Name: Especen Hotel
Address: 28 Tho Xuong Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, 110214, VN

6/10

Pleasant

02 Mar 2026

James

Room was pretty good, bathroom is low quality, often the front desk is unmanned and poor or no english

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Feb 2026

Myra

Everything is nice the staff, rooms

2/10

Poor

06 Dec 2025

Jose

In my booking it says free breakfast. When I was checking out, the lady receptionist is charging me for the breakfast. I told her and showed her my booking. She said it was a mistake and to call hotels.com. I told her I am going to report her and will make a review. I gave her my credit card but since I told her I will report her she shoves away my card and so I left. She is scamming me.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

07 Nov 2025

Vu

Room is acceptable , should has closet or rack for guest hanging clothes ,WC is small & shower should has door or curtain to avoid wet on the toilet and facility , staff is un friendly

8/10

Excellent

05 Nov 2025

RONALD

Room was clean and spacious, and inexpensive. Location was good, a bit off the beaten path, so traffic noise was limited

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

18 Oct 2025

Jasmine

Nice clean room.and big bed

8/10

Excellent

17 Feb 2025

Juan

The room is great but the neighbourhood is quite noisy.
There was nobody at the reception, we had to knock the door of the staff who lives there.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

23 Jan 2025

iloveall

Good location. Eateries just steps from the hotel entrance. Room was spacious with fresh air as window is openable . Beds & pillows are comfy.. Aircon & Water heater works well. Staff is friendly & helpful.

The only obvious downside for this old property is the need to climb a spiral bridge to reach our room on the 5th level.

Recommended when visiting Hanoi again.

Leisure Friends

2/10

Poor

29 Dec 2024

shervin

Dirty, Mouldy and Noisy!

Reception not manned! Had to wait nearly 10 minutes for service. Bed sheets had not been changed; had body fluid stains, pillow had blood stain. Shower was broken. Mould on walls in room, bathroom and hallway. The very loud speaker from government announcements right on our balcony. Very noisy! Staff did not learn the word \"sorry\", just a blank look when we complained.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Dec 2024

Vincent

Great value, clean room, helpful staff.

Great value, clean spacious room, helpful staff. Well located near St. Joseph’s Cathedral, which means loud bells early in the morning! Not an issue for us, but it wouldn’t suit someone with difficulty climbing stairs, as there was no lift.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 Nov 2024

Christopher

On a quiet street in a perfect location (although be prepared for bells at the cathedral)

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 Aug 2024

Addison

Relaxing and fun!

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

03 Aug 2024

Ruth

Great stay! Excellent area for walking to everything. Hotel is dated and needs refurbishing but still the rooms were clean. There was mold in the bathroom. Staff were helpful but didn’t speak English however they did their best by translating using their phone. It’s quite lively around the hotel and during the week early morning an announcement and music is played loud via speakers outside the hotel in Vietnamese. Overall it was a good place to stay and would recommend it as a means to sleep but not for relaxation.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

05 Jun 2024

Kathleen

Some staff did not speak English, but super helpful! Clean towels, water and toiletries each day!
Comfortable beds
Great location with balcony!
5 floor walk-up...

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 May 2024

Ernesto

Wonderful Hotel in the Old Quarter Hanoi

Thanh and the hotel staff have been very warm and accommodating throughout my entire stay in Hanoi. The hotel is very convenient and accessible to most areas in the old and french quarters. St. Joseph cathedral is just one corner away from the hotel and it is also very close to Hoan Kiem lake. I would highly recommend this hotel. Best value for your money.

Self

2/10

Poor

12 Mar 2024

Peter

Suitable for the hard-of-hearing

Noise, noise, noise noise .....
No chance of sleep; no soundproofing; street noise outside, cockerels start crowing 4:00am followed by barking dogs at 4:30, motor bikes at 5:30, church bells at 6.00, 129 decibel loudspeaker at 7:30, etc etc. Luke-warm bathroom water, bathroom 90cms wide, paint peeling off internal walls, no lift - only a steep spiral staircase - and no fire escape. Pity, because it's just on the edge of the picturesque and iconic Old Quarter.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

05 Mar 2024

Toshiyuki

給湯器の都合シャワーのお湯が10分程度しか出続けないが、それ以外は快適だった。

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

17 Apr 2023

Samantha

Great trip

Hotel is very well situated among the sites and a large amount of food options. Great for a short stay to pack lots in. The rooms were large, clean and with good aircon.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jan 2023

