Luxury Hanoi 2BR: Vinhomes Metropolis, Lotte's Doorstep!
Luxury Hanoi 2BR: Vinhomes Metropolis, Lotte's Doorstep!
Luxury Hanoi 2BR: Vinhomes Metropolis - Lotte's Doorstep! A Review That's More Coffee Stain Than Perfect Latte
Okay, deep breath. I've just emerged from a stay at the "Luxury Hanoi 2BR: Vinhomes Metropolis, Lotte's Doorstep!," and, folks, let me tell you, it’s a bit like trying to assemble flatpack furniture after a double espresso. There are moments of glorious success, followed by… well, let's just say I wouldn't trust myself to write a perfect review, and you shouldn't trust me to build a bookshelf. But! We’ll muddle through.
First Impressions & Accessibility: Squeaky Floors and the Quest for the Elevator (and maybe a decent coffee…)
The accessibility situation is… a mixed bag. The lobby elevator - essential for navigating the high-rise - was accessible (yay!). Reaching the apartment itself? Thankfully the exterior corridor seemed manageable enough.
Getting around outside the building… sigh I’m not a wheelchair user, but I’m guessing the sidewalks of Hanoi remain a work in progress. Prepare to embrace your inner obstacle course champion. Inside, the apartment seemed accessible enough, spacious layout was a saving grace. The lack of ramp access to the pool area was an immediate bummer.
Internet: Wi-Fi Woes & LAN Laughs (Sort Of)
Okay, the Internet situation was… a rollercoaster. They boast Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and Wi-Fi in public areas. And, the apartment had Internet [LAN]. Let's just say my attempts to upload photos of the glorious view were met with more buffering than a Netflix marathon in the Sahara. The Wi-Fi in the apartment did eventually limp along, but I spent a good portion of my stay tethered to the Internet access – LAN like a digital hermit. Honestly, I think the Internet services could use a serious upgrade. I ended up tethering my phone for some key work necessities.
Cleanliness and Safety: Hand Sanitizer Heaven & "Is That a Stain?"
The cleanliness and safety protocols were commendable. They're really pushing the boat out on this one, right? Evidence was everywhere: Anti-viral cleaning products were in use, and there was Daily disinfection in common areas. We're talking about a phobia-friendly vacation. The Room sanitization opt-out available was a nice touch. And there was a Hand sanitizer dispenser that seemed to multiply itself. Individually-wrapped food options were a thoughtful touch.
The apartment itself was Rooms sanitized between stays, and the staff trained in safety protocol. The Physical distancing of at least 1 meter was apparent. I liked the concept; felt a bit like a paranoid alien invasion movie at times, but hey, safety first.
But… (there’s always a but, isn’t there?) There’s the Daily housekeeping, which was good, but there were moments where I spotted things that didn't quite make the cut for a cleaning perfectionist. A smudge here, a tiny stain there. Nothing major, mind you, but enough to make you raise a curious eyebrow.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Pool with a View, and the Elusive Spa
Okay, let’s talk about the goodies! The swimming pool [outdoor] was stunning. Pool with view is an understatement. It's up high and felt totally luxurious.
I was really keen on the Spa. They had a Spa/sauna, Steamroom… which sounded divine, but when I enquired I was very disappointed to learn it was all booked for the next couple of weeks (sigh). Maybe go early, or you miss out (I do have a tiny bit of regret). The Gym/fitness center Fitness center was okay, if a bit basic.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (with a few bumps)
The restaurants and poolside bar offered a good array of stuff. A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, and Western cuisine in restaurant options were available; the views alone are worth the price of admission.
Breakfast [buffet] was an experience. There was a huge spread, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, and Buffet in restaurant options. The Coffee shop was a godsend, but the Coffee/tea in restaurant was… let's just say it wasn't the highlight of the morning. (Perhaps I'm a coffee snob). The Bottle of water was much appreciated. Room service [24-hour] – tried it, worked a charm, though the salad in restaurant was a bit… meh. The Desserts in restaurant redeemed them, however.
Services and Conveniences: From Concierge to (Slightly Overpriced) Souvenirs
The Concierge was super helpful and Luggage storage was efficient. The Daily housekeeping was decent, but there were a few minor imperfections that I couldn’t shake. Cash withdrawal was convenient.
The Convenience store onsite was handy, but watch out - the prices were a bit inflated.
For the Kids: Babysitting and… Well, That's About It
They Babysitting service, which is good (I didn't use it), but the "kid's facilities" seem a bit… minimal.
