Located about 1.5km south of Hoan Kiem Lake, the green-facaded Green Park Hotel is a little further away from the tourist center than most travelers might want, but its location has advantages; to the east, lots of street food and authentic Ha Noi liveliness; to the west, the eminently strollable Lenin Park.

Pretty consistent throughout this hotel is the feel that 20+ years ago the place was a contender, but age has slowly taken its toll as newer and nicer hotels have sprung up around the city.  The upkeep is actually pretty good, but it still feels a little dark and a little old.  It’s got some character, not loads, but definitely some.

The manager speaks very good English and is particularly competent, though he seems a bit resigned about the hotel’s flagging fortunes. He is initially reserved, but start talking about culture, history, or politics (Vietnamese or American) and he comes to life.

As aforementioned, the hallways feel old but well-maintained, with funky green paint on the banister railings and a deep wood finish in many places.  The hallways are quite open with a wide staircase in the middle, which is nice.

The rooms also feel old. The beds are not very comfortable, and the bathroom tiles have occasional cracks, and some shower heads leak.  Some higher floors have nice views.  The biggest problem is the uncomfortable beds – you can sense the springs in the mattress, which is not a good thing.

Breakfast is included in a rooftop restaurant which has nice views of the city.

This is not the most comfortable hotel you could get for your money, but it does have some charm.