InterContinental HANOI WESTLAKE by IHG

I visited with my pregnant wife. We booked a standard room, but they upgraded us to an overwater room with a lake view. It was close to the airport, and conveniently located near the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, which was great for sightseeing. The breakfast was also delicious, especially the pho – I highly recommend having it twice! Haha.

The views are great and the room type is excellent. We stayed in a three-bedroom unit. The soundproofing was a bit lacking, as we could hear the thunder and rain outside. Overall, it was a good experience, and the breakfast was plentiful. The executive lounge also had a good variety of food, and a wide selection of alcoholic beverages.

The rooms are built right on Hanoi's West Lake, offering a stunning panoramic view where the water and sky merge into one. I especially recommend catching the beautiful sunset in the evening! Next to the hotel, there's the ancient Golden Lotus Pagoda, with its charming traditional architecture, old trees, and pomelo trees.

I rarely give hotels low ratings. As an IHG member, my previous experiences at InterContinental hotels in China and the US have always been good. However, this stay at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake was truly disappointing. We were traveling with a child, and I understand that staff can be busy during peak season. So, while checking in, the process felt rushed, and there was no information or confirmation provided about the hotel facilities or breakfast restaurant. But the most unacceptable part was that the room phone rang twice, once at midnight and again in the early morning, and each time, no one was on the line when I answered. I reported this to the front desk the next day, and while they sent an engineer to check it, the phone still rang during sleeping hours on the third day! It was absolutely infuriating. I haven't had a vacation in a long time and was hoping to relax for two days at the InterContinental Westlake, but I was woken up both times. My child was startled awake and crying in the middle of the night, and the phone ringing at that hour was incredibly unsettling and creepy. I'm so disappointed.

The room was spacious and the air conditioning was incredibly cold – so cold that I woke up chilly in the middle of the night. The lake view at night was beautiful. Unfortunately, the pool was a bit small, and the location wasn't very convenient with no shops nearby.

This is a lovely resort-style hotel. It's only a 3-minute walk to the famous 4P's Pizza, and the wait there isn't as long as at other locations.