Available in All Rooms & More: So Many Features, So Little Time
Okay, there's a LOT to unpack here. Air conditioning? Check. Bathtub? Check. Free bottled water? Absolutely. Free Wi-Fi? …Mostly. Refrigerator and Coffee/tea maker? Yep and yep. In-room safe box? Excellent.
But now for the nitty-gritty: they had Additional toilet (always a bonus!), Alarm clock, Blackout curtains (essential!), Bathrobes, Bathroom phone (who uses those things anymore?!), Carpeting, Closet, Complimentary tea, Desk, Extra long bed, Hair dryer, High floor, Internet access – wireless (when it deigned to work), Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar (tempting!), Mirror, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale (gulp!), Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers (yes!), Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, and Window that opens. It's fair to say this place is well-equipped.
Quirks, Cracks, and Coffee Rings (My Personal Observations)
Look, there's a Shrine at the entrance. Cool, I guess? Couple's room may or may not be a thing. Smoking area in what feels like a nonsmoking location. I appreciated the available Essential condiments. The Happy hour was alright. The Invoice provided I had it.
The Verdict: Worth a Stay, But Bring Your Patience (and a Good Book)
Would I recommend the "Luxury Hanoi 2BR: Vinhomes Metropolis, Lotte's Doorstep!"?
Yes, I would. But with caveats, like a contract with a thousand clauses. It's a solid option, especially if you're looking for something upscale with good views. However, it’s not perfect. The Internet is a trial, and the Spa reservations situation is a frustrating oversight. The restaurant can be hit-or-miss but the views from the top floor are truly memorable.
Overall Score: 7.5/10 (with an extra half-point for the Pool with view. That was really something.)
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Mumbai's Hidden Gem: Treebo Tryst Laxvas - Unbelievable Luxury!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly-organized itinerary. This is a chaotic, love-letter-to-Hanoi-and-a-Vinhomes-Metropolis-apartment-near-Lotte-that-I-swear-will-be-my-undoing-in-the-best-possible-way kind of adventure.
Hanoi Heaps of Happiness (and Headaches) - A Messy, Wonderful Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival, Astonishment, and (Possibly) Existential Dread at Lotte Center
Morning (6:00 AM - 8:00 AM): The flight from wherever-the-hell-I-am-originally (let's say, Chicago, because I am dramatic), lands. Sleep-deprived, carrying luggage that somehow weighs more than me. Taxi to Vinhomes Metropolis. Pray to the gods of traffic that the driver understands "Near Lotte." (Spoiler alert: he will. Everyone in Hanoi seems to know everything.)
Morning (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Settle into the 2BR apartment. Oh. My. God. This place. The view from the 40th floor is insane. Lotte Center looms, a gleaming monolith, and I feel like I'm in a sci-fi movie. The apartment is sleek, modern, ridiculously clean. I'm pretty sure I'm going to ruin it with my clumsy existence. Unpack (sort of). Immediately locate the coffee maker. Life is better.
Morning (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM): Coffee consumption and initial exploration of the apartment. Holy moly, the bed situation! Plush, luxurious, calling to me… Fight the urge to crawl back in. Must. Explore.
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Wrestle control of my internal map-making software. Wander around Lotte Center. Get lost in the basement food court (it's a labyrinth, I tell you!). Sample everything. Everything. Pho, banh mi, spring rolls… My stomach is already screaming, "Slow down, you glutton!" Buy a ridiculous amount of Vietnamese coffee.
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Lunch somewhere in the food court, and then it hits me. I mean, it really hits me. The sheer scale of this city. The scooters, the noise, the smells (good and…interesting), the people… It's overwhelming. Panic briefly bubbles up. Breathe. I'm in Hanoi, and this is amazing.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Back to the apartment to recover from the sensory overload and try to actually plan something. Fail. Stare at the view. Take a nap. It's exhausting being this thrilled.
Afternoon/Evening (4:00 PM - 7:00 PM): Attempt to walk around Hoan Kiem Lake. Get distracted by a shop selling beautiful silk scarves. Buy one (obviously). Almost get run over by a scooter (also obviously). Sigh wistfully at the turtle tower.
Evening (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Dinner at a recommended Bia Hoi. Forget the name - who can remember all of it when feeling all the feeling? It's cheap, it’s delicious, and the tiny plastic chairs are ridiculously uncomfortable. Love it. Drink too much.
Evening (9:00 PM onwards): Back to the apartment, collapse on the plush bed. Stare out the window at the city lights. Realize I’ve only done a fraction of the planned stuff and already felt like I wanted to buy the whole place at least three times. Fall into a deep, happy sleep.
Day 2: Old Quarter Chaos & Culinary Conquest
Morning (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Wake up. Question all life choices. (Just kidding… mostly.) Coffee. Need. Coffee. Decipher all the words of the previous day's notes.
Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Brave the Old Quarter. Prepare for sensory overload: vendors hawking everything, scooters zipping past like angry bees, the aroma of pho wafting from every doorway. Get lost, intentionally. Discover hidden alleyways, tiny temples, and the best egg coffee of my life at a nondescript café I’ll never find again. Try to haggle. Fail spectacularly. Have fun anyway.
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00PM): Pho. Must have pho. Find some place, any place that smells right, eat, weep with joy.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Take a street food tour. Overeat. Regret nothing. The Banh Mi's are just too freaking good to resist. Struggle to keep track of what exactly I am eating, but the taste is heavenly.
Afternoon (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM): Shopping for souvenirs & gifts. Get ripped off at least once. Decide I don't care. Purchase a ridiculous conical hat. Wear it, even though I look ridiculous. Delight in the absurdity of it all.
Evening (7:00 PM- 9:00 PM): Dinner and perhaps a drink. Drink a little too much. Remember, you are in Hanoi, you can only get away with so much.
Evening (9:00 PM onwards): Back at the apartment. Watch a terrible movie on the huge TV. Wonder if I will ever leave. Probably not.
Day 3: Beyond the City - A Day Trip (Or, Should I Just Stay? )
Morning (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Debating a day trip to Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, or a cooking class. Exhausted thoughts.
Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Okay, maybe Ha Long Bay is a bit much for a day trip. Settle on a local cooking class.
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Grocery shopping for ingredients. More food. More experiences. Be brave.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 6:00 PM): Cooking class. Chop, dice, stir, make mistakes, laugh hysterically. Eat everything I make. Food coma.
Evening (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Return to the apartment. The balcony is glorious. Enjoy my cooking class creations.
Evening (9:00 PM onwards): Reflect (briefly) on the trip. Have a strong emotion.
Day 4: The Lotte Life (and Maybe, Just Maybe, a Trip to the Mausoleum)
Morning (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM): Seriously reconsider the trip to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The line for it has gotta be long, and I am no good with waiting, but maybe a peak?
Morning (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Explore the Lotte Center. So many shops! So much window shopping!
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Lunch at a fancy restaurant in the Lotte Center. Indulge. Feel guilty. Regret nothing.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): The Mausoleum. Face off with the long queues. Don't judge yourself, just go with the flow.
Evening (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Dinner somewhere new, maybe something I have been wanting to try but have been putting off.
Evening (9:00 PM onwards): Pack. Cry. Vow to return.
Day 5: Departure (But Really Just a Delay)
- Morning (All Morning): Attempt to pack. Fail. Eat leftovers. Drag my grumpy self to the airport.
- Departure.
The Inherent Imperfections:
- Traffic: Expect delays. Embrace them.
- Language: Learn a few basic Vietnamese phrases. It'll help.
- Haggling: It's expected. Don't be afraid to try.
- Food: Be adventurous! Try everything. (Except maybe the stuff that looks truly, truly horrifying.)
- Weather: It's Hanoi. Be prepared for anything. Rain, sun, humidity… all in the span of an hour.
- Me: I'll probably be a mess. But hopefully, a happy, food-coma-induced mess.
Final Thoughts:
This itinerary is a suggestion, a guideline, a jumping-off point for your own messy, wonderful Hanoi adventure. Lean into the chaos. Get lost. Eat everything. Fall in love with the city (and maybe the apartment and the view). And above all, have fun.
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Luxury Hanoi 2BR: Vinhomes Metropolis, Lotte's Doorstep! - Let's Get Real About This Place
Okay, Okay, So Is This Place *Actually* Luxurious? Like, Beyond the Shiny Pictures?
Alright, buckle up, buttercup. "Luxury" is a loaded word, right? And Vietnamese "luxury" sometimes has a... *different* vibe than, say, a Four Seasons in Paris. Let me be honest. Yes, it's *definitely* a step up. Vinhomes Metropolis is fancy, no doubt. Think gleaming marble lobbies, that crazy infinity pool overlooking the city (more on that later), and all the mod cons you could want. But… is it flawless? Absolutely not.
Picture this: I arrive, exhausted from a terrible flight (delayed! of course!), and after a lengthy check-in, I finally make it to the apartment. And… the air conditioning is blasting ICE COLD. Like, polar vortex in Hanoi cold. I immediately try to fiddle with it, but it's one of those fancy, digital things, and I'm staring at a screen, feeling utterly inept. Finally, after 20 minutes of sweating and swearing (under my breath, politely, of course), I figure it out. Not exactly a "luxury" welcome, eh?
The good news? The apartment *was* gorgeous. High ceilings, amazing views, big windows... I felt like a movie star (a slightly frazzled movie star, but still…).
That Pool! How AMAZING is that Infinity Pool REALLY?
Oh, the pool. The *pool*. It's the *reason* you're probably looking at this place, let's be real. And pictures? They don't do it justice. Seeing that panoramic view of Hanoi while swimming? It's breathtaking. Definitely a “wow” moment. I even took selfies (don't judge me!).
BUT… (there’s always a but, isn't there?). It can get *crowded*. Imagine a gaggle of influencers vying for the perfect Instagram shot, families with screaming kids, and a general buzz of activity. Not exactly a tranquil oasis. I'd recommend going early in the morning, before the hordes descend. Or maybe late at night, when only the truly dedicated are left. And be warned: that Hanoi sun hits HARD. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and maybe a small oxygen tank – just kidding… mostly.
One day, I swear, I saw a *frog* in the pool. A tiny, green frog. I have no idea how it got up there, but it just sort of… hopped around. Adding to the whole "luxury" experience, I guess.
"Lotte's Doorstep!" – Is It REALLY That Close to Lotte Center? Because I'm Lazy.
Yes. A thousand times yes. "Doorstep" isn't an exaggeration. You practically fall out of the building and into the Lotte Center. Which, for a lazy person like myself, is a *blessing*. Think: restaurants, a massive supermarket (stocked with all the Western comforts you crave, along with some truly bizarre Vietnamese snacks), a movie theater… all right there.
I actually lost track of how many times I wandered over there for a quick bite, a movie, or just to escape the Hanoi humidity. Honestly, living *that* close to a mall is both amazing and a little terrifying. My credit card definitely took a hit. Prepare to be tempted by everything. The food court alone…oh dear god. I may have gained a few kilos. You have been warned.
On the downside? It's also a bit… sterile. Lotte Center is very modern, very polished, and a bit devoid of Hanoi's chaotic charm. But hey, when you need a Western-style coffee and a comforting dose of air conditioning, it's pure gold.
What About the Apartment Itself? Are They Well-Equipped? Is it Practical?
Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. The apartments at Vinhomes Metropolis are generally well-equipped. You'll find everything you *need* (and probably a lot of stuff you don't), from a fully functional kitchen with modern appliances (although, the oven in mine was a mystery…I never figured it out), to a washing machine and dryer (essential for navigating Hanoi's famously humid climate).
My 2BR was spacious. It was clean (mostly! I did find a stray sock under the sofa at one point… but hey, that's life, right?) The beds were comfortable (a *huge* plus). The bathrooms were modern and had good water pressure – a crucial detail, believe me. Storage space was plentiful.
The downside? Well, sometimes the power flickered (Hanoi things, apparently). And the Wi-Fi, while generally good, occasionally went on strike. I had one particularly frustrating afternoon trying to work and ended up yelling at my laptop (again, under my breath… mostly). These are hiccups, not dealbreakers. Just be prepared for a little… "character."
What's the Vibe of the Neighborhood? Is it Safe?
The area around Vinhomes Metropolis is *very* safe. It's a well-heeled, modern part of Hanoi. You'll see a lot of expats, business travelers, and well-to-do locals. You can wander around at any hour without feeling uneasy. It's the kind of neighborhood where people are more likely to be walking a fluffy dog than causing trouble (although, the traffic is a different story… more on that later).
The vibe? It's a bit less "authentic Hanoi" and more "international city." There are plenty of Western-style cafes, restaurants, and shops. You're not going to get the same chaotic energy as you would in the Old Quarter. Which, depending on your personality, is either a good or a bad thing.
Oh! One night I was walking back from dinner, engrossed in my phone, and I tripped over a… well, I’m not entirely sure *what* I tripped over. It was dark, and I went sprawling. My dignity was slightly bruised, but thankfully, no serious injuries. Moral of the story? Pay attention to where you're walking, even in "safe" neighborhoods.
Okay, Real Talk: The Traffic. How Does One Survive It?
Hanoi traffic. Ah, the sweet, sweet chaos. It's legendary for a reason. Crossing the street feels like an extreme sport. Motorbikes swarm like angry bees. The noise is constant. The rules of the road? Well, let's just say they're… flexible.
Living at Vinhomes Metropolis, you will learn the art of the Grab car. Grab is like Uber/Lyft, but for motorbikes too. It's affordable and relatively efficient. You can avoid having to navigate the insanity yourself. Seriously, master the Grab app. It is your lifeline. If you're feelingSomers Point Getaway: Economy Motel Inn & Suites - Unbeatable Deals!
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