Thien Thai Hotel***
Our brief comments:
The ten-story Thien Thai is located in a back street not far from Haivenu's Head Office, a few minutes walk from the northern end of Hanoi's Old Quarter and a ten minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. Approximately 80% of its clientele is from France, so French is the staff's preferred language. However, the receptionists also speak good English.
The entrance to the hotel is on the first floor with access via a flight of steps from street level. The small reception area and single lift causes delays at busy times.
The Thien Thai has been around for a long time in Hanoi terms. It opened in 1995 when standardising accommodation was not important. That, and an extensive renovation and expansion in 2000, means that the hotel's rooms vary in size and facilities - some rooms have balconies, some have wooden floors.
Bathrooms may have a corner bath or the a low standard bath. Rooms at the front and back have reasonable to good city views depending the floor, whereas windows to the sides look at the blank wall of the neighbouring building, about ten or fifteen metres away.
All rooms are well-appointed with attractive coverlets on the firm bed and good quality  furniture. Superior rooms are large enough to accommodate two occasional chairs and a coffee table without making the rooms feel cluttered.
Deluxe rooms are larger, with balconies being replaced by panoramic windows and a small separate sitting area with a large wardrobe and two comfortable easy chairs, making the room into a partial suite.
Instead of the usual tea and coffee, the hotel provides Vietnamese tea with decent cups and saucers instead of the usual tiny bowls
The tables and chairs in the restaurant are laid out in long files for the international buffet breakfast (and presumably for lunch and dinner), but the semi-art deco style compensated for the regimented appearance. The à la carte menu is mainly Vietnamese - prices are on the high side.
In summary, the Thien Thai is a comfortable, if somewhat idiosyncratic, hotel. If you're not too bothered about being in a semi-residential area just outside the main tourist area, it could be a good choice.
Inspected February 2005
Room facilities:
Room Categories |
Superior |
Deluxe |
| Number of rooms |
60 |
11 |
Air-conditioner |
|
|
Satellite television |
|
|
Shower |
|
|
Bath with shower |
|
|
| Bath + separate shower |
|
|
Personal safety box |
|
|
Coffee and tea facilities |
|
|
| Laptop connection |
|
|
| Free broadband access |
|
|
Extra bed |
|
|
Child's cot |
|
|
Room size (m2) |
27 to 30 |
30 to 32 |
View |
lake |
lake |
Additional room facilities:
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 |
|
Additional hotel facilities: *currently closed for renovation - due to reopen towards the end of the summer
|
