The newly-opened Silk Path Hotel is a graceful addition to the famous Hang Bong St in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The 106-room hotel is luxurious, and has the comfortable, charming atmos*phere of a more boutique establishment. The decor is elegant and blends modern beauty with the spirit of the Orient

The Silk Path offers a superb choice of accommodation. Its well-appointed rooms come in four grades: Silk Deluxe, Silk Executive, Silk Club and Silk Suite. Each room and suite lias modern amenities such as centralised air-conditioning, an LCD tel*evision, satellite television, wifi internet, DVD player, in-house movies, mini-bar and a safety box. The Silk Suite is the hotel’s most luxu*rious room and easily compares to the Presidential Suites of five-star hotels. The suite is on the 8th floor of the hotel and resembles the penthouse of a high-end apartment building. This 120sqm room has a well-equipped kitchen, a small bar and a premium living room to receive friends or business partners. The 8600-a-night suite is the only hotel room in town that has its own Jacuzzi. According to general manager Gerard Hanssen the hotel has several other strik*ing features that make it stand out. The hotel’s design and building materials are unique in Hanoi. Initially, the building appears like any other in the capital city, but once inside, guests are able to appreci*ate the hotel’s four 10-storey ‘sky wells’ that flood the building with light The wells ensure each of the hotel’s rooms has daylight, a feat difficult to achieve for most hotels in the cramped Old QuaTwo high-speed glass elevatorstranport between floors guests very quickly Mr Hanssen said the hotel exceeded the stan*dards of most other four-star hotels.

HOTEL ‘If we had a swimming pool,’ Mr Hanssen said, ‘and if our location in the Old Quarter allowed for that, we could
apply for a five-star rating;’
Culinary art is another focus of the Silk Path Hotel. Guests can choose to dis*cover the blend of French and Vietnamese cuisines at La Soie de Hanoi, or pizzas and pastries at the Mediterranean-inspired Bellissimo Restaurant The Piano Bar offers a tranquil place to have tea, coffee, fresh cocktails or fine wine and listen to live music A fitness centre with a sauna and Jacuzzi is on 10th floor. The centre has its own Spa Bar offering fruit juices to help maintain good health. Other hotel facilities include four conference rooms that can accommodate up to 60 people at a time. Each room is equipped with the latest technology. ‘As the newest kid on the block, and non-branded, that is not belonging to any of the major hotel chains, we are unknown,’ Mr Hanssen said. To some extent, this Is a disadvantage, but on the other hand it allows us freedom in pricing policy and in the conceptualisation of our products and sendees. ‘Five-star services, four-star prices’ is one of our slogans. It exemplifies in a nutshell what we stand for.’
Mr Hanssen is optimistic about the future of the hotel. The global consumer has ahvays appreciated and paid for quality Once we are settled and have carved out our niche in the market, we should enjoy the fruits of our labour,’ he said.
With its fantastic central location, with*in walking distance to the city’s most pop*ular tourist offerings, business community and government offices, it seems the hotel is destined to become a favourite of high- end leisure and business travelers.
For me, I love the husde and bustle of the shopping street right outside the hotel. Guests do not have to go far to feel part of the dailv life of Hanoi.Q

Source: http://www.vietnamvisasupport.com/f@rum/content/122-lap-luxury.html