Luke

Great value and great location. Rooms are clean. Staff is nice. Rooms are good.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2019

Philippe

Cheap & perfectly convenient

Efficient, English-speaking staff

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

16 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

Nice if you get a good room

Pretty good hotel in a great location. Comfy and clean. Our friends booked the same room but ended up in a different building which wasn't as nice, but then were able to change to one even nicer than ours, so not all rooms you book are created equal.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

Average

The room is clean, quiet and roomy, the fridge keep my fruit last longer, but there's no elevator so up and down the stairs a little inconvenience. There is a delicious beef soup (pho bo) place only few steps away from hotel only in the morning, so I had breakfast every morning before starting my adventures.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Oct 2019

Jaclyn

Great stay for the budget traveler!

We had a great stay at the Especen Hotel in Hanoi! This is a perfect hotel for the budget traveler. It is a very comfortable place to stay. You can pay for nicer in town, but for the price it is perfect. Also, we loved the location. It was in a quieter alley, that felt more tucked away. It was also a great walk to all places in the city

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2019

ahram

Good service, cleaning snd friendly people

Really nice hotel

8/10

Excellent

21 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Staff were friendly. Rooms were clean. Bed was very firm but that seems to be the norm in Asia. Overall worth the price you pay.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Nov 2018

Verified traveler

Excellent value

Nice hotel with great staff. Excellent price. Lowest airport transfer I found in Hanoi ($11). Bathroom could have been a bit nicer but that is the only improvement.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

17 Aug 2018

AMIT

Value for Money

Good Hotel with Big Rooms

Friends

8/10

Excellent

17 Apr 2018

Boom

Good price and location

Room is acceptable. Toilet is clean but a bit old. Staff can speak English and helpful. Overall is OK but not so impressive.

6/10

Pleasant

23 Feb 2018

Morgans

Good hotel for the price

Great location! Staff was helpful & friendly.
A lesson in the brochure vs reality, the pictures you see here don’t really represent the age and condition of the rooms. All & all a pleasant stay.

8/10

Excellent

06 Jan 2018

Verified traveler

Great location close to iconoic landmark of hanoi

Very apprciated staff at the hotel and very helpful. Got better quality compare to the room rate. I will back here again!!!

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2018

Jirayoot

Great location and very good service from staff

A trip cannot complete without this nice staff at the hotel. Price is very cheap but get very good sevice

4/10

Poor

06 Aug 2017

Aimee

Mixed bag

The location of the hotel is down one of the smaller alleys in Hanoi, near St Joseph's Cathedral, but make sure you go to the correct one, as there is another one a short walk from this one. The room was big, clean, offered air conditioning and wifi. However, we never had hot water at all during our stay. This wasn't too much of a problem as we went in summer when it was extremely hot, but do be careful if you're going when it isn't as hot. We also asked about breakfast one day when we were going to eat in the hotel but got a response that the chef wasn't working that day... and when we asked about laundry services which the hotel offers, we got a reply saying that there was no power... we only stayed in Hanoi for five days but it did appear that some of the services which seem to be offered were lacking.

Family

8/10

Excellent

27 Mar 2017

Terri

A great value hotel

This is a really good value hotel. We were staying 9 nights, so booked the family room to make sure we had space to be comfortable, and enjoyed the balcony from which we could people watch. Anh on the front desk is a marvel, and having worked in the travel industry for years I was really impressed with his commitment and dedication to service. He remembered every guest, their room number and any questions they had asked.
There are downsides- the rooms are noisy. The windows did very little to keep out any noise from the street, and Hanoi is a city that only seems to be quiet from about 2am to 5am.
While the room was clean, and towels changed everyday, room service did take my halfhearted attempts at tidying the bed as a sign that they didn't need to, and I don't believe the sheets were changed during our stay- but again, perhaps if I'd left them in a mess they might have been.
We also used the hotel to book a day trip to Halong Bay- a mid-range price and mid-range tour. It was with APT who are a reputable group, and the tour was good value, but you undoubtedly pay for what you get and luxury tours can definitely offer more.
Location is great- two minutes from the Cathedral square which is surrounded by lovely cafes, 5 minutes from the lake and fifteen minutes from the Mausoleum.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jan 2017

Evey

Perfect location

Close to cathedral & easy walk to lake. Quiet at night so good sleep! Everything we wanted. Very reliable staff!

