Well, where do I start? We decided to stay there cuz it was one of the newest hotel in town (figuring it should still be clean and functional). We booked 2 rooms for 3 nights at $100 per room/night. At that price in Vientiane, I expect an exceptional service. Breakfast was decent but the wait staff was rather rude. One morning, there was no one around. When the manager saw that we were waiting around the egg station, he ushered one of the receptionist to go get the cook. She said in Laos that they were all busy and the manager did nothing after that, not knowing that we could understand what they were talking about. For a major hotel, it is not equip with many things that other hotels have. Their spa was pathetic at best. It was the worst spa experience ever; I had many spa experiences during my month long trip to Thailand and Laos. They did not have a salon and to go to one you have to get on a tux-tux. This place is not close to town at all, very inconvenient. The business center was a joke; it took me almost an hr to write one little email. Had to wait for someone to come open up the place, the person manning it was clueless about computers and when I had to use it an hr later, the door was locked again. I could go on for days about this place, but I’ll leave it at this. Stay away from it if you can. I understand that it’s a 3rd world country and all, but if you’re charging $100/night the facility and service should reflect that.

We made a last minute booking for 2 nights in December 2007. A review in a travel guide was not terribly complimentary but I have to say it is just like any very large international hotel (i.e. it is not a boutique hotel). Even though it was built only a few years ago it appeared that it is not being maintained to its best potential in all aspects. Having said that there is a great patisserie and cocktail lounge downstairs and we have no real complaints.

The Don Chan Palace was built for a Conference of the ASEAN countries and is the tallest building in Laos at 14 floors. It is actually on an island in the Mekong River connected by a man made causeway. The views are good, but hopefully it will not set a trend for further high-rise development in this sleepy Capital City. The public areas at the Don Chan are vast open spaces with a somewhat Soviet style of architecture which I found oppressive and the reception area has several tourist shop booths which appear lost in the vast space. Rooms were nothing special though clean and the usual L-shaped configuration. Our air con (badly needed) did not work the first night, but was sorted out the following day though still somewhat feeble Overall staff grasp of english was poor and service could have been much better. Breakfast was mediocre, though their restaurant produced the best red chicken curry I have ever had, which was a pleasant suprise as the table cloths were soiled

We chose this hotel "in the blind" having arrived a day early (and the Settha Palace where we had reservations for the next day was fully booked.) [The Settha Palace is a 5 star facility; Don Chan Palace is supposedly a 3 star....but what a gem!] We were ecstatic with the gigantic suite; whirlpool tub; posh furnishings; immaculately kept; view overlooking the river! It was one of the best rooms we had during our extended Asia travels.Needless to say we did not change hotels! Their restaurant was OK; service from staff excellent...try it, you'll like it!

15 Sept. 2007 Richard Jensen [room 1008] An excellent business hotel. Impressive building, convenient location approx. 5 minutes drive from the city centre. Hotel has all the relevant facilities and well appointed rooms. The sea food dinner I had in the Chinese restaurant was one of the best I had in the entire SE Asia. The reception staff .. specially Mit, was attentive, super efficient and spoke an excellent English. The hotel has the great discoteque / night club, which is probably the only night spot in town that stays open after midnight. On the down side. The hotel swimming pool although attractive enough, looked as if it had not been cleaned for weeks. The pool staff spoke no English at all and had a cheek to ask me if I spoke Lao. Wherever you looked ... in the hotel atrium, spacious corridors, lobby bar etc. all plants and flowers were artificial. The atrium / lobby space was occupied by stalls selling fake jewellery, which was a major let down for a hotel aspiring to have five star status.