Wink Hotel Haiphong

The Wink Hotel Haiphong Central sits in downtown Haiphong where the rivers converge, and those river views define the property from the room to the rooftop. This was a first stay with the Wink brand — it won’t be the last.

The lobby is stylish and modern with a self check-in kiosk option alongside traditional staffed check-in, a retail area that converts to breakfast service in the mornings, a map of local walking attractions mounted on the wall, and a foosball table. Small touches that signal a brand that has thought about the guest experience beyond the room.

A suite upgrade here was one of the highlights of the entire Vietnam series. The suite is built around a kitchen island in the center of the living space — microwave, stovetop, mini fridge, sink, knives, rice cooker, pots and pans, full silverware, and a complete set of plates and saucers. Bar stools at the island make for a proper place to eat, a genuine relief after a stretch of hotels without dining surfaces. The couch, desk area, and two TVs — one in the living space, one in the bedroom — round out the suite. The setup is comfortably suited for an extended stay in a way that few properties in Vietnam can match.

The bedroom is spacious and modern, with outstanding river views. The room design throughout is more contemporary than most of the Vietnam properties in this series, with thoughtful details including a bin-style storage concept that makes it harder to leave items behind. Bathroom has a smaller sink but is well stocked with travel essentials. The step-in shower has both a handheld nozzle and rain shower head. Bum gun at the toilet.

The gym is well-equipped — free weights, exercise balls, a punching bag, ellipticals, treadmills, and towels — and wasn’t overcrowded during the visit. The self-service laundry is the most impressive of any hotel reviewed in this series: a graphical kiosk interface, credit card payment, individual machine selection, and email notification when cycles complete (though the email function wasn’t reliable during this stay). Instructions posted in both English and Vietnamese.

The rooftop pool area looks out over the rivers, and a rooftop bar runs specials with good breeze and multiple seating options. The on-site restaurant and brewery below is a genuine asset — a semi-outdoor covered seating setup, a solid food menu, and craft beers on tap. Food was good enough to return to multiple times during the stay. Staff recommendations for local restaurants outside the hotel were also appreciated.

Breakfast is served from the lobby area using carts — hot vegetables, made-to-order eggs, rice dishes, noodles, salad, fruit, cheese and sliced meat, cereal, and fresh juices. A coffee machine is available but requires a saucer under the cup to trigger properly. A decent spread for the hotel category.