotel around the swimming pool area are laid out with lush tropical plants and trees providing an attractive backdrop for photographs for the many couples who choose the hotel for their wedding receptions.

As might be expected, the rooms are well appointed with high quality fixtures, fittings, soft furnishings and oversize beds. However, although the accommodation is indisputably comfortable and opulent, it seems to lack character.

There's an excellent fitness centre and the Nutz Pub, a large bar cum nightclub. The hotel has also invested in conference, meeting and wedding facilities which are heavily used.

In general, the standard of service meets the levels expected at a prestigious international hotel, but although friendly and willing, some members of staff seem to lack training in the finer arts of hospitality. This is probably the result of pressure to open in time to benefit from the winter peak season for tourism in Vietnam.

In general, the Sheraton offers comfortable accommodation and good facilities. For visitors who don't place a premium on a city centre location, it's a good option.

Inspected November 2004

Room facilities:

Room Categories	Executive	Preferred	Club Floor	Suite
Number of rooms	150	88	45	16
Air-conditioner
Satellite television
Shower or bath
Bath with shower
Bath + separate shower
Personal safety box
Coffee and tea facilities
Laptop connection
Free broadband access
Extra bed
Child's cot	on request	on request	on request	on request
Room size (m2)	37	37	37	67
View

Additional room facilities: high quality bathrobes

Hotel facilities:

Outdoor pool		Non-smoking floor(s)	5
Pool/beach bar		Non-smoking rooms only	n/a
Fitness/health centre		Vietnamese/Asian restaurant
Sauna		International restaurant
Massage		Patisserie/coffee shop/cafe
Jacuzzi		Business centre

Additional hotel facilities: