Hotel Royal Hoi An is a five-star luxury hotel situated on the Thu Bon River, approximately ten minutes’ walk from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ancient Town of Hội An, Vietnam. Formerly an MGallery property, the hotel has since left the Accor collection and now operates independently. Reviewed by Steve Michailidis, a London-based luxury travel advisor, during a Vietnam itinerary in April 2024, it stands out for its two swimming pools, the highest rooftop bar in Hội An (The Deck), its five dining venues, and a genuinely warm standard of service that carries through every part of the hotel. The property comprises two buildings with notably different design aesthetics — a detail worth knowing before you book.
Quick Facts
- Location: 39 Dao Duy Tu Street, Hội An — approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the Ancient Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, bordering the Thu Bon River
- Category: Five-star luxury hotel, independently operated (formerly MGallery by Accor)
- Design: Two buildings — Old Building (2014, black and red palette) and New Building (2017, lighter and more contemporary)
- Best for: Couples, first-time Vietnam visitors, travellers combining Hội An with Da Nang or Huế, beach-and-culture itineraries
- Standout features: The Deck rooftop bar (highest in Hội An), two pools, five dining venues, river views, complimentary bicycles, Thu Bon River frontage
- Note on Accor: The hotel has left the MGallery collection. Accor ALL points cannot be earned or redeemed here.
- Advisor value: VIP status, pre-arrival communication, in-stay advocacy and direct hotel team connection. No booking fees.
- Reviewed by: Steve Michailidis, luxury travel advisor, April 2024
Hội An had been one of those destinations I’d been building towards for a long time. It sits in a part of Vietnam — Quảng Nam province, between Da Nang and the coast — that rewards time rather than rushing, and the Ancient Town itself is the kind of place that earns its UNESCO listing visibly and immediately. Choosing where to stay in Hội An is the first meaningful decision of the trip: the Old Town itself is largely pedestrianised and small enough that a hotel ten minutes’ walk away feels genuinely close, but the character of the different areas varies considerably.
I had been in contact with the Hotel Royal team before arrival and was impressed with the responsiveness and warmth of the pre-arrival communication. High expectations are always a risk — in this case, they were largely met.
Hotel Royal Hoi An Location: Old Town Access and the Thu Bon River
The hotel sits on Dao Duy Tu Street, bordering the Thu Bon River, about ten minutes’ walk from the centre of the Ancient Town. That distance is a feature rather than a limitation — it places you close enough to walk in for dinner or the lantern-lit evening atmosphere, while sitting back from the part of Hội An that absorbs the full weight of its tourism. The streets immediately around the hotel are quieter and more residential in character.
The hotel provides complimentary bicycles on a first-come, first-served basis. I didn’t use them — the traffic and the density of scooters in town made walking a more comfortable way to navigate — but for guests comfortable cycling in Vietnamese traffic, they are a genuine convenience. For An Bang Beach, a Grab (Vietnam’s equivalent of Uber) is the sensible option: quick, cheap, and takes the logistics question entirely off the table.
The Ancient Town is walkable for most visits, and the hotel’s river-facing position makes for pleasant morning and evening walks along the water. Taxis are plentiful and very affordable for anyone who prefers not to walk.
Two Buildings, Two Design Languages: Which Should You Choose?
This is the single most useful thing to know before booking Hotel Royal Hoi An, and it is underplayed in most reviews of the property. The hotel comprises two buildings with meaningfully different design approaches.
The Original Building, opened in 2014, has a darker, more dramatic aesthetic — a black and red palette with heavier decorative touches that lean into a traditional Vietnamese sensibility. The rooms are atmospheric and feel genuinely considered. My room was in this building.
The New Building, opened in 2017, is considerably lighter — a more contemporary colour scheme, more natural light, and a design language that feels more international in character. Having toured rooms in both buildings during my stay, if I were booking again I would choose the New Building. The design suits me better and the rooms feel more open.
All room categories are available in both buildings. If you have a strong preference either way, communicate it clearly when booking — this is one of the specific things I flag for clients when arranging a stay here.
Arrival at Hotel Royal Hoi An
We arrived to a busy lobby — the kind of controlled chaos that comes with tour groups moving through at the same time. A bellhop was immediately on hand to take our luggage and direct us to a seating area opposite reception, where welcome drinks arrived within a couple of minutes. There was a wait of around ten minutes before check-in began, during which time a staff member collected our passports for the standard Vietnamese registration process. The team apologised for the delay without being prompted.
The pre-arrival communication had established a warm tone, and the check-in team continued it. Reception staff remembered room numbers without looking them up, which is a small detail that requires genuine attention and reflects well on how the hotel is managed.
Hotel Royal Hoi An Rooms: Grand Deluxe and What to Request
We were assigned a room in the Original Building and upgraded to a Grand Deluxe facing the pool. The upgrade was welcome — the pool-facing rooms are meaningfully quieter than those on the road side, where traffic noise is a genuine consideration for light sleepers.
