Capella Hanoi

I'm back home in Phoenix after two weeks in Asia (and getting over my jet lag). Apologies for the delay in updates, but now that I'm at home (and vegging out this weekend in recovery), I should be able to get more of these reports done. 

Here are my impressions of my time at Capella Hanoi:

I booked two stays at Capella Hanoi. The first 2-night stay was via Bilt’s Home Away from Home (Virtuoso), where I utilized my $200 Bilt Palladium credit and added another $100 credit using Bilt Cash. I had a one-day gap where I took an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay, and then returned for 1 more night, which I booked via AMEX’s Fine Hotels and Resorts, using one of my AMEX Platinum $300 credits.

Check-in: Very much straightforward; my room wasn’t ready the first stay, so I did enjoy a snack (Banh Mi) at the Living Room. I left for a walk, and by the time I returned, the room was ready. For the second stay, I was able to check in immediately.

Hotel: The theme for Capella Hanoi is a throwback to 1920s New York, with a lot of little touches to make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. I really liked it (and was quite the contrast to the modern styling of Capella Taipei). The photos will show it much more than I could.

Room: Thanks to the room rates and my GHA Discovery Titanium status (I think), I was upgraded to a Capella Suite for both stays (in fact, I was given the exact same room for both)! The Capella Suite is a massive 1-bedroom corner suite, with no less than 4 balconies (one of them was in the bathroom so maybe I shouldn’t count that). It was far more space than I needed, but I really appreciated having it. 

Breakfast: Breakfast was at Backstage, their lobby-level restaurant. Similar to Taipei, there is an à la carte menu + a buffet (which felt more expansive vs Taipei, and included a banh mi bar). I tried the omelet one morning, and pho on my last day. 

Dining: I visited multiple spaces while at the hotel.

The Living Room - the standard Capella space for hotel guests. Unlike Taipei, the Hanoi Living Room is located at the lobby level and had a lot more food and drink options vs Taipei. Also, for their complimentary happy hour, Hanoi offers an entertaining Jazz soirée for entertainment. I made sure to stop by for at least part of the happy hour every night I stayed.

Hibana by Koki - Koki is Capella Hanoi’s Michelin-starred restaurant, located at the basement level. For my last night (which was Vietnam National Day), I booked their signature Hibana teppanyaki concept, which provides a set menu experience that I will say was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. While it was very pricey (and requires a deposit to reserve), it was very much worth it to me, especially since I was able to offset it with my $100 FHR credit as well as redemption of Discovery Dollars.

The Hudson Rooms/Track 61 - The cocktail lounge/restaurant at the rooftop level. I spent one evening at the bar at Hudson Rooms (very nice, and the other two at Track 61 (their speakeasy concept). Track 61 “requires” an invite (they leave invitation cards on the host stand), and you must complete a puzzle to get the key to get in, but the host staff will help you solve it (and you’re not required to do it for subsequent visits). I personally loved Track 61 (both the ambiance, and the drinks) though it was quiet both visits.

Service: Even better compared to Capella Taipei. Capella Hanoi has only 47 keys, so it never feels busy, and the service can be very attentive. My interactions were primarily with the bartenders at the Hudson Rooms/Track 61 (the guys work both bars depending on the evening), Phee, Gabriel, and Patrick. They were happy to chat with me and tell me more about the bar, the drinks, and Hanoi in general. Beyond them, the Koki (including the teppanyaki chefs) and Backstage were professional and provided impeccable service.

Overall: I’ll put it this way…before this Asia trip, there was only one hotel where I would make a point to return to, and that is the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. Being able to sleep among the clouds is an experience everyone (who isn’t afraid of heights) should have at least once in their life. Capella Hanoi has become the second hotel on that list. The overall vibe, the quality of the dining and entertainment, and the service made it an unforgettable visit. I’d wholeheartedly recommend staying at Capella Hanoi to anyone who wants to visit. I know I will be staying there again.

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/haGysamG49oxTKH39