Hotel review: Grand Mercure Danang

The Grand Mercure in Danang sits in a lovely location between the Tran Thi Ly Bridge and the Asia Park theme park, right on the Hàn River.

Danang isn't a sprawling city by any means, but the Grand Mercure is still centrally located with a nine-minute car ride separating you from the airport, and about the same distance from the beach. It's a good 40 minutes' car or bus ride from Hoi An, so keep this in mind if you have activities booked there.

It's a modern hotel that impressed me with its many nice touches, including welcome drinks and Halloween decorations (I was visiting in the last week of October). We arrived at night and were also blown away by the colourful lights and the view from our rooms.

I stayed here as part of a press tour with Vietnam Airlines, which also included the Hilton Grand Opera in Hanoi.

The cost

The Superior Room, which I stayed in, ranges from $115-$125 per night depending on the season. This puts it squarely in the middle of comparable nearby offerings. For example, it's slightly pricier than the $115 per night to stay at the nearby 4-star Blossom Resort which shares the same island. On the other hand, it's cheaper than the $183 per night to stay at the Novotel Danang Premier Han River, which is further up the river, but has a balcony.

Keep in mind these prices are for hotels on the river. Hotels and resorts on the beach can be more expensive.

The location

The Grand Mercure sits in a quiet part of Danang which is particularly known for its wedding receptions. Next to it is the Asia Park theme park and the Tran Thi Ly Bridge.

Every night you'll be treated to the colourful lights of Danang. You'll also be in one of the best parts of the city to see the famous Dragon Bridge.

The hotel is actually on a small island, so if you're planning on doing some exploring you'll need to go for a short walk to the nearest bus stop, call a taxi or organise a tour bus. The same goes for the beach, which is a 40-minute walk away or a short drive or bus ride.

The decor

The Grand Mercure looks brand new and is finished off with modern decor and artsy touches such as glass artwork designs in the lift foyer.

The check-in/check-out process

Check-in and check-out was quick and painless and I was never at the counter for longer than 10 minutes. Upon arrival, we were served refreshing lemongrass drinks, which was a pleasant surprise.

The room

The room was of a decent size and my window looked directly out onto the colourful Tran Thi Ly Bridge, plus I had a view of the Dragon Bridge if I looked out to the side. In the mornings I woke up to see boats gliding past on the river below, with some people walking small boats into the shallower parts of the river to catch fish.

The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was modern and clean. The only fault I'd give is how thin the walls are. At times you could hear sounds from your closest neighbours, such as heavy items being moved and suitcases being opened.

It wasn't a dealbreaker, but definitely something I found odd considering the high quality of the rest of the hotel.

The food

The included breakfast at the Grand Mercure was exceptional. The restaurant was huge and had plenty of seating and featured a banh mi station with freshly made sandwiches, a pho station, a hot buffet section with Asian and Western dishes and pastry and fruit sections. The food tasted fresh and was well cooked, and the staff were attentive and friendly, clearing plates quickly. The standout was definitely the banh mi.

There was also a juice bar and full barista service where you could order standard coffees as well as Vietnamese coffees (coffee and condensed milk), which were my choice throughout the course of my stay.

The hotel also has a large room service menu with Vietnamese and Western options (including some Aussie steaks) which I didn't have time to try during my stay.

The facilities

If you're looking to work out during your stay, the Grand Mercure has one of the better hotel gyms I've seen. The gym wasn't huge, but had a surprising amount of new and varied equipment. This included a decent rack of free weights, and equipment like a squat rack and bench press, plus cardio equipment. Most of the equipment was from the high-quality TechnoGym brand too.

There's also a spa in the hotel, which was right next to the gym. It offered massages, facials, scrubs and more, and while the prices seemed decent, you'd be able to find cheaper alternatives if you walked out and did some exploring in Danang. Still, it's an option to consider if you want some pampering after a long day of travel and don't want to leave the hotel.

If you want to swim but don't want to head down to the beach, there's also a large outdoor pool in this hotel, which again has a nice view of the river and the bridge.

The verdict

I would give this hotel a 4 out of 5 star rating. The staff were friendly and efficient, the room was modern, clean and had a great view and the breakfast was delicious. The facilities were also decent, with a great gym and pool if you're interested, plus a spa facility. The location of this hotel won't appeal to everyone, and if you're staying in Danang to enjoy the beach you might want to look elsewhere.

Book: Grand Mercure Da Nang

Marc Terrano travelled as a guest of Vietnam Airlines.