The room was spacious enough for two people on a two-night stay — a separate walk-in wardrobe meant luggage could be stored without occupying the room, which makes a practical difference when you’re managing bags across a longer Vietnam itinerary. There was no balcony, which in the heat and humidity of April Hội An was not a loss.
The room was on the darker side — part of the Original Building’s design language, which leans deliberately atmospheric. I personally prefer the lighter palette of the New Building rooms, though I can see the appeal of the drama for the right kind of stay.
The bathroom featured a freestanding bathtub and separate shower, with the main room visible through a glass partition — a design choice that comes with a privacy blind if you’d prefer the separation. Standard amenities covered the expected ground: desk, minibar, laptop-sized safe, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, and enough power sockets by the bed and desk to keep everything charged.
One notable weakness: the Wi-Fi. Barely functional for standard browsing, unreliable for anything requiring data. I ended up on mobile data for work tasks — if reliable internet is important to your stay, plan accordingly and have a local SIM or eSIM ready. (For reference, I use Airalo for eSIM data — code STEVE3670 for US$3 off your first pack.)
Hotel Royal Hoi An Dining: Breakfast, The Deck Bar and Five Venues
Breakfast is one of the things Hotel Royal Hoi An does genuinely well. The buffet was extensive — fresh fruit including passion fruit and dragon fruit, freshly made phở, pastries, cereals, eggs cooked to order — and the al fresco option, on the balcony overlooking the river, made sitting through the heat of an April morning in Hội An feel entirely worth it. One honest note: the coffee was weak, even the double espresso. There are better options in town if coffee matters to you.
Beyond breakfast, the hotel now operates five distinct dining venues — a significant offering for a property of this size. The Deck Bar is the standout: described by the hotel itself as the highest rooftop bar in Hội An, with panoramic views across the Ancient Town and the Hoai River, open from 11am until midnight. The cocktail menu draws on local tales for its signature drinks, which is the kind of detail that makes a sunset drink feel like part of the destination rather than just a drink.
The other venues include Faifo Café (the hotel’s main all-day dining space), Wakaku Restaurant (Japanese cuisine), The Attic Bar, River Lounge, and The Maison Hoian — the executive lounge, accessible to Royal Deluxe, Deluxe Suite, and Two-Bedroom Suite guests. The Maison Hoian offers breakfast, self-service refreshments throughout the day, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails and canapés, along with additional benefits including complimentary steam and sauna access and garment pressing.
Hotel Royal Hoi An Pools, Spa and Facilities
Two pools — which is, genuinely, more than most hotels in Hội An offer. The rooftop pool sits beneath The Deck Bar and shares its panoramic views over the city and river. The first-floor pool is larger, more ornate, and in my experience more relaxed — the kind of pool you get into after a day of sightseeing in the humidity and don’t want to leave. Both have their merits and the vibe is different depending on who’s there at the time.
Alongside the first-floor pool there is a fitness centre with standard cardio and weights equipment. On the second floor of the same building, a spa offers facial and body treatments, with a sauna and steam room available. I didn’t use the gym — two days of sightseeing in the April heat is its own workout — but the pool in the evening was a consistent highlight of both days.
Laundry service is available through the hotel at standard per-item rates. There are also a couple of independent laundry shops directly across the road that charge by weight — considerably more economical for larger loads, and worth knowing on a longer Vietnam trip.
What Booking Through Me Gets You at Hotel Royal Hoi An
Hotel Royal Hoi An has left the MGallery collection and operates independently — which means the Accor HERA programme perks that would previously have applied (the $100 credit, breakfast, upgrade) are no longer available at this specific property. I’d rather be clear about that than imply otherwise.
What I can offer when booking this hotel for a client is VIP status with the team — a pre-arrival communication that establishes the relationship and flags any occasions, preferences, or requirements before you arrive. I met the hotel team directly during my stay in April 2024, which means I have a direct relationship with the property rather than an anonymous booking. I am your advocate before you arrive, your escalation point if anything needs attention during the stay, and your contact after departure if there are any billing or service questions to resolve.
There are no booking fees. The rate is the same as booking direct.
A note for travellers building a broader Vietnam itinerary: if your trip includes other hotels — in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or elsewhere in Vietnam — there are many properties where I can offer full programme perks through Accor Preferred, Hyatt Privé, Hilton for Luxury, or other affiliations. The Reverie Saigon is the property I reviewed in Ho Chi Minh City, and there are multiple strong options across the country where the perks story is considerably more tangible. Get in touch and I can advise on the full routing.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Book
Choose your building deliberately. The Original Building (2014) is darker and more atmospheric; the New Building (2017) is lighter and more contemporary. Both are well-appointed, but they feel different enough that it’s worth stating a preference when booking rather than leaving it to chance. I personally prefer the New Building and would book it if returning.
Request a pool-facing room if noise is a consideration. The rooms on the road side can pick up traffic noise — the pool-facing rooms are meaningfully quieter, particularly relevant if you’re a light sleeper or arriving after a long travel day.
