This is a beautiful elegant hotel that has charm and space. It is older, but well cared for. The staff - Hung and Linh in particular - could not do enough for us. They were standouts for customer service. In the lead up to the trip, I asked the hotel for help and they arranged a driver for our transfer to and from Hanoi international airport and found us a short boat trip on the bay in the timeframe our schedule allowed. Fabulous and seamless. They could not have been better.

Even though it looks picture perfect, this part of Ha Long Bay is a bit of a ghost town. We struggled to find somewhere open nearby for dinner and this was the only operational hotel in the whole street.

From the check in to the support for renting a scooter and Tipps for local restaurants during off-season. This hotel is worth every of the few pennies it cost us. Room was exactly like on the pictures, well maintained. Bed on the hard side, but not to hard and the lining was really cozy. All the staff are really friendly, always have an open ear or recommendation, but never to pushy. We felt so comfortable like nowhere else the last 5 month in Asia. Really quiet street at night as well.

Nothing from the hotel's side, but the area where the hotel is located is kind of a ghost town right now. So don't expect stores and restaurants in walking distance. There are some, but we always took the scooter.

The hotel is in a good location, close to the beach, although we found Ha Long a very strange town as it full of empty luxurious buildings and empty streets. The area seemed quiet in general, not sure if we were there during the off season. However we found our stay here very comfortable, it was the first hotel we checked in where most of the staff spoke English. We also wanted to exchange money and they were honest that they did not have the best rates and recommended us where to go for the best exchange rate, which we appreciated after feeling as you are being considered as a walking ATM everywhere you go to, typical for Asian culture towards tourists. They were also kind enough to offer us a bottle of water each when checking out, which is a small gesture but its the little things that makes a difference.

The only downside is that we did not have breakfast included with the booking, which we were aware of, but during check in they did not inform us that we have to book it before if we want to go down for breakfast and when we went for breakfast they couldn’t serve us the full breakfast but they still charged us for a full breakfast. No big deal, but should they informed us during check in, it would have been easier for them and us.

We had an amazing stay at this hotel. It is really great value for the price. The reception works 24/7 - we arrived at 5/6 am and got upgraded to the better room, much appreciated. The room was very nice, cozy and the bed was comfortable - one of the best so far (after 14 days in Vietnam). We used also the laundry service which was really quick (within 1/2 a day). I also need to highlight the top notch service from the whole staff. Both receptionists were super friendly and nice, we had the best care - Linh was helping us with everything (recommendations of what to see and eat and it was amazing), also her colleague who was helping out with our suitcases, making sure we have enough of everything during the breakfast, he shared his experience from the Ambassador cruises with us. I forgot to ask his name. 🙏

Nothing really. Just maybe one suggestion- the staff could ware a badge with their name on it.

The property was exceptionally clean and modern like a Marriott with some Vietnamese aesthetic touches. The reception area was very welcoming and festive with Christmas decorations. The rooms were spacious and the bed was very comfortable. Best of all, the shower temperature was perfect! The receptionists Dung and Hung were very friendly and helpful and offered history and recommendations on things to do in Ha Long Bay. I ended up booking a Ha Long Bay day cruise through the property which picked up and dropped off at the property.

Nothing - everything was great!

The staff were extremely welcoming and accommodating. We arrived before check in and we were given a room straight away and upgraded to a better room than originally booked. On arrival and departure we were given complimentary tea and water. We arrived after the breakfast service had finished but the staff still made us a big breakfast as we arrived very hungry. When we couldn’t get a taxi from the port the staff were able to organise one for us also.

The breakfast is not included in the price and could have more options for what you pay. We were however given a 50% discount for having breakfast at the property.

We recently stayed at The Essence Hotel and I must say, it was a delightful experience. The cleanliness of the hotel was impeccable; everything was spotless and well-maintained. Our room was beautiful, with modern decor and a comfortable atmosphere that made it feel like a home away from home. One of the highlights was the shower. It was spacious, with great water pressure, and the bathroom overall was very stylish. The bed was very comfortable. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a clean, comfortable, and stylish place to stay.

The hotel's location was good , just a 5-minute walk to the beautiful beach, which made it very convenient for enjoying the sun and sea. However, I did notice a lack of dining options nearby. There weren't many restaurants in the area, which made finding a variety of places to eat a bit challenging. If you're looking for a beachside hotel with easy access to the water, this place is perfect, but be prepared to explore a bit further for diverse dining experiences.

The hotel was really nice, the room super clean. The bed was very comfortable. The staff were unbelievable, each and everything of them. Very nice and welcoming. Helpes us with everything we needed. They upgraded us to better room as we arrived.Really amazing team. We enjoyed every one of them. Great motorbikes service. Walking distance to the beach.

Location Not the best for food. Not a lot to eat in the area. Some days they were closed. Not related to hotel of course. Breakfast was expensive for our taste and not inc. so much vegetarian food.

The staff here are truly incredible, they went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, offering great recommendations for restaurants and places to explore. Our room was spacious and very comfortable, ideal for relaxing after a day out. They even helped us rent a scooter and managed our laundry, which made everything super convenient.

The town itself. Visiting in the low season, we found it surprisingly quiet, with plenty of empty buildings around that gave it a bit of a “ghost town” vibe. It almost felt like something out of Scooby-Doo!

We stayed here for the purpose of doing a boat cruise in Ha Long Bay. The staff were so lovely, and very helpful. The hotel is really pretty and very clean. I notice a few people comment on the location and it’s true that it is away from the main centre, but it’s very peaceful and we found restaurants which were were only a 15 minute walk away - and it’s a really nice walk. Plus, it’s only a quick taxi ride from the main centre. It is only a five minute walk from the beach and we found a great little beach bar nearby. I would definitely stay here again and recommend this lovely hotel if you’re looking for somewhere very peaceful to stay.

We liked everything about this property.