First published January 2018 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle

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In Hoi An, the general standard of accommodation, and value for money across all price ranges, is superb. Massive competition drives prices down and quality up. I recently passed through town and stayed at Lasenta Boutique Hotel. Even by the high standards of Hoi An, this is an excellent accommodation and very good value. These days, Hoi An and its immediate environs are very chic: it’s a sort of genteel suburb of Central Vietnam. The whole area is very tidy, pretty, affluent and friendly. While this might be something of a facade and perhaps not representative of the country as a whole, it’s a very attractive and charming place for foreign and Vietnamese tourists alike to stay. I was impressed with the way Lasenta Boutique Hotel created a pleasing, comfortable – and typically Hoi An – synthesis of the exotic and the familiar, the modern and the traditional, and Asian and European elements. [To check current rates, availability & make a reservation for Lasenta Boutique Hotel please BOOK HERE]

*Please support Vietnam Coracle: I never write a review for money: all my content is free & my reviews are independent. You can support the work I do by booking your hotels via the Agoda links & search boxes on my site, like the ones on this page. If you make a booking, I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Any money I make goes straight back into this site. Thank you.

Lasenta Boutique Hotel boasts rice field views, classy rooms and a marvellous outdoor infinity pool

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REVIEW: LASENTA BOUTIQUE HOI AN

Address: 57 Ly Thoung Kiet Street, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam [MAP]

Average Price: $60-$80 | Website: www.lasentahotel.com

BOOK HERE

MAP:

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Located on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, just northeast of Hoi An’s famous old quarter, Lasenta Boutque is a clever location for a new property. Since most riverside and old quarter locations have either already been developed or are so expensive that it’s no longer a viable option, Lasenta has positioned itself out of the old town (but still within easy walking distance of it), and traded river views and old quarter ambience for rice field views and rural tranquility. Indeed, as Hoi An has become such a huge draw for tourists, it’s actually rather nice to be just out of town: away from the thousands of walking visitors in the old quarter, and in the peace and greenery of typical Vietnamese farmland.

Lasenta Boutique is located next to a peaceful sea of rice paddy, away from the crowded old town

At first glance, from the outside, Lasenta looks like a high-end boutique shopping mall. But inside it has a much more personal, small-hotel feel. The main entrance, lobby and concierge open onto a courtyard dotted with small water features, large ceramics, tropical plants and flowers, and tables and chairs. The courtyard is, in fact, an atrium, with the hotel’s six storeys of balustraded open-sided corridors, all dripping with greenery, spiraling up towards the open sky. (I wonder what happens when it rains.)

The inner courtyard, or ‘atrium’, is tranquil & green, even during the hottest times of the day

The hotel’s restaurant, a rather glassy affair off to one side of the atrium, serves pretty good food throughout the day, including Asian and Western dishes. Breakfast, which is included in the room price, is large, varied and nicely presented, although I found some of the food strangely tasteless, but perhaps my taste buds hadn’t woken up yet on that particular morning.

Breakfast, included in the room price, is good & well-presented, although perhaps a little bit bland

Apart from all the glass – which is good because it allows in lots of light and views of the countryside, but bad because it heats up the rooms during the day – the hotel has a distinctive Mediterranean feel: the tiled floors and white-washed walls, the open-sided, echoing corridors and courtyards. In the midday sun it can be a bit stark and unforgiving, but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before some of the trees and vines grow out a bit and soften the surfaces.

The tiled floors, open corridors & white-washed walls give Lasenta a Mediterranean feel

There are several room types available, but even the cheaper ones are large, spacious and well-equipped. Some rooms have balconies, but this isn’t necessarily worth paying more for, because all rooms have large windows that open fully, and because the hotel’s shared outdoor space, particularly around the infinity pool, is so good. However, I would definitely recommend booking a ‘nature view’ over a ‘city view’, because the former offers splendid vistas across a sea of green rice paddy, which is beautifully framed by the arched windows. (Note that the colour of the fields is, of course, subject to change depending on what stage the harvest in at during your visit.)

Rooms have large windows or balconies with fabulous views over the countryside or city

Guest rooms are very neat, and the furniture is tidily arranged so as to make the most of the space: everything seems to fit perfectly into place, like Lego blocks. There are a lot of lines and angles, and the décor is modern and clean, verging on minimalist. Yet, there’s nothing impersonal or sterile about the rooms. This is partly because they are so thoughtfully laid out and designed, and partly because of the repeated floral motifs – on the floor tiles, the window rails, the pillow covers, the wall paintings – and the palatial windows which link the modern interiors with the green, rural world that exists outside. With views like this, you won’t forget that you are in Vietnam.

Guest rooms are very neat & well-appointed: comfortable & cosy yet modern & sleek

Bathrooms have a separate shower and bathtub, next to which there’s an interior window allowing you to see through the bedroom and out to the green fields. However, there is one irritating bathroom feature: the taps on the sink are too close to the edge of the basin, so that when you hold your hands under them the water splashes over the side. It’s a small issue, and perhaps not all the taps in the other rooms are fitted in the same way, but this kind of ergonomic oversight annoys me, especially when most other aspects of the room seem to have been carefully thought through.

Room decor is modern & angular but softened by repeated floral motifs and tiled floors

Then there’s the hotel’s showpiece: the gorgeous 4th-floor, outdoor infinity pool. A beautiful blue-grey body of water flush with the side of the hotel, so that the water appears to fall over the edge, Lasenta’s infinity pool is just about large enough to swim lengths (when there’s no one else in it), but mostly it’s for lounging around, enjoying the views and, let’s face it, taking selfies. The pool-side bar has good drinks and high chairs overlooking the rice fields. It goes without saying that this where you come for a gin-based cocktail (in my case, at least) at around 5pm to watch the setting of the sun.

Lasenta’s showpiece is the gorgeous outdoor infinity pool, which appears to float above the rice paddies

Walking from Lasenta to the old quarter is easy – the reception issues all guests with a map of town – and there’s also a daily shuttle service to the old town and An Bang beach. Staff are lovely but just a little cold and impersonal. This, I imagine, is due to their training, rather than their individual character. However, I’d expect service to get better over time, as staff become more comfortable and assured. Overall, my stay at Lasenta was very comfortable, relaxing, and enjoyable. I particularly liked the views, the pool, the location, and the room décor. When I stayed it was also excellent value for money, but I have noticed the prices creeping up, especially around public holidays, so bear this in mind when booking. [To check current rates, availability & make a reservation for Lasenta Boutique Hotel please BOOK HERE].  

*Please support Vietnam Coracle: I never write a review for money: all my content is free & my reviews are independent. You can support the work I do by booking your hotels via the Agoda links & search boxes on my site, like the ones on this page. If you make a booking, I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Any money I make goes straight back into this site. Thank you.

Lasenta Boutique is a great option for mid-range travellers in Hoi An looking for a peaceful setting

Disclosure: I never receive payment for anything I write: my content is always free and independent. I’ve written this review because I want to: I like this hotel and I want my readers to know about it. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements here

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