Pan Pacific Hanoi

BACKGROUND Pan Pacific Hanoi opened in September 1998. It was first managed by Meritus Westlake Hotel, then rebranded as Sofitel Plaza Hanoi. In October 2016 it was rebranded again to become Pan Pacific Hanoi. Various parts of the hotel have undergone refurbishment in recent years. Most recently was the fitness centre in 2018, and before that the lobby, Pacifica restaurant, Song Hong Bar and smaller meeting rooms in 2016.

WHERE IS IT? On the edge of gorgeous West Lake, the largest lake in Hanoi and a popular spot for recreation. The Sheraton Hanoi and Intercontinental Hanoi West

Lake are less than a 20-minute walk away. Pan Pacific Hanoi is a half-hour walk or tenminute drive from the Old Quarter.

W H AT ’ S IT LIKE? This is an impressive property with an enviable location, and exactly what you would expect from the

Pan Pacific brand. The hotel has a grand entrance and large lobby.

ROOMS Pan Pacific Hanoi has 270 rooms and suites, including 181 Deluxe rooms, 44 Pacific Club rooms, 24 Premier Lakeview rooms, 16 Studio suites, 54 serviced suites, three Executive suites, one Premier suite and one Presidential suite.

I was in a Pacific Club room on the 16th floor with access to the 17th-floor Pacific Club lounge. The real standout feature of this room is the beautiful view of West Lake and the much smaller Truc Bach Lake.

The bed was soft and comfortable and came with normal-sized pillows and some smaller purple ones. Beside the bed was a lounger chair, also with a purple cushion. Next to the bed was a device that functions as an alarm clock, and room lighting and air conditioning controls. Opposite the bed was a writing desk which, with its view over the two lakes, was a beautiful place to work. The wardrobe contained the usual safe, hairdryer, etc, and there were also tea- and coffee-making facilities and a minibar.

The bathroom was of a good size with a larger than usual bathtub and a set of bathroom scales. Toiletries are by Embrace, the shower had both rainfall and normal shower heads, whilst the toilet was equipped with an electronic bidet.

E X E C U T I V E LO U N G E The 340 sqm Pacific Club lounge on the 17th floor is a great place to eat, drink, read or get some work done. The staff were extremely courteous and helpful. They remembered what kind of coffee I preferred and always made sure I had everything I needed. As with the rooms, the lounge also offers stunning views of Hanoi from various angles. The furnishings are all high quality and I was surprised that the lounge was last refurbished in 2012 – it’s set to undergo another refurbishment in 2020. The lounge is decorated with 23 paintings; the property as a whole has an impressive 140 paintings and 300 photographs on display.

The breakfast buffet changes regularly: on one day the theme was Korean and on another it was Singaporean. There’s also an extensive à la carte menu from which to choose.

FOOD AND DRINK Ming on the second floor is a Cantonese restaurant. I dined here for lunch on the first day of my stay, and found it pretty authentic. Pacifica, on the first floor, offers Asian and international buffet. The Pastry Corner is also on the first floor, offering a selection of pastries, homemade cakes, chocolates and macarons. The 20th-floor Summit Bar offers great views of Hanoi.

LEISURE The 24-hour, fourth-floor gym is large and split between two different rooms, one focused on weights and another on larger equipment like treadmills. In the same area there’s also a very nice swimming pool (open 6am-10pm). The Wellness Spa is on the same floor. VERDICT I had a wonderful stay. The hotel’s views of picturesque West Lake are complemented by excellent in-room amenities, as well as great F&B outlets and leisure facilities.

The writing desk, with its view over two lakes, was a beautiful place to work