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.
Must-see hotels in Vietnam
Mui Ne
Fine-value, spacious, well-presented and immaculately clean rooms set in manicured gardens on the west end of the strip. There's a decent spa here, too.
Con Dao Islands
Painted in marine blue, this guesthouse has rooms with good mattresses; the upstairs options are light and airy. The owners speak little or no English.
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.
Nha Trang
The five types of rooms at this very inexpensive long-running travellers' base vary quite a bit, from cramped and dour to fresh and modern.
Northwest Vietnam
At the far western end of town is this hotel with spacious rooms in pink and baby-blue pastel tones with rather grand desks and hard beds.
Nha Trang
A pleasant mini-hotel in the thick of things with spacious, modern rooms (some with balcony) that represent decent value. There's a lift.
Bach Ma National Park
The park authority has a small camping ground and two guesthouses near the entrance, with basic twin-bed rooms with private bathrooms.
Mekong Delta
Particularly handy for the central bus station, this place is friendly, cheap and comes with somewhat dark but spacious rooms.
Northeast Vietnam
A minute's walk from the Chinese border is this budget place, with standard, if uninspiring, rooms and rather reluctant staff.
Mekong Delta
A friendly, clean and central hotel. Some rooms share terraces looking down over the main street. A little English is spoken.
Nha Trang
This mini-hotel has light, bright, well-equipped rooms with en-suite bathrooms. The very cheapest don't have windows.
Ninh Binh
A hospitable option with quiet, comfortable and clean rooms. Meals are served in the nearby Xuan Hoa Hotel 1.
Northeast Vietnam
An acceptable cheapie close to the Lang Son Market, with cane furniture, spacious rooms and clean bathrooms.
Phu Quoc Island
Pros? This colourful hostel is a great place to meet fellow backpackers. Cons? The grungy charm wears off when staff forget to clean the rooms and…
Mekong Delta
A Communist Party special and a favourite with the army, this hotel has large, airy, OK rooms, a reception dripping in marble, and a quiet location, set…
Hue
At Phu Thuan Beach (about 7km southeast of Thuan An), the Beach Bar Hue has decent shared four-bed bungalows and sits pretty on a sublime stretch of sand,…
Sapa
The dorm here is a squeeze and the private rooms plain, but the foyer has comfy sofas and stacks of books. And as the base for Sapa Sisters, there's a ton…
Ho Chi Minh City
Slung down a quiet alley off Ð Cong Quynh, immediately south of Ð Bui Vien, this trim, comfy and spacious hotel exudes a pea-green theme, although the…
Hoi An
It's definitely nothing fancy, but a safe budget bet: plain, good-value rooms with comfortable mattresses, reading lights, fridge and air-conditioning…
Cuc Phuong National Park
At the reserve's heart, Bong is 18km from the entrance and good for early morning walks and birdwatching. There are simple rooms with no hot water in a…
Tra Vinh
This friendly mini-hotel has shabby but clean rooms with tiled floors and either a bathtub or a shub (shower tub). Double rooms are internal and…
Bai Tu Long Bay
This corner-front establishment in the heart of town has plain, if serviceable, rooms, but the guys in charge don't speak English, and running the hotel…
Chau Doc
The sole cheapie with a riverside location, plus a floating restaurant. Rooms are not so atmospheric, but good value. The cheaper rooms are cold-water…
Danang
This riverfront hotel offers really fancy bathrooms (some with space-age showers). Note the standard-class options do not have windows and only the VIPs…
Danang
A welcoming hotel with neat, if smallish, rooms with attractive wood furniture, large TVs and comfy beds with duvets. Number 301 has a balcony and river…
Danang
There's a scarlet theme running through this OK value hotel from the lobby to the inviting, modern rooms.
Northeast Vietnam
The rooms at this budget place are in dire need of a paint job and new furniture.
