The Grand Mercure in Hanoi opened a few years ago in the heart of Hanoi and offers a fantastic value for travelers looking for a comfortable, unique hotel within walking distance of a number of fantastic historical sites in Hanoi. We chose the hotel for the style and the location and were not disappointed. Read on to find out what you need to know before you stay at Grand Mercure Hanoi.

Location: 4.5/5

The property is located across the street from the Temple of Literature and approximately 25 minutes walking from the Old Quarter and famous train tracks of old Hanoi. It’s a modern building amongst the mismatched patchwork of the area and has a beautiful vantage point over the surrounding neighborhood.

There are not a lot of restaurants or bars near the hotel so it is recommended to take a taxi if you plan to explore the nightlife. The city is walkable, but the sidewalks are not suitable for anyone with mobility issues by any means. While we chose to walk everywhere, once it’s dark I would recommend being very careful as there are potholes, corners and a general lack of consistency in the sidewalks. Taxis are very reasonable and the hotel can call them for you.

If you’re planning to visit the historical sites like Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Grand Mercure is a good choice.

Lobby & Check in experience: 5/5

Grand Mercure has done a great job merging modern style with traditional elements and it starts at the first impression. When you pull up to the door, there is a large red door that welcomes you into the lobby and it’s beautiful. We booked the car service from the airport and it was a seamless experience. We were picked up in a branded car with water bottles and a driver that spoke good English. Once we arrived to the hotel, we were escorted up to the Executive floor to check into the Executive room I had booked.

The Executive Lounge has expansive views over the city and we were seated next to the window to handle our check in. We were offered our beverage of choice during check in and we both ordered two Vietnamese style coffees that were delicious. We loved the choice in welcome beverage and since it was fairly early in the morning, we were very happy to have some coffee.

The check in was efficient, friendly and informative and we were quickly handed keys to our room.

Rooms: 4.5/5

Thanks to the modern-traditional twist in style, the rooms are all well appointed with beautiful furnishings, bright colors and cool decor. There are 5 room types on property ranging from Deluxe rooms to Executive and Presidential suites.

We had booked an Executive King that shows a canopy bed with a small sitting area and desk. We did get checked into room 1417 which was the smallest version of this room type without a sitting area or canopy bed and right next to the elevators. We were quite disappointed as the website showed a very different room layout and this was extremely small. It was very well appointed with a Toto automatic toilet, team and coffee set, comfortable bed and beautiful bathroom. We did bring up our disappointment to the staff and they did rectify it by checking us into the Executive Suite the next day which was a very big upgrade that I’d highly recommend if your budget allows.

The Executive Suite is located across from the elevator but the living room is what faces the elevator so noise in the bedroom isn’t an issue. There is a large living room with full seating set, desk and television. There is also a half bath in the living room with a Toto washlet and vanity. The bedroom features a full floor to ceiling window on two sides, beautiful canopy bed and large bathroom complete with a soaking tub, shower and separate toilet room with a view. The room is extraordinary and was extremely quiet, despite being in the middle of the city.

The Executive rooms and suites come with access to the lounge which offers daily breakfast, all day snacks and non-alcoholic beverages as well as a canapés and 2 hour complimentary alcoholic beverage happy hour. The canapés are hearty enough to be dinner if you wanted to skip taking a taxi outside and stay in. We loved coming back after a crazy day to relax in the lounge and enjoy some wine and beers. It’s absolutely worth the upgrade if it’s available to you.

Service: 4/5

Overall, service was consistently good across the hotel. From the driver who picked us up in the company car to the front desk staff always remembering our names, we had pleasant service experiences across the board. Housekeeping did a good job and always came when we were out of the room and the executive lounge is a huge value add.

Service recovery was also excellent. When we expressed our disappointment with the small executive king room, we were upgraded quickly to a suite and consistently checked on for the remainder of our stay.

Dining: 4/5

There is one restaurant currently open on property on the mezzanine level of the hotel as well as the sky bar and lobby bar. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was fairly quiet while we were on property so we chose to have our breakfast in the Executive Lounge instead. The restaurant features a mix of western and Vietnamese dishes with an elevated flair.

We did spend a good amount of time in the executive lounge and it features a good mix of western and Vietnamese dishes as well. The breakfast options were plentiful and generally very good. The happy hour was a great value add and they did offer Chilean wines, Vietnamese beers and cocktails.

There is a sky bar but the smog was very thick during our stay so we did not get to enjoy this bar. However, it looks like an amazing place to have a sunset cocktail on a clear day.

Facilities: 4.5/5

Grand Mercure has some great facilities including a fitness center, spa and rooftop pool. The fitness center is located on the top floor and has beautiful floor to ceiling windows facing the city. There are a number of cardio machines and a couple of benches and machines available. While small, it does the trick for a quick workout and it was always nice and cold in the room.

There is a fitness center attendance that is always there cleaning and organizing so there are constantly fresh towels stocked. I would recommend bringing your own water bottle as there are only small paper cups available.

The pool is small but features a very beautiful glass wall and incredible views of the city. There are a few seating areas both in the sun and in the shade and while it was too smoggy during our stay, this would be a great place to relax after a chaotic day in the city.

They do not offer any shuttles around the city, but taxis are plentiful and they do offer that airport transfer for a charge that is branded.

Style: 5/5

Grand Mercure has a very unique style that blends the traditional Vietnamese textures and design with a modern twist. We absolutely loved the combination of ornate floral designs, grassy wallpapers and colonial style wood floors. The design was consistent across the hotel and did feel very upscale and tasteful. While the outside has a very modern twist, the interior felt classic and appropriate for its surroundings. Regardless of the room type you book, every room has the same Toto washlets, wallpapers and general design, making it a great choice from a consistency standpoint and understanding what you are going to get.

Overall: 4.5/5

Overall, we loved our time at Grand Mercure. The hotel is quiet, safe and in a walkable area to many of the most important historical sites to see in Hanoi. While we preferred the walkability more at their sister property, Movenpick, there is no doubt that this price point is a fantastic value for an excellent hotel option in Hanoi.