Hilton has just announced the next location for its luxury Waldorf Astoria brand, and it’s coming in the form of a converted Hilton.
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Waldorf Astoria Hanoi opens 2025
The Waldorf Astoria brand will be making its debut in Vietnam in 2025, with the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Hanoi. The 187-room hotel will feature four dining concepts, including the Waldorf Astoria brand’s signature Peacock Alley, a rooftop lounge, and two other restaurants. The hotel will also feature a spa, fitness center, and pool.
The Waldorf Astoria Hanoi will be a short walking distance from the city’s Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, and 40 minutes by car from Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). This property is one of 10 Hilton properties opening in Vietnam in the coming years.
Below you can find the first few renderings of this gorgeous property. Hanoi doesn’t have too many true luxury hotels as of now, so this is a pretty exciting development.
This is a conversion of the Hilton Hanoi Opera
If the Waldorf Astoria Hanoi looks kind of familiar, it’s for good reason. This is actually a conversion of the existing Hilton Hanoi Opera. The hotel opened in 1999, and features 268 guest rooms. It sounds like the hotel will be totally redesigned, and we’re not just talking about a light refresh, as rooms will likely be made much larger, with the room count decreasing by roughly one third.
For context, below are some pictures of the current Hilton Hanoi Opera, to give you a sense of just how much will be changing. The Hilton Hanoi Opera will be closing as of December 1, 2022, so that the hotel can undergo a two to three year refresh.
One also can’t talk about the Hilton Hanoi without mentioning the name relation to the Hoa Lo Prison, the Vietnamese prisoner of war camp where many Americans were captured during the Vietnam War. That was often referred to as the “Hanoi Hilton,” though had no relation to the hotel.
Bottom line
The Waldorf Astoria brand will be expanding to Vietnam, with the introduction of the Waldorf Astoria Hanoi. This hotel will replace the Hilton Hanoi Opera, after it undergoes a significant renovation. It’s cool to see a luxury points brand expand to Hanoi, and I look forward to hopefully checking out this property some day.
What do you make of the Waldorf Astoria Hanoi?
Sad to see the old hotel go. Stayed there in 2019 before COVID started. It was a fantastic stay with attentive staff and a fantastic lounge. Located near to the historic old quarter there couldn't be a better location in a fabulous country
Good. Hanoi Hilton is a very dated property. The lighting and decor are more like a motel. The location is great but the property is meh.
Oops; I have reservations at the Hilton in March 2023. I guess I need to find a new hotel!
Stories about a "Hanoi Hilton" should have a trigger warning for Vietnam War veterans.
I stayed at this hotel for four nights in 2017. I loved the location and I'm really looking forward to seeing the property open as a WA.
Even then the Hilton showed its age a fair amount, though the rooms were still acceptable and the location, price, and elite benefits made it a compelling package.
@DCS
Have you stayed at this Hilton in Vietnam
Unfortunately @DCS is taking a break from Hilton to join the likely 'botched' IHG challenge.
Circle of life. Once you hit lifetime, you look for other chains, even the fervent DCS can't escape this.
I have not stayed at any Hilton hotels in Vietnam where the chain did not have much of presence, entering the market only fairly recently. Also, I have not been to Hanoi. I was in Ho Chi Mihn City about a decade ago, staying at Park Hyatt Saigon on points. I've scheduled a return trip to HCM City and another award stay at PH Saigon for the post-pandemic 'reboot' of my Asian Escapade in Jan 2023...
I have stayed here ofyen since 2011.
Dated yes but the staff and ex lounge are excellent.
WA will price it out of the market for many of us biz travellets and i dont look forward to this hotel dissapearing. What a loss.
Would have much appreciated if they had just updated the rooms
Stayed in Hanoi fall of 2019 and did Hilton Opera followed by Sofitel. Both great hotels that delivered exactly what you’d want to expect from the brand. And the staff at both were outstanding, largely because the Vietnamese people are just so proud, welcoming and hard-working. Awesome country and city and I look forward to visiting again. Just wish getting a visa wasn’t such an ordeal.
They have updated their visa processing post Covid. We just went and it was quite easy, upload passport info and photo online and visa provided with 3 to 5 days for 30 days (assuming you made no errors on the application).
Oh that’s great to hear. I had to go to some dumpy consulate office near the UN where the rudest people I’ve ever dealt with quoted me a false amount needed in cash and then when I ran back up from an atm on the street quoted me an even higher price and insisted I misheard! I was livid but just wanted to get it done. I knew there was an e-visa option as well but had been dissuaded from this by several colleagues.
Definitely planning on visiting this property in the distant future. Hilton status is recognized nicely outside of the US in my experiences. Surprised you haven't written about Hilton going back to pre pandemic requirements for stays at Hilton. Gold is back to 40 nights.
Agreed. I was in Hanoi in 2016 and really enjoyed the country. Stayed one night at this Hilton. It will be better suited as a WA. Hilton all over Asia has some beautiful properties.
Lufthansa has released pictures and the rollout plan for its new cabins: https://www.aerotelegraph.com/lufthansa-bringt-suiten-in-der-first-class-und-schlafreihe-in-der-economy