8/10

Excellent

02 Aug 2016

Mira

Centre of Hanoi

Great hotel staff, close proximity to attractions, great air conditioning

8/10

Excellent

03 Oct 2015

hannah

Helpful staff. Clean hotel in perfect location.

Friendly and helpful hotel staff,
We used it as a base whilst in Hanoi, halong and sapa and were made to feel very welcome. They are used to travellers and offer a good service for price of room.
Fridge, shower, air con all working, room clean.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2015

Dave

Great Hotel in Old Quarters of Hanoi

Lovely hotel near bars and good places to eat. Everything including visiting the Lake and shopping is within walking distance. Staff and Management really great and will help you with places to go and visit. The room was spotless and very peaceful at night with nice facilities and at a reasonable price. Would highly recommend this hotel to stay and enjoy the Old Quarters of Hanoi.

8/10

Excellent

15 Jan 2015

Verified traveler

Nice little hotel, close to the Cathedral.

The driver who picked us up from the airport dropped us off at the road a distance away from the hotel, but the staff from the hotel came all the way out to bring us (and the luggages) to the hotel where we checked in. The room was spacious, with a double bed and a single bed. The bathroom was clean, but a little too small and cramped. The door was frosted glass, but because the bathroom was so small, the person showering is quite near the door, and the people in the room could see what was happening inside. It will be a little awkward for friends! The breakfast was okay, but it took quite awhile to prepare. Other than that, great little hotel and definitely worth the price!

4/10

Poor

26 Aug 2014

Xenophilic Traveler

VERY Budget Hotel in the heart of the Old Quarter

So, what can I say - you get what you pay for. The location of the hotel is really good (but VERY noisy), but the rooms themselves are not accurately pictured - everything is about four shades dingier. The bathroom wasn't too clean either. On the whole, though, I shouldn't complain too much given the price. I think, though, that if you paid about $5 more a night, you could find something much better.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

04 Jul 2014

miss I

Friendly and helpful staff. Close to attractions. Bathroom can be cleaner. Okay overall.

6/10

Pleasant

15 Apr 2026

Rodolphe

Hotel bien placé près de la cathédrale, juste la porte en verre depoli sur le palier engendre un éclairage de la chambre quand l escalier est éclairé.

Établissement propre et personnel sympatique

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

17 Feb 2026

Emil guttorm

Værelserne var rene og pæne, faciliteterne var i orden, placeringen var perfekt og personalet var super imødekommende. Vi sov på to forskellige værelser, og i den ene opgang er der glasdøre til værelserne og bevægelsessensorer til lyset i hele opgangen. Desuden var væggene utrolig tynde. De nætter vi havde på det værelse sov vi næsten ikke. Dette hotel er super godt til prisen, men tag ørepropper og måske en sovemaske med;)

8/10

Excellent

11 Aug 2025

Yoshihiro

立地は最高です。ただし、タクシーが入って来られません。はじめはわかりづらいかもしれません。周辺に有名店があります。

8/10

Excellent

26 Nov 2024

Takuya

部屋は広くて綺麗でした。でもシャワートイレ洗面所が全てまとまっていました。あとお湯が出なかった。

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

22 Nov 2024

Eva

Personalet var meget sødt, ligger centralt, men også i et meget støjende område.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

09 Oct 2024

James

Great value and location!

Perfect location. Very fast wifi. Great AC. Its a little rustic but it feels like vietnam and not just another hotel. I would stay here again and would recommend it to true travelers. If your too picky then stay home.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Oct 2024

Cristina Daniela

Recomendable pero mejorar la gestión

El hotel económico y muy buena ubicación... Correcto por la categoría de dos estrellas.. Limpio y con buena servicio de habitaciones
Eso sí .. había cambiado y pagado la reserva de 3 noches por una de 4 noches pero al llegar no tenían libre la habitación. El dueño nos ha llevado a un hotel cercano que era malo no...misero...la falta de limpieza mínima era brutal .. no estaban limpias ni las fundas de almohada....Pasamos una noche fatal en un sitio muy sucio simplemente por la mala gestion de nuestra reserva

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

11 May 2024

sanghwa

녀ㄹ ㅓ븐 e곳은 하노이 9경하는 최고의 위치ㅇㅔ
E씀니da ㄱ ㅓ의 모든 s빳이 붙어있고 2동에 부담이 없습nida 마ㅣniㅈㅓ 도 친절하go 좋았어요

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

11 May 2024

tomoyuki

エレベーターが無いので階段で昇降することを除けば、とても快適に過ごせました。