We stayed in two hotels during our time in Hanoi. The first was in the heart of the Old Quarter. The second was the Conifer which is located near the opera house in the French Quarter. We much preferred our stay at the Conifer. Both for the hotel itself, and the location.
First, the location. More than once we walked around the corner at the end of the block on which the Conifer sits and we commented on the little slice of tranquility that exists there. This is a great perk in Hanoi (birds can actually be heard chirping on that block). Believe me, this is not the case in most sections of Hanoi. The location is also wonderful for its proximity to the fun pandemonium that is the Old Quarter. For example, the Conifer is a 15 minute stroll to the Cathedral in the heart of the Old Quarter. It is really fun to spend the day and evening eating/drinking/shopping in the Old Quarter, and then return to the relative tranquility of the area in which the Conifer is located.
The Hotel itself: The hotel is quite comfortable. The complimentary breakfast was great. The staff were wonderful. I had regular interactions with several of the front desk staff, a couple of bellman, and one breakfast server in particular. Most spoke very good English. All were beyond charming, and very helpful. This is where we will stay when we return to Hanoi.