Ha Giang Province
Along Yen Minh's main road, the Thao Nguyen has clean, well-kept and spacious rooms, if you can get past the old-fashioned wallpaper. Secure parking is a…
Must-see hotels in Northern Vietnam
Halong City
A very central location, cheap laundry and a free bottle of beer are sweeteners at this newly built hostel, and the dorm rooms are clean and spacious. It…
Haiphong
A rambling mansion-like building holding a variety of rooms, most of which appear tidy and comfortable, if somewhat conservative. A good budget choice,…
Cat Ba Island
A new-ish-feeling place with 60 rooms, neither huge nor sexy, but entirely capable. Opt for the more expensive rooms, which have more leg room, natural…
Dong Van
The villagers of this picturesque Hmong village have initiated a homestay – little more than mattresses on the floor in relatively bare rooms, although it…
Bai Tu Long Bay
Imposing, bright-white and brand new. The rooms here are spacious, if lacking in character, and it's probably the best place within walking distance of…
Northwest Vietnam
This gleaming main-drag edifice has handsome rooms trimmed with colourful art, wooden furniture and comfortable beds. Surprisingly sophisticated for a…
Ha Giang Province
A virtual wall of exotic booze bottles in the lobby forms the entrance to Ha Giang's capable budget option. Rooms are utterly unremarkable, but are clean…
Dong Van
A new hotel (slogan: 'More polite, more amenities'), just steps from the market, with standard budget rooms and a vast top-floor dorm with six huge, comfy…
Lao Cai
Towering over Lao Cai's train station, the Thien Hai is a solid option with big business-brisk-style rooms and professional staff. Rates shoot up on…
Bai Tu Long Bay
The well-run Ann Hotel, in the centre of town, offers spacious rooms with gleaming bathrooms. The best rooms at the back have balconies with ocean views.
Song Da Ngoc Vung Hotel & Resort
Bai Tu Long Bay
The island's best accommodation, this resort takes the form of a few vast, home-like bungalows in a manicured compound at the edge of a wide beach.
Cao Bang
A solid option with spacious, business-style rooms, some with floor-to-ceiling windows, on a quiet street off Cao Bang's main drag.
Halong City
A lively, eclectic lobby leads to a handful of rather tight but tidy six-bed dorm rooms. Your tariff includes breakfast and a beer.
Ha Giang Province
This sweet little place on the main road through Tam Som offers simple, light-filled rooms with crisp, clean linen on the beds.
Dong Van
At the western edge of the market, this family-run budget place combines new, clean rooms and dorms in a shophouse.
Cat Ba Island
This resort boasts a rural location 12km from Cat Ba Town and 2km off the main road. Spacious, simple and somewhat overpriced wooden stilt houses sit…
Cat Ba Island
Located around 3km from Cat Ba Town, down an unmarked alley in the village of Ang Soi, this heritage house was carefully moved here from the outskirts of…
Mai Chau
Virtually every stilt-house building in central Lac village now acts as a guest house, offering dorm-style accommodation or simple private rooms, with…
Cat Ba Mountain View Guesthouse
Cat Ba Island
Removed from the hustle of town, this collection of roadside bungalows and basic hilltop cabins made from pallets offers simple accommodation but great…
Cat Ba Island
The fake-flower decor here is an an attempt to jazz up the slightly faded rooms. All are spacious, though the seafront ones, which can sleep up to four…
Dien Bien Phu
Bright-feeling but plain rooms in a large three-star hotel complex one minute walk from the bus station. All rooms come with a balcony and the VIP rooms…
Muong Cultural Museum Homestay
Northwest Vietnam
Simple rooms, both private and shared, are available in this art- and culture-focused compound. Breakfast is an additional 30,000d and other meals cost…
Bac Ha
The five floors here culminate in what is an imposing hotel for such a small town. The rooms aren't great value, and could use an update, although the…
Bac Ha
This rickety wooden house has bare-bones basic rooms with fan, while at the front more expensive, rather plain rooms run past a pot-plant-festooned…
Northeast Vietnam
The simple and central Van Xuan has helpful staff and old-fashioned but neat rooms that lead out to a communal balcony overlooking the eastern edge of…
AVANI Hai Phong Harbour View Hotel
Haiphong
Built in replica-colonial style in 1998, this hotel has good facilities, including a gym, spa and the excellent Nam Phuong Restaurant. The 122 rooms are…
Northwest Vietnam
The ageing, government-run Thanh Binh has 17 tired but passable rooms at the north end of town, but staff are rarely troubled by any guests. The upper…
Ba Be National Park
This friendly family-run spot in Cho Ra has 10 basic, clean rooms with balconies and views of the nearby rice paddies. The owner can arrange onward…
Haiphong
The Bao Anh has a great location in a leafy street surrounded by good restaurants, which makes up for the cramped bathrooms and old-fashioned decor. The…
Bai Tu Long Bay
Simple rooms, outfitted with TV and air-conditioning, in the middle of Co To Town's waterfront strip. The furnishings are mismatched and the beds hard,…
Bai Tu Long Bay
Coto Diamond Sea is a strip of new, spacious, faux-wood bungalows right on Hong Van Beach. As with most other places, there's a restaurant on-site. It's…
Cat Ba Island
Service and accommodation may be a bit lacklustre, but Cat Ba Dream has decent-value, small rooms at the back, and larger sea-facing ones with killer…
Northwest Vietnam
Set just off the main street, this white-and-gold palatial-feeling place has slightly aged rooms that could use an update – which is what was happening…
Bai Tu Long Bay
Across the street from the white sands of Minh Chau Beach is this old-school-resort-feeling hotel. Rooms are spacious, if slightly aged, and a bit of…
Lao Cai
Basic budget rooms a short walk from the train station; you'll find lots of similar places along this strip. You can pop in and take a shower for 100,000d.
Bai Tu Long Bay
This guesthouse is run by a friendly local family who speak a bit of English. Rooms are basic and mattresses are thin, but the welcome is warm and genuine.
Halong City
This hostel (don't confuse it with the Halong Backpacker's Hostel on Ɖ Vuon Dao) has small, simple but clean, six-bed dorms and a lively downstairs bar.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Located around 200m north of Cai Rong Pier is this hotel with decent-sized and well-cared-for rooms. Communicating in English here can be problematic.
Sapa
Inside this nondescript concrete hotel there's a decent budget deal to be had, with rooms that are basic and somewhat dark, but spic and span.
