The Silver hotel

We rested and cleaned up then headed into the old city by cab about 6PM. The city was bustling as usual with traffic. Just after we passed the Silk Hotel, we asked to be let out of the cab in the shoe sector. We looked in a half dozen stores and ST found the boots (high and short) were too ornate or had heels too high. She did zero in on a pair finally and was back and forth between the 38 and 39 for a while, settling on the 38. The proprietor was asking 33 for the boots, and ST tried to talk her down to 30 with no luck.

Then when money exchange time arrived, we discovered what she had meant was 330,000 VND not 33 USD. Thus the good were 16 USD instead of the 33 we had expected. It will be interesting moving forward if that is what we find pricing-wise in more establishments.

We walked then cabbed it to the Silver hotel, as it turns out a brand new establishment with 30 rooms in the old quarter not far from the Hilton. We met and had dinner with the GM, the front desk manager, and a woman from sales. The topics net back and forth between Vietnam and the hotel business. ST offered some very helpful input into managing a boutique hotel such as theirs, and naturally they were all ears and anxious for advice. I love watching the attentiveness of people as my Sweet Thing discusses her hotel skill areas.

We were shown room 902 after dinner, either the one I will be moving into tomorrow or something very similar. The room was nicely appointed, with vinyl hardwood floors and a lot of wood in the furniture. It is the first hotel room we have seen in Vietnam that is not storage-drawer-challenged. I will pack up with the ST tonight and move into the Silver minyana after work.