Must-see hotels in Northern Vietnam

  • Pan Hou Village

    Ha Giang Province

    This wonderful ecolodge is tucked away in a hidden river valley in the High Song Chau mountains, with simple, solar-powered bungalows set in a riot of…

  • Manoir Des Arts Hotel

    Haiphong

    The Manoir serves up just the right amount of classy, colonial French vibe, with brilliant white columns, black-and-white tiled floors and lush green…

  • Little Mai Chau Homestay

    Mai Chau

    It's hard to beat this collection of thatched bamboo bungalows, backing onto karst cliffs, with balconies overlooking the paddy fields, 2km west of Mai…

  • Huy Trung Homestay

    Bac Ha

    This well-designed place is clearly signposted in a residential district to the north of town and walkable from the centre. The five rooms are immaculate,…

  • Mai Chau Eco Lodge

    Mai Chau

    Located on a slight hill surveying the surrounding rice fields is this village-like compound. Step inside the thatched-roof bungalows and you'll find they…

  • Sapa Clay House

    Sapa

    Located 3km southeast of Sapa is this charming compound of adobe rooms and bungalows. Perched on a hillside with views of the rice terraces below, its…

  • Cosy Hotel

    Northwest Vietnam

    This gleaming new hotel in the north of town is your best choice, whatever your budget. The pokey 300,000d rooms don't have windows but all other rooms…

  • Starlight Boutique Hotel

    Bai Tu Long Bay

    Spacious, spotless modern rooms and staff that go above and beyond the call make this the top place in town, with a dockside location that's handy for an…

  • Light Hotel

    Halong City

    The good-sized, modern and super-clean rooms here are excellent value, especially the spacious triples with one large and one small bed. Chuck in the fact…

  • Song Long Hotel

    Northeast Vietnam

    This excellent-value hotel has spotless midrange rooms for upper-budget prices. The spacious doubles are better value than the cheaper superior rooms…

  • Hoa Son Guesthouse

    Ba Be National Park

    The very well-kept Hoa Son Guesthouse is one of the best Ba Be homestay options, with simple but clean rooms, a huge balcony and lake views. Excellent…

  • Nam Phong Hotel

    Bai Tu Long Bay

    Conveniently close to Quan Lan Town Pier (2km) but walkable to the town (1km), this welcoming, family-run place offers clean, spacious and excellent-value…

  • Elegance Hotel

    Sapa

    The spacious, well-furnished deluxe rooms with balcony here are one of the best deals in Sapa, especially given the perfect central location. Helpful…

  • Dao Lodge

    Ha Giang Province

    Nam Dam village near Tam Son has dozens of family homestays, but the most stylish place is this traditional lodge built from wood, bamboo and tamped earth…

  • Aira Boutique Hotel

    Sapa

    Located at the edge of a cliff, and offering fantastic views of the valley below, is this fresh, modern hotel. Front-facing rooms with views are the most…

  • Sapa Lodge

    Sapa

    Sapa Lodge is a friendly, well-run place with plenty of small-hotel appeal. The smart, light-filled deluxe rooms come with soaring views of the…

  • Namcat Island Resort

    Cat Ba Island

    This island's prescription for relaxation includes simple but handsome wood-clad bungalows, with some located under looming limestone cliffs, others…

  • Mr Linh's Homestay

    Ba Be National Park

    A step up in amenities from Ba Be's homestays, this lakeside place in Coc Toc village consists of lovely sitting areas linking bamboo and wood-panelled…

  • Cat Ba Beach Resort

    Cat Ba Island

    Rimming the furthest sandy edge of Cat Co 2 Beach, the charming yet dinky stone-and-thatch bungalows of this resort sit within a manicured lawn dotted…

  • Lan Homestay

    Cat Ba Island

    This pretty compound wasn't quite finished when we stopped by, but if the existing rooms are anything to go by, it will be a clever budget choice. Expect…

  • Huy Hoan Hotel

    Ha Giang Province

    Run by a friendly family, the central Huy Hoan (pronounced 'Hwe Hwan') offers large, clean, well-kept rooms that represent excellent value. The communal…

  • Topas Ecolodge

    Sapa

    Overlooking a plunging valley 18km from Sapa, this resort has stone-and-thatch bungalows with front balconies to make the most of the truly breathtaking…

  • Mai Chau Lodge

    Mai Chau

    This tour-group favourite has handsome rooms decked out in local textiles, a refreshing plunge pool and a nice bar area overlooking the local pond. It's…

  • Grand Hotel

    Northwest Vietnam

    Your best bet in Hoa Binh is this rather grandiose hotel just over Hoa Binh Bridge. The modern rooms come decked out in cream and beige, equipped with…

  • Luc Xoan Hotel

    Bai Tu Long Bay

    Bright green, brand new and steps from Cai Rong Pier is this perfectly located dockside hotel. 'I think clean is very important,' the friendly, English…

  • Cat Ba Central Hostel

    Cat Ba Island

    This friendly hostel is fast becoming the heart of Cat Ba's backpacker action. Clean dorms (one with 28 beds, one with 14 beds and two with six beds,…

  • Mong Cai Grand Hotel

    Northeast Vietnam

    The 32-room Grand Hotel is new and modern, with spacious, fully outfitted rooms and helpful English-speaking staff. An excellent midrange choice.

  • Auberge Hotel

    Sapa

    An old-school yellow villa with porticos, terrace seating and a garden restaurant, the Auberge retains a vaguely colonial vibe. Rooms are comfortable but…

  • Woodstock Beach Camp

    Cat Ba Island

    As the name might suggest, basic Woodstock has some dirt under its fingernails, but if you want a uniquely old-school hippie backpacker crash pad, there's…

  • Cat Ba Tropicana Homestay

    Cat Ba Island

    Clean, good-value rooms and a quiet but central location away from the busy coastal strip are a great start, but what really elevates this place is the…

  • Monkey Island Resort

    Cat Ba Island

    Although the wood-and-thatch standard bungalows are tiny for the asking price, and could do with some TLC, the island location and strip of beach are…

  • Sapa O'Chau

    Sapa

    The hotel attached to the excellent tour agency exists to train locals in hotel management, so be patient. The best rooms enjoy spacious lake views and a…

  • Maxim's

    Haiphong

    Maxim's has been going for years, but remains a fine lower-midrange choice. The cheapest