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.

The hotel room was good, likely because it’s new. For the price of USD 20+ (VND 531,000), it offers great value compared to other locally-run hotels in Vietnam. The staff were friendly and accommodating, and their English was quite good. Upon check-in, the receptionist clearly explained the hotel’s facilities and services. The next day, after returning from a meeting in the summer heat, I was pleasantly surprised when the bellman, Manh, offered me a cold bottle of drinking water — a thoughtful gesture that I truly appreciated. Overall, the hotel provides fair and basic room amenities. A good stay for the price.

However, the duvet was noticeably too small for the size of the bed, which was a bit inconvenient. Still, a good stay for the price.

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.

My dad and I stayed one night and had a lovely stay. It was the off-season so the whole Halong Bay city was very empty, which was a nice respite from chaotic Hanoi. Checkin was easy, the hostess came out to greet us at the bus and immediately upgraded us to a larger room than the one we had booked. The bathroom has a clear window that looks right into the bedroom but I'm glad it had an opaque curtain as I was sharing a room with my dad! Most restaurants were closed bc off-season so we had breakfast, which is not free, at the hotel. The breakfast wasn't anything I'd write home about, they had two options: pho or American. We opted for American which was just a simple plate of buttered toast and an egg. Super convenient that this hotel offers rental scooters. We rented one because Halong Bay is very big. I highly recommend going off season because streets are empty so have no fear, the road is all yours!

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.

Staff were all extremely helpful and friendly. Located not far from beach. The room was a very good size and although the bathroom was like a wet room, there was a screen that separated the toilet/sink area to the shower area.

Too far from the hustle and bustle of the town so had to either walk or get a taxi (which is not the end of the world as fares are fairly cheap). However, the nearby gym was playing music far too loud and too early in the morning for our liking.

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.