Full Video Review
The Review
Most hotel reviews are one or two nights. This one is three weeks. The Crowne Plaza Vinh Yen City Centre holds up across all of it.
The entrance is clean and easy — a bank with a safe ATM sits directly next door, which is noted here because it’s genuinely practical and not something you can assume at most properties. The lobby is spacious and staffed to an exceptional standard throughout the entire stay. IHG status was recognized with a welcome candy gift on arrival.
The room is generously sized with a king bed, couch, table and seating area, a mini fridge with no minibar — left clear for personal use, which is the preferred setup — and a tea and coffee setup replenished daily. The dedicated desk area is notably separated from the TV, which made it noticeably easier to get work done without distraction. Closet includes iron and ironing board, robes, slippers, laundry bag, hairdryer, safe, and extra storage. A detail worth calling out: the bathroom has sliding doors on both the hallway and bedroom sides — an unusual and practical design feature.
The bathroom is one of the better ones in the Vietnam series — deep soaking tub, separate shower room with a large shower head, separate toilet area with a standout bum gun, a scale under the sink, extra towels, and full body wash, shampoo, and conditioner provided.
The pool gets busy. Arriving before the official 7am opening was the only way to get a quiet swim during a three-week stay. A kids’ mini pool runs alongside the main pool with seating for parents. No complaints about the pool itself — the demand is its own endorsement.
The gym is the headline amenity of this entire stay and one of the standout features in the full Vietnam hotel series. It is enormous, spread across multiple rooms, and equipped to a standard that rivals InterContinental and higher-end Hyatt properties. Machines, free weights, a large Pilates room with exercise mats, and additional equipment rooms. Filming was done at 1am to avoid the crowds — the gym gets well used, and it’s easy to see why.
The bar and lounge area on the upper floor has good decor, indoor seating, and an outdoor patio, with food and coffee available. The IHG Executive Lounge on the 22nd floor was under renovation during the stay — a temporary smaller lounge was offered instead. Evening lounge service included hot food, a salad bar, and non-alcoholic drinks including water, juice, soda, tea, and coffee. The cookies were notably addictive.
Breakfast is exceptional for the category and holds up across three weeks. The defining feature is how consistently the hot food rotates — stews, noodles, rice dishes, and other hot items changed daily rather than cycling through the same limited set. Constant items include a strong salad bar, fresh fruit, bread, cereal, and juices. Made-to-order eggs available. The bread quality is consistently high, which is a general strength of Vietnamese hotel breakfast. Dining room is spacious with good window views.
The staff are exceptional throughout — professional, friendly, and genuinely attentive in a way that reflects the IHG training hotel operation at this property. At checkout after three weeks, they made a farewell cake. That says something.