Golden hotels and luxe apartments: The rise of Vietnam's ultra-rich

WITH 441 rooms, along with restaurants, shops, conference halls and even a gold -tiled infinity pool, the Dolce by Wyndham Hanoi Golden Lake hotel oozes plenty of style and luxury.

It's quite clear that no expense has been spared with furniture and fittings alike all coated in 24-carat gold. Even the building's exterior is coated with the precious metal, with the owners billing the 5-star property as the world's first gold-plated hotel.

Towering above Vietnam's capital Hanoi, it stands out in sharp contrast to the dusty, potholed and well-worn streets down below.