Silk Path Hotel

The Silk Path is as elegant and contemporary a hotel as you'll find in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. The stately building has a stone lion guarding the gate, and the stylish lobby with black marble floors has chandeliers that resemble slivers of quartz hanging from the high ceilings. There's free iced tea for guests here, and it's a fine welcome to the property, although at times it can be overcrowded with tour groups. The entire building is modern and eye-catching; from the sheer glass elevators to the large elongated glass panels that open in each hallway to some of the best views across Hanoi. The restaurants and bars on the first and second floor have colorful carpets, plush cushions and chairs, and are suave and inviting. The hotel looks more like those found out in Hanoi's West Lake, welcoming business travelers and higher paying tourists, but it's set in a wonderful Old Quarter location.

The Silk Path Hotel is located at the southwestern edge of Hanoi's Old Quarter. While it is a hot 15-minute walk into the center of the atmospheric historic district, this is still an excellent location, as the area teems with restaurants, bars, and shops. There are plenty of taxis and cyclos (three-wheel bicycle taxis) for transport. Despite the busy traffic on Hang Bong Road outside, it's less chaotic and crazy than being right in the midst of the old town. Hoan Kiem Lake is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, as is the water puppet theater, and it's no more than 10 minutes by car to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum or the Temple of Literature. Noi Bai International Airport is less than an hour's drive from the hotel. The Silk Path is also convenient for accessing the train station for overnight journeys to Sapa.

The Silk Path Hotel has 106 rooms, all of which have handsome striped carpets and offer far more space than the average Old Quarter stay (hotels tend to be small and narrow here). Rooms feature framed lacquer artwork, wood desks, remote controls to operate electronic curtains, and bedside remotes for lighting and television. Soft green and gold hues run throughout, and furniture comes in dark wood shades with contemporary lines. All rooms feature minibars, electric hot water kettles for free coffee and tea, hairdryers, flat-screen TVs with cable channels (and guides to help navigate the channels), safes, scales, and both free cable and wireless high speed Internet connections. Bathrooms have marble floors and most of them include rainfall showers. The standard Deluxe Rooms don't have external windows, and the Premium Deluxe Rooms don't really have much in the way of views, but the higher category rooms overlook the city. The opulent Presidential Suite features a full kitchen and several bedrooms, plus a huge lavishly furnished living room, as well as a hot tub and mammoth rainfall shower in the master bathroom. 

The Silk Path Hotel has one of the largest selection of hotel features of any property in the Old Quarter. The hotel has two restaurants; the La Soie De Hanoi serves up sumptuous buffet breakfasts for an additional fee, while the downstairs Bellissimo features a wood fire oven for gourmet pizzas, along with both Mediterranean dishes and Vietnamese cuisine. Just adjacent to the restaurant is the Silks Bar, which has a large cocktail and wine menu. The upstairs Piano Bar features live music and overlooks the lobby. There is also a Terrace Cafe & Bar outside the hotel that overlooks the street.

For wellness, the hotel has a small fitness center, along with an accompanying hot tub, sauna, and steam rooms for both men and women. Other facilities at the Silk Path include a reading area and a business center with free computers for guests. There are several meeting rooms for seminars and group functions. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Airport transfers are available for a fee and the hotel can help arrange tours and transport in the local area and to farther destinations.