Hanoi is loud. If you’ve spent more than ten minutes near Hoan Kiem Lake, you know exactly what I’m talking about—the relentless swarm of motorbikes, the smell of street-side bun cha, and that chaotic energy that defines northern Vietnam. But there’s a massive misconception that you have to stay in the thick of that madness to "experience" the city. Honestly? Most seasoned travelers eventually migrate toward the water. Specifically, they end up at the InterContinental Westlake Hotel Hanoi Vietnam, and it’s not just because they want a quiet night’s sleep.
It’s built right on top of the water. Literally.
When you first pull up to the driveway, it looks like a standard high-end hotel. Elegant, sure. But then you walk through the lobby and realize the entire property is essentially a series of pavilions linked by bridges over the 500-hectare West Lake (Tay Ho). It feels less like a city hotel and more like a floating village that someone happened to outfit with five-star linens and Vietnamese silk.
The Overwater Pavilion Reality Check
Most people book a standard room in the main building because it’s cheaper. Don't do that. The "Sunset Island" pavilions are the reason this place exists. You’re walking over the dark water of the lake at night, the city skyline twinkling in the distance, and you realize you can’t hear a single horn honking. That is a miracle in Hanoi.
The architecture is a weirdly successful marriage of contemporary Western luxury and traditional Vietnamese aesthetics. Think cream walls, dark timber, and those iconic pitched roofs. The rooms are massive. You get these private balconies where you can sit and watch the local fishermen in their tiny boats or the elderly residents doing Tai Chi on the shore across the water. It’s a side of the city that feels ancient, even though the skyscrapers of the Lotte Center are visible on the horizon.
One thing to keep in mind: because it’s on the water, it gets humid. I mean, really humid. The hotel works hard to maintain the wood and the fabrics, but you’re in a tropical climate on a lake. If you’re a stickler for clinical, bone-dry air, you might find the "open-air" vibe of the walkways a bit of a shock in August. But in the autumn? It’s perfection.
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Eating and Drinking (Beyond the Tourist Traps)
Most hotel bars are depressing. They’re usually empty, overpriced, and smell like stale peanuts. The Sunset Bar here is the exception. It’s located on its own little island, accessible only by a bridge.
You’ve got these massive daybeds and a cocktail list that actually tries. It’s arguably the best place in the entire city to watch the sun go down. Locals actually come here—which is always a good sign. They aren't just catering to the suitcase crowd.
Cafe du Lac and the Food Scene
The breakfast spread at Cafe du Lac is intimidating. You’ve got the standard omelet station, but you also have a legitimate Pho bar that rivals the street vendors in quality, if not in "grit."
- Milan Restaurant: This is where things get interesting. Authentic Italian food in the middle of a Vietnamese lake sounds like a disaster, but it works. They have a wood-fired pizza oven that stays busy.
- Saigon Restaurant: This is the flagship. It’s focused on fresh Vietnamese flavors but with a "fine dining" lens. It’s great for a formal dinner, but honestly, the street food a ten-minute walk away in the Tay Ho neighborhood is where the soul is.
Speaking of the neighborhood, the InterContinental Westlake Hotel Hanoi Vietnam sits in the expat heart of the city. While the Old Quarter is for tourists, Tay Ho is where people actually live. This means you’re within walking distance of incredible craft beer bars like 7 Bridges or standing-room-only coffee shops that serve the best egg coffee you’ll ever have.
The "Inconvenience" Factor
Let’s be real: you are not in the center of the action. If you want to walk out of your lobby and immediately be hit by a lady selling pineapples, this isn't your spot.
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It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to get to the Old Quarter by Grab (the local Uber). It’s cheap—usually just a few dollars—but the traffic in Hanoi is a sentient beast. It doesn't care about your dinner reservations. If you stay here, you have to accept that you’re "commuting" to the sights. But for most people, the trade-off is worth it. Returning to the silence of the lake after a day of dodging scooters in the 36 Streets is a form of therapy.
Why Business Travelers Love It
If you’re in town for meetings, the InterContinental is a strategic move. Most of the government offices and many international corporate HQs have moved toward the western side of the city. Being at the Westlake location means you’re closer to the "New Hanoi" business district and significantly closer to the airport (Noi Bai International) than if you were stuck in the narrow alleys of the center.
The club lounge is also worth the upgrade. It’s quiet, the Wi-Fi is rock solid, and they serve a high tea that actually feels like a meal. If you need to take a Zoom call without a chorus of motorbike engines in the background, this is your sanctuary.
A Note on Sustainability and the Lake
The lake itself, Tay Ho, is the lungs of Hanoi. It’s beautiful, but it’s a city lake. It has its moods. Sometimes the water is pristine and reflects the clouds perfectly; other times, the city’s environmental challenges are more apparent. The hotel does a lot of heavy lifting to keep their immediate surroundings clean, but it's part of a larger ecosystem.
Staying here gives you a front-row seat to the environmental reality of a rapidly developing Southeast Asian capital. It’s nuanced. It’s complex. It’s not a sanitized Disney version of Vietnam.
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Practical Steps for Your Stay
If you’re planning to book the InterContinental Westlake Hotel Hanoi Vietnam, don’t just click "confirm" on the first deal you see. There’s a strategy to getting the most out of this place.
1. Check the weather cycles. Hanoi has four seasons. February to March is "the drizzle," where everything is gray and damp. The lake becomes a foggy, mystical place, which is cool for photos but can feel a bit gloomy. May to September is hot—intense, soul-melting hot. The pool here is fantastic, but the humidity on the lake is next level during these months.
2. Download the Grab app before you arrive. Don't rely on hotel cars for everything; they’re expensive. A Grab bike or car will get you to the Temple of Literature or the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum for a fraction of the cost, and the drivers know the back alleys better than anyone.
3. Explore the "other" side of the lake. Most tourists stay on the hotel side. Cross over to the eastern bank of West Lake. There are dozens of tiny pagodas, like Tran Quoc, which is the oldest in the city. It’s a short ride away and offers a completely different perspective on the water.
4. Request a high floor in the main building if you don't do a pavilion. If the overwater villas are out of your budget, at least aim for height. The views of the city skyline reflecting off the water at night are genuinely world-class.
Ultimately, the InterContinental Westlake Hotel Hanoi Vietnam isn't just a place to sleep. It's a buffer. It's a way to experience the intensity of one of Asia's most vibrant cities without feeling like you're being swallowed by it. You get the history of the lake, the luxury of the brand, and a very necessary escape from the beautiful, loud chaos of Hanoi.
Go for the sunset. Stay for the silence. Just make sure you bring a light jacket for the lake breeze in the evening, because even in the tropics, the water has a way of cooling things down just enough to make you forget you're in the middle of a city of eight million people.