Golden Palm HaLong Hotel

The hotel's location is excellent. We contacted the hotel via Trip.com beforehand and booked an airport transfer from Hai Phong. We were a family of 3 adults and 2 children, and the transfer turned out to be the most cost-effective option. The room was quite spacious with comfortable beds, clean linens, and a clean bathroom. The breakfast wasn't super varied, but it was tasty. It had all the essentials: omelets, sausages, ripe and delicious fruits, and Pho bo. The view from the room was great, and the hotel is located close to the beach. Since most guests on the island are stopping over before a cruise, most cafes and shops are closed during the day and open later in the evening. Across from the hotel (across the bay), there's a fantastic restaurant with delicious Pho bo and smoothies. Not far from the restaurant, there's a street that lights up with lanterns in the evening. It was a lovely walk.

The room was dirty, especially the floors. However, it offered a magnificent view. The beds were comfortable, and breakfast was decent. The hotel is a bit worn, but not critically so. We stayed for two nights before our trip to Ha Long Bay and then returned there. There's absolutely nothing to do at the hotel itself, and the surrounding area is barren – nowhere even to take a walk. We really should have stayed in the city, but who would have known? It's perfect for an overnight stay before a cruise. The hotel offered a fantastic price for an airport transfer from Hanoi and provided a superb car. We were quite satisfied.

We were quite shocked by the lack of civilization, as everything in Ha Long is geared towards remote excursions. There's a very limited choice of cafes and shops nearby. However, the availability of a scooter, which you can rent at reception, solves this problem. The lady at reception always smiles and is ready to help with any issue. She's a gem. The view from the room is stunning, overlooking the very bay itself.

The location isn't great; there aren't many places to eat or hang out nearby, and it's a 15-20 minute walk to the beach bars. However, it's quite close if you're taking a cruise, and the room was relatively clean.