Staying at the Hilton Hanoi Opera, Vietnam

The pool at the Hilton Hanoi Opera.

Lucy Casley stays at a beautiful French classical style hotel with excellent restaurants

Location: In Hanoi's famous French Quarter.

Check-in experience: The hotel has a main reception with a large lobby space but because we were on the executive floor we checked in at another reception on the seventh level, which was professional and efficient, with a refreshing juice on arrival. In a traditional throwback, all the paperwork was handed directly to my male partner.

Room: A King Hilton Executive, with access to the executive lounge and its complimentary continental breakfast and refreshments.

Bathroom: Suitably plush.

Toiletries: All the essentials, plus a dental kit.

Facilities: The hotel has three restaurants — Ba Mien is contemporary Vietnamese, Chez Manon is a la carte international cuisine, and JJ's Sports Bar is — as you'd expect — a bar.

There's also a bakery, a fitness room, spa and outdoor pool. The lobby area is spacious, a good place to have a drink while waiting for someone.

The bed: The best I've ever slept on — like sleeping on a cloud.

Price: The cheapest rooms here start at about $120.

Noise? Nope — peaceful and quiet.

Food and drink: There is a great range of options on the room service menu. We ate a delicious lunch at the main restaurant, Chez Manon.

What's in the neighbourhood? The beautiful Hanoi Opera House, the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake are all nearby.

What's so good about this place? It's hard to get past that bed, but otherwise, the friendly staff and the hotel's beautiful French classical style. This Hilton trumped all expectations.

Perfect for? Business and leisure travellers who want close access to the historic areas of the city but also a pleasant escape from the chaos.

Would I return? For sure.

CHECKLIST

The Hilton Hanoi Opera is at 1 Le Thanh Tong Street, Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam. Phone: +84 24 3933 0500.