From tubs to toilets, Vietnam hotel opens with gold-plated pizzazz

Author: Agencies

A five-star hotel in Vietnamese capital Hanoi has opened with a twist that it hopes will attract guests with intimately expensive tastes: gold-plated bath tubs, basins and even toilets, all housed behind a massive golden exterior.

The Dolce Hanoi Golden Lake Hotel has made the extra effort to bring visitors back to Vietnam where the tourism sector is slowly reopening after a three-month coronavirus lockdown.

The hotel, owned by Hoa Binh Group and managed by U.S.-based Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc, stands in stark contrast to its surrounding weather-worn Soviet-era buildings.

“At the moment, there is no other hotel like this in the world,” said Nguyen Huu Duong, majority owner and chairman of Hoa Binh Group.

Hotel facilities include a 24 karat gold-tiled infinity pool on the rooftop, while inside guest rooms, bathrooms are laced with yellow metal. From $250 a night, the hotel is in the same price bracket as rival luxury accommodation in the city.

“It has changed my mind about what luxury can be. Other luxury hotels usually use marble as tiles, but here everything is gold-plated down to the washing basin,” said 62-year-old guest Luong Van Thuan, himself a hotel owner. Vietnam has been relatively successful in containing the coronavirus outbreak with only 350 or so cases and no reported deaths. Duong said if not for the pandemic, the hotel would likely be fully booked with international guests.

Around a tonne of gold was used to cover the hotel, said Duong, a Vietnam War veteran and former cyclo taxi driver who made his fortune in construction and property. He is planning gold-plated projects in Ho Chi Minh City and a resort in central Vietnam.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Sports

Sinner advances to 3rd Miami semifinal in 4 years

Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner won his 20th match of 2024 to reach the Miami…

4 hours ago
  • Sports

Nicoll relishes her shot at double Olympic stardom

Adele Nicoll has travelled a long way from the person who was "sad" and "rather…

4 hours ago
  • Sports

LeBron James has triple-double to help Lakers beat Grizzlies, 136-124

LeBron James had a triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, Rui Hachimura…

4 hours ago
  • Sports

Hooper in line for Australia rugby sevens debut with eye on Paris

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is in line for his international rugby sevens debut as…

4 hours ago
  • Sports

Stoinis, Agar lose Australia contracts

All-rounder Marcus Stoinis and spin bowler Ashton Agar have been dropped from Australia's contracts list…

4 hours ago
  • Sports

Bellingham set to return for Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham is set to return for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao this weekend after…

4 hours ago