The Wi-Fi is not reliable for work. This was a genuine limitation in April 2024. If you have any remote working requirements, have a local eSIM or SIM card as a backup. Vietnam’s mobile data networks are excellent and affordable — the Wi-Fi at the hotel is not the right solution for anything critical.
The coffee in the restaurant is weak. This is a minor point but worth knowing if coffee is how you start every morning. There are excellent independent coffee shops in Hội An — including some of the best locally-grown Vietnamese coffee you will find anywhere. Treat the hotel breakfast as the food event and explore coffee options in town.
Hội An deserves more than two nights. Two days was not enough to do the destination justice. The Ancient Town, An Bang Beach, the cooking classes, the tailor shops (allow two fittings for anything custom), and the river boat experience all benefit from time. If the itinerary allows, three or four nights is a better allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hotel Royal Hoi An the best luxury hotel near the Old Town?
It is consistently among the best options for travellers who want to be close to the UNESCO Ancient Town without being directly inside the tourist intensity of the Old Quarter. The combination of two pools, the highest rooftop bar in Hội An, five dining venues, and a genuine standard of service makes it a strong choice. The ten-minute walk to the Ancient Town is not a drawback — it is part of why the hotel remains calm and manageable even during peak season.
Where is Hotel Royal Hoi An located?
The hotel is at 39 Dao Duy Tu Street in Hội An, on the Thu Bon River, approximately ten minutes’ walk from the centre of the UNESCO World Heritage Ancient Town. It is easily accessible from Da Nang International Airport, approximately 30 kilometres away — a taxi takes around 40 minutes depending on traffic.
What is the difference between the two buildings at Hotel Royal Hoi An?
The Original Building (opened 2014) has a darker, more dramatic design — a black and red palette with traditional Vietnamese decorative elements. The New Building (opened 2017) is lighter, more contemporary, and more open in feel. All room categories are available in both. Steve stayed in the Original Building and personally prefers the New Building — if you have a preference, communicate it at the time of booking.
Is Hotel Royal Hoi An still part of MGallery?
No. The hotel has left the Accor MGallery collection and now operates independently under the Royal Capital Group. Accor ALL loyalty points cannot be earned or redeemed here, and Accor programme perks do not apply. For travellers building a Vietnam itinerary that includes MGallery or Accor properties elsewhere in the country, those programme perks remain available at those specific properties — get in touch and Steve can advise on the full routing.
What is The Deck Bar at Hotel Royal Hoi An?
The Deck Bar is the hotel’s rooftop bar, described by the hotel as the highest rooftop bar in Hội An, with panoramic views across the Ancient Town and the Hoai River. It is open from 11am until midnight and serves a cocktail menu inspired by local stories alongside tapas, wine, beer, and spirits. Sunset from The Deck is genuinely worth planning around — arrive 30 minutes before dusk.
What perks do you get booking Hotel Royal Hoi An through a travel advisor?
As the hotel operates independently with no dedicated advisor perks programme, the value I offer is different to a Four Seasons or Hyatt Privé booking — and I’d rather be direct about that than oversell it. I provide VIP status with the hotel, pre-arrival communication on your behalf, and a direct escalation point before, during, and after your stay. I met the hotel team personally during my April 2024 visit, which means my advocacy is informed by a real relationship with the property. There are no booking fees and the rate matches the direct rate.
When is the best time to visit Hội An?
February to April is generally considered the best window — warm and mostly dry, before the intensity of summer heat. I visited in April and found it hot and humid but entirely manageable with the hotel’s pools as recovery stations. The rainy season (October to December) brings flooding risk to the Ancient Town, which sits in a flood-prone area. July and August are peak season and very hot. January to March offers the most comfortable conditions overall for a first visit.
Is Hotel Royal Hoi An Worth It?
The pre-arrival communication set a tone. The check-in team maintained it. The bellhop who remembered our room number on the second morning without being asked confirmed it.
What Hotel Royal Hoi An does well, it does consistently — and in Vietnam, where service quality can swing considerably between properties, consistency is its own form of excellence. The pools are genuinely good. The Deck Bar at sunset is a reason to be at this specific hotel in this specific city at this specific time of evening. The breakfast, eaten outside above the river with a bowl of phở and something resembling fresh passion fruit, is one of those meals that earns its place in the memory of a trip.
The Wi-Fi is not good. The coffee in the restaurant is weak. And if you book the Original Building without knowing about the New Building, you may find yourself in a room that’s atmospheric in a way you didn’t specifically ask for. These are manageable limitations — and all of them are things I would flag and help you navigate before you arrive.
Hội An is one of those destinations that rewards a longer stay than most itineraries give it. If you’re planning Vietnam — whether it’s a Hội An-focused trip, a north-to-south circuit, or a beach-and-culture combination — get in touch and I’ll build the full picture.
Reviewed in April 2024. The hotel has left the MGallery collection since this stay. Please get in touch to confirm current rates, availability and any programme updates.
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