The private car that drove us from Hue to Hoi An dropped us of at Sincerity Hotel, the brand new 4 star hotel from the same owner as Jade Hotel in Hue. At Jade Hotel they told us about the opening action of Sincerity Hotel: because the hotel wasn’t fully ready, we could stay there for only $14 per night. Driver, drop us off at that cheap luxury hideaway, please!
We hadn’t booked a room yet, but it seemed they were expecting us and knew we were coming from Jade Hotel in Hue. Upon arrival we were escorted upstairs to get a look at the room and see if we were pleased with it. Of course we were! A stay in a 4 star hotel for only $14 per night? No-brainer! We went back down for a welcome drink (watermelon juice) and some wet cloths to freshen up a bit. Mimi, the receptionist at the moment, sat down with us to explain where we were on the map and where Hoi An Ancient Town was. She gave some tips about which local foods to try and where we could enjoy a nice meal. She (and all the other staff) were very friendly and helpful.
Our room was great. We had a private bathroom (of course!) with a bath and shower in one, a flatscreen TV, a small fridge and airconditioning with remote. Like in nearly every hotel, there was soap, a toothbrush, cotton buds, a comb and a shower cap. We had to hang a sign at the doorknob, indicating if we wanted the staff to clean the room or not to disturb us. In order to get fresh towels, we had to leave the used ones on the floor. The WiFi connection was good as well and we were able to get some work done and Skype with our parents.
For the short time we were there, we were treated as royals. If we didn’t hang any sign at the doorknob, they would knock about two times a day, asking if they should tidy the room. We were greeted every time we passed by the reception and they would hold the doors for us. During breakfast they would ask us several times if everything was as we desired.
Yep, no complaints about the breakfast buffet. We could choose between a number of warm Vietnamese and Western dishes, like curries, noodle or rice dishes, a potato salad, casserole and eggs made per your instructions on the spot. The croissants were sponges compared to what we’re used to, but that was our only remark. There were different fruits and fruit juices, cakes, yoghurt, cornflakes, even salad. One morning we got breakfast served in our room, as they were working in the dining area. From time to time, we heard working noises, but that was a small price to pay for this cheap luxury accommodation. The swimming pool and the gym weren’t ready for use yet, but we don’t like swimming in the rain and aren’t gym people. So no harm done.
The hotel is situated halfway between the beach and Hoi An Ancient Town. That means both are not really within walking distance. Therefore they offer free bicycles to get around, a nice gesture which we gladly made use of every time we left the hotel. That wasn’t often though, as the weather was terrible (it literally rained whole days) and Brecht was still feeling a bit sick as well. Luckily we biked to Hoi An Ancient Town on our first night, when the weather was still nice and sunny. So we’ve seen the Japanese Covered Bridge and Hoi An Ancient Town by night, with all its beautifully coloured lights and lanterns. Hoi An Ancient Town is truly a romantic maze of streets and small alleys, flanked with lots of nice little shops, selling beautiful lanterns, leather handbags, colourful clothes, (handmade) jewellery and souvenirs. A shopper’s paradise, known for its tailors.
We loved our stay at Sincerity Hotel in Hoi An, but I guess the price for a night has gone up by the time you read this article.