It was very rainy when we stayed here, so we didn't get to enjoy the great views we had. If you can, stay in a room with a view of the Perfume river, it's very pretty. The room itself was very nice, although nothing special. The double doors to the bathroom added a nice touch, although we're still wondering why they provide bath salts when all we had was a stand up shower.

The rest of the hotel is very clean and the staff was very nice (I found that if you stay in nicer hotels in Vietnam the staff is generally above average). We actually sent out some shoes to be cleaned that we thought were destroyed with water and mud and they came back 3 hours later in better condition than they were before the trip.

The restaurant was very good and had a nice mix of Vietnamese and French food. It was very reasonably priced too.

It wasn't the best place we stayed at, but it was perfectly nice. I would recommend this place.

We thought La Residence was decent, but a bit on the stiff and formal side. Everything about the room was fine, except the shower needed constant adjusting because the water temperature kept changing. Experienced travelers know that this is a common third-world issue even at 5-star hotels, so we weren't too bothered by it. We were taken aback by the lack of a hotel shop where people could purchase routine necessities like shaving cream, batteries, etc. Naturally there is a shop for high-end scarves and souvenirs. But there are adequate vending stands right across the street. The shopkeepers know enough English numbers to conclude a transaction, and better they should get your money than the hotel.

I tend to be suspicious of hotels that dont show the types of rooms they offer with pictures & descriptions. Generally they are deceiving, and this wasnt any different. Superior room: dark, no views, old furniture, bathroom totally outdated, and when one took a shower, the water leaked & the whole floor was fooded.
All in all I would not recommend this hotel, it was the worst of our honeymoom, and I even thought of moving to another hotel.


BEWARE OF:
* I tried the Spa and found worn out bathrobes (literally with holes) & no amenities in the changing room.
* location is far from convenient, no restaurants around make taxi a must.
* mosquitoes in the swimming pool due to proximity with the river
* The hotel restaurant. Noisy self service buffet goes on all night, with no separate area for a la carte ordering, which doesnt help to get the ambiance right for a nice relaxing dinner, specially since the restaurant is cold & dark.

DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF;
* The hotel looks fantastic from the outside, it is true, and the pool is beautiful (and full of mosquitoes due to the river proximity).
* the front desk service is more than helpful (you can rent a motorcicle of one of the front desk ladies for 20 dollars the whole day, or they will reserve for you at the wonderful Y Thao Garden.
* Dont miss the Tropical Garden Restaurant in town.
* Fantastic internet service - 8 computers permanently available complimentary.

What a great find! I was a bit sceptical about the price (I paid USD166 per night compared to about 66 elswhere in Vietnam). But it is an art deco oasis - and a tranquil delight in the middle of a crazily noisy country.
The staff were immaculately trained, the hotel spotless, the spa very professional. I couldn't really fault it at all (except perhaps that the pool was closed for maintenance).
If you're travelling around Vietnam in budget hotels, as I was, take time out to treat yourself in Hue - even if just for a couple of nights.