Hanoi's Hidden Gem: NAM LONG Hotel's Unbeatable Luxury!
Hanoi’s Hidden Gem: NAM LONG Hotel – Or, How I Accidentally Found Paradise (and Ate Way Too Much Pho)
Okay, buckle up, because this isn't your typical hotel review. This is the story of how I stumbled upon the Nam Long Hotel in Hanoi and, honestly, never wanted to leave. This place isn’t just good; it's practically designed to make you forget the real world exists. Seriously, I’m pretty sure I spent half my stay wandering around in a blissed-out daze, mumbling about "unreal" pool views and how I needed another foot massage.
First, the Basics (But Not Boring Basics, I Promise!)
Let's get the boring stuff out of the way, right? The Nam Long is remarkably accessible. The elevator is a godsend (especially after a day of chaotic Hanoi street food adventures - more on that later!), and they've clearly put thought into facilities for disabled guests. I didn't personally use these services, but I saw them, and the commitment to inclusivity was admirable.
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Arrival – The “Oh My God, This Is Luxury” Moment
My arrival was… well, let’s just say it started with me completely frazzled. The airport transfer (Airport transfer is included!) was smooth, blessedly. The driver was a calming presence in the Hanoi traffic madness, and as we pulled up, I just did a double-take—the exterior corridor, the lush greenery, the understated elegance of the entrance. Forget jet lag; this place instantly soothed my soul.
Check-in was like something out of a movie. Contactless check-in/out was a plus, especially with the… well, let’s say my social distancing skills could use some work after too many delicious spring rolls. The staff were unbelievably polite and efficient. The doorman seemed to anticipate my needs before I even had them. And the 24-hour front desk? Absolute lifesaver when I realized at 3 AM that I'd forgotten to pack the adapter for my electric toothbrush – yes, seriously. They had one!
The Room – Where Dreams Are Made (And You Definitely Snooze Buttons)
My room? Oh, man. Seriously, my room. First impressions were "wow." Non-smoking rooms were a huge plus. Sounds proof rooms. It was like a cocoon of calm. The air conditioning was perfect. There was a sitting area, with a coffee/tea maker that was my best friend that first morning. The desk was comfy, the wi-fi [free] was ridiculously fast and reliable (…I may have streamed a whole series of cat videos at one point!). The extra long bed was seriously one of the comfiest beds I've ever slept in. I'd sink into it every night. Every. Single. Night.
They had thought of everything: the bathrobes, the slippers, the blackout curtains that transformed the room into a sleep sanctuary, and the safe box that felt like a secret stash of priceless jewels. The view was… well, let’s just say I spent a lot of time staring out the window that opens, completely mesmerized. I honestly felt like a celebrity.
(Side note: The complimentary tea selection was divine. Seriously. I felt like I was living in a tea advertisement.)
The Spa – Pure, Unadulterated Bliss (and the Best Massage of My Life)
Okay, brace yourselves. The Nam Long's spa… changed me. I'm a stress-case, I admit it. But after an hour of my chosen treatment(s) in their spa/sauna, I emerged a new person. I went for a body scrub and a massage, and I think I may have actually levitated. The therapists were skilled, kind, and incredibly intuitive (I swear they could read my tension levels!). Their massage was so good, I almost started crying (tears of joy, obviously). The pool with view with a sauna was nice to spend some time and relax. The steamroom was the perfect way to unwind after a long day of sightseeing. They also have a fitness center if you want to go hard and not do any massage. I did not.
Dining – A Culinary Adventure (and My Unwavering Love for Pho)
This is where things get really interesting because I’m a foodie. I mean, I live to eat. The Nam Long understands this. The restaurants are numerous and fantastic. Asian cuisine in restaurant and vegetarian restaurant. The buffet in restaurant was a thing of beauty.
I'm talking, a-la-carte deliciousness. I’m not listing every single thing. I ate everything! The breakfast [buffet] itself was a gastronomic masterpiece; they had everything. And yes, they catered beautifully to my insane desire for Pho which I ate at the soup in restaurant. I may have eaten Pho for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some point. (Judge me not!).
The bar was a perfect spot for a pre-dinner drink and some serious people-watching. The poolside bar was amazing. The happy hour was a dangerous indulgence, but hey, I was on vacation! Bottle of water offered and replenished. The 24-hour room service saved me on more than one occasion (thanks, jet lag!). And the service? Impeccable.
Cleanliness and Safety – They've Got This Covered (And I Felt Safe!)
This is so important, now more than ever. The Nam Long takes cleanliness and safety seriously. The daily disinfection in common areas was evident. They had hand sanitizer everywhere. I saw staff doing professional-grade sanitizing services. Staff trained in safety protocol. I felt completely safe throughout my stay. They have a Doctor/nurse on call just in case.
The "Things To Do" Question (Beyond the Hotel – If You Dare Leave)
Well, the Nam Long made me never want to leave. But if you do:
Things to do/ways to relax: Hanoi is fascinating. They offer tours, and their concierge can hook you up with anything you need. I used the taxi service they provided and they were great. And I loved the terrace which was a great place to chill.
The Shopping Dilemma: There's a convenience store on-site, handy for picking up snacks and essentials. And of course, there’s a gift/souvenir shop to buy a few things to take home.
The Little Things (That Make a BIG Difference)
- Laundry/Dry Cleaning: My clothes always smelled divine. The ironing service was a lifesaver because my clothes were wrinkly.
- Business Facilities: The hotel is equipped for business travelers, with meeting/banquet facilities, and essential equipment.
- Security: They’ve got it covered with CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, and 24-hour security.
- For the Kids: I didn't have kids (and the hotel has their family/child friendly options!), but I saw the babysitting service and kids meal, so clearly, a little ones are welcome here.
Gripes? (Because No Review is Perfect)
Honestly? Tiny ones. Maybe the internet dropped out once or twice briefly, but it was fixed immediately. And I wish I could have stayed longer.
The Verdict – Absolutely, Unquestionably, Go!
The Nam Long Hotel is not just a place to stay; it's an experience. From the moment I arrived, I was enveloped in a world of luxury, impeccable service, and genuine warmth. It's a haven in the heart of a vibrant city, the perfect place to unwind, recharge, and indulge in the simple pleasures of life (like, you know, endless Pho and amazing massages).
If you're looking for a hotel in Hanoi that will exceed your expectations, book the Nam Long. You won't regret it. I’m already planning my return. And this time, I'm bringing extra stretchy pants.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (Seriously, book this place. Now!)
Escape to Idaho's Gem: Burley's Best Hotel Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. My "Nam Long Hotel Hanoi" itinerary isn't going to be some perfectly polished travel brochure. This is real life travel, folks. Expect jet lag, questionable street food decisions, and a healthy dose of existential pondering. Let's dive in:
Arrival: The Hanoi Shuffle (and Possibly Some Tears)
Day 1: The Great Disembarkation (and Immediate Regret, Maybe?)
- Time: 6:00 AM (If my body clock is cooperating. Spoiler alert: it probably won't.)
- Event: Landed at Noi Bai International Airport. Feeling… everything. Mostly exhaustion and a vague sense that I've made a terrible, wonderful mistake. First impressions of Vietnam: humid. And the air smells… interesting. Kind of like a mix of exhaust fumes and something delicious frying.
- Transportation: Pre-booked airport transfer (thank god, because I was NOT about to navigate a taxi situation at 6 AM). Praying the driver actually shows up.
- Reaction: Okay, deep breaths. I hear, Hanoi is amazing, just let it wash over.
- Destination: Nam Long Hotel, Hoan Kiem District. The promise of a soft bed is the only thing keeping me moving. God, I need coffee.
Time: 8:00 AM (ish – time is a construct here)
- Event: Arrived at Nam Long. Check-in process complete thanks to very good english. The lobby is gorgeous. Ah, yes, my room: clean, simple, and with a view - that’s the best part of the trip. The soft bed.
- Transportation: Walking, carrying a heavy suitcase, feeling like a slug.
- Reaction: Success! I'm in. Now, can I get some sleep? (Doubtful, but let's try).
- Destination: Room 402, possibly the best room in the hotel.
Time: 10:00 AM - Noon
- Event: A nap. (I hope). This is an aspirational entry. I’m probably just staring blankly at the ceiling. The jet lag is real.
- Activity: Forced interaction with the world, maybe a walk around the block. Trying to find coffee. So very important.
- Reaction: Mild panic about being lost, but determined to find caffeine.
- Destination: I hope to find a coffee shop.
Day 2: Embrace the Chaos (or At Least, Try To)
Time: 8:00AM (give or take… ok maybe 10)
- Event: Wake up! (Or, struggle to wake up). Breakfast at the hotel, I think. And then… the Old Quarter.
- Activity: My main goal is to get up and get out.
- Reaction: Mild excitement.
- Destination: Breakfast at hotel and a visit to the Old Quarter.
Time: 10:00 AM- 1:00 PM
- Event: Old Quarter exploration! This is where things will get interesting. Dodging scooters is going to be my new Olympic sport.
- Activity: Wandering the streets, getting gloriously lost. Maybe buying a conical hat. Definitely eating something I can't identify but smells amazing.
- Reaction: Overwhelmed. Am I getting ripped off? Maybe. This is glorious sensory overload. I'm in love. (Also, where's the bathroom?)
- Destination: Random alleyways, potential street food stalls, hopefully a place with a clean toilet. And perhaps a tailor.
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
- Event: Lunch! Street food adventure.
- Activity: Find a small restaurant. Try to order something. Pray for no food poisoning.
- Reaction: OMG this is delicious! (Hopefully). Wondering what's in it. Regretting not brushing up on my Vietnamese.
- Destination: Hopefully somewhere with shade.
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Event: Hoan Kiem Lake visit.
- Activity: Find a bench and take a breather.
- Reaction: Wow, what peace.
- Destination: Hoan Kiem Lake.
Time: 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM
- Event: Thang Long Imperial Citadel visit.
- Activity: Taking in history and Culture.
- Reaction: Time to learn and absorb a bit of history.
- Destination: Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
Time: 7:00 PM
- Event: Dinner and a beer.
- Activity: Eat. Drink beer. People watch.
- Reaction: Beer tastes good after a long day.
- Destination: A restaurant recommended by the hotel.
Day 3: The Water Puppets (and a Questionable Dessert)
Time: 9:00 AM
- Event: Attempted sleep-in. (Did I succeed? Unsure. It's dark outside).
- Activity: Probably still grappling with the concept of time.
- Reaction: The light creeps in…
- Destination: I need breakfast.
Time: 10:00 AM
- Event: I found a good restaurant a few blocks away and went there.
- Activity: Explore more!
- Reaction: I like eating.
- Destination: A walk around the area.
Time: 2:00 PM
- Event: Water Puppet Show. I've heard this is a must-do. I am trying to keep an open mind.
- Activity: Watching puppets do things in water. Hoping I understand something.
- Reaction: So… colorful? Fascinating, in its own way. This is kind of weird, but okay. Am I enjoying this? Yes, actually, I think so!
- Destination: Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.
Time: 4:00 PM
- Event: Dessert! The hotel has good options and I'm going to try them.
- Activity: Ordering items on the menu.
- Reaction: Yum!
- Destination: Nam Long Hotel.
Time: 7:00 PM
- Event: Dinner.
- Activity: I going to hit the town for food and drinks.
- Reaction: I'm happy to be here.
- Destination: More exploring.
Day 4: Leaving (With a Sad Whimper and a Resolve to Return)
Time: 8:00 AM
- Event: Pack. Say goodbye to the soft bed.
- Activity: Trying to cram everything back in my suitcase. Questioning all my packing choices.
- Reaction: Bitter-sweet. Sad to leave, but also… exhausted.
- Destination: Breakfast and check-out.
Time: 10:00 AM
- Event: Final walk through the Old Quarter. One last chance to grab souvenirs and soak it all in.
- Activity: Buying things I definitely don't need. Taking photos of anything and everything.
- Reaction: This is going to be hard to say Goodbye to.
- Destination: Old Quarter, one last time.
Time: 12:00 PM
- Event: Lunch. Last hurrah of Vietnamese food.
- Activity: Trying to find that one amazing dish I ate on day two.
- Reaction: I think I might cry when I say goodbye to the food.
- Destination: One more amazing meal.
Time: 2:00 PM
- Event: Transfer to the airport.
- Activity: Contemplating life.
- Reaction: Sadness mixed with a sense of adventure.
- Destination: Noi Bai International Airport.
Time: 6:00 PM (give or take - flight delays are real, people!)
- Event: My flight is boarding.
- Activity: Waiting. Hoping my flight takes off.
- Reaction: I can't wait to return to this beautiful city.
- Destination: Plane. Home. For now.
Important Notes:
- Flexibility is Key: This is just a guideline. Things will change. Get lost. Embrace it.
- Street Food Risks: Eat at your own risk. Your stomach may hate you. But
Hanoi's Hidden Gem: NAM LONG Hotel FAQs - The *Real* Deal
Alright, alright, spill the tea. Is the Nam Long REALLY as luxurious as the brochures say?
Okay, so here’s the thing… Brochures are LIARS, inherently. They're airbrushed dreams. But Nam Long? Surprisingly… yes. Mostly. I've seen enough hotel rooms to fill a freakin' encyclopedia (hotel reviewer, don't judge!). And lemme tell you, the *feel* walking into that lobby? It's like a sigh of relief mixed with a tiny, smug "I made it" kind of feeling. The kind you get after surviving a particularly brutal Monday. The marble is real, the staff actually smiles FOR REAL, and the scent? Not the usual generic hotel air freshener – it's something… elegant. Like, you suddenly understand why Gatsby threw all those parties. However... I did find a single, tiny, barely noticeable thread of dust on a lampshade. *GASP!* (Okay, dramatic, I know.) But the point is, it's close to perfection, and that's pretty impressive for Hanoi.
Location, Location, Location! Is it actually convenient? I don't want to spend all day in taxis.
Convenient? Well, it's not *slap-you-in-the-face* central, like, say, right next to Hoan Kiem Lake. But that's a GOOD thing, trust me. You get peace. The area is charming, with those tiny, buzzing side streets you HAVE to explore. Walking distance to some seriously amazing food (hello, pho!), but you can also grab a cheap Grab taxi in minutes. It’s a balance, y'know? Not too touristy, not too far out in the sticks. I, personally, walked… a lot. Got gloriously lost, ate everything, and loved it. One time, I tried to haggle with a cyclo driver. Epic fail. He just laughed. But the point is, the location lets you *live* Hanoi, not just visit it.
The rooms! Gimme the room deets! Are they actually *big*? And are the beds as comfy as they look?
Oh, the rooms. Prepare for some actual space. Like, you can do a little dance of joy (guilty) without bumping into furniture. And the beds… OH. MY. GOD. Beds are important, okay? They are the cornerstone of a good hotel experience. I have a finicky back, and I slept like a freakin' log! The pillows are fluffy, the sheets are crisp, and the whole vibe screams, "Leave your worries at the door." It's like they injected the rooms with happiness serum. I actually stayed in bed, just *because*, for a whole glorious morning, just enjoying the silence and the fluffy duvet. Which, considering my life, is practically a miracle. I wish I had taken pictures of the view... I didn't. Too busy, you know, being blissfully horizontal.
What about the pool? Is it Instagrammable? Is it, you know, *nice?!*
The pool. Okay, so the pool is… decent. It’s not Olympic-sized, but who the heck needs that? It's a perfectly reasonable size for a refreshing dip. The water was clean, surprisingly, given the humidity of Hanoi. The area around it is actually quite pretty - plenty of comfy loungers, and the sun (when it decides to grace you with its presence – Hanoi weather can be moody) is glorious. Is it Instagrammable? Yeah, probably. I saw a few influencers doing their thing. I, on the other hand, was far too busy devouring a mango smoothie and enjoying the peace. I do have one tiny, tiny complaint. The pool bar service was a teensy bit slow. I blame the fact that everything else was so perfect, so I was probably just being overly critical.
The food. The Holy Grail! What about the breakfast buffet? Is it worth it?
Breakfast, oh breakfast... Okay, ready for the truth bomb? The breakfast buffet at Nam Long is... *excellent.* I'm a breakfast snob, alright? I judge hotels on their breakfast. And this? This is good. Really good. They have the pho, of course, steaming hot and delicious. Fresh fruit galore (mangoes! passionfruit!), pastries that melt in your mouth, and even a little station for made-to-order eggs. The best part? The staff. They were genuinely friendly and helpful. I even accidentally dropped a whole plate of pancakes once (mortifying!). The staff were so lovely. They cleaned it up with a smile and discreetly brought me *more* pancakes. Breakfast is a highlight, definitely. Did I overeat? Absolutely. Did I regret it? Never!
Seriously, ANYTHING bad? There's gotta be a catch, right?
Okay, fine. Here’s the *very* small, nitpicky stuff. The Wi-Fi in my room flickered a couple of times. Annoying, but fixable. And… (struggling to find something here)... maybe the gym could be bigger? Honestly, I didn't use it. I was too busy eating pho and exploring. Oh, and here's a real one: the elevator was a *little* slow sometimes. But honestly? These are MINISCULE issues. Forgettable. Overall, I really struggled to find anything truly negative. I'm being honest here. I am a hard grader!
Okay, sold! But how *can* you say it's a "hidden gem"? It looks pretty fancy!
"Hidden gem" doesn't necessarily mean obscure and crumbling (though, Hanoi has plenty of those too!). It means it's a place that delivers far more than you expect, a place that isn't necessarily screaming for attention but deserves it. Nam Long feels undiscovered, like a secret you're lucky enough to be in on. It's not the mega-hotel chain with flashing lights. It’s a hotel that feels genuinely *cared for*, and that makes all the difference. Trust me, it's worth seeking out. Go. You won't regret it. And tell me all about it! I'm already planning my next trip back. I can't help it. I'm in love.
And finally... What's THE one thing you'll remember most about Nam Long?
Okay, this isn't a single memory, more like a feeling. It was the feeling of being completely, utterly relaxed. It was the utter absence of stress. The constant hum of the city faded. The staff. The scent. The bed. The *peace*. It was like a bubble of serenity in the heartStay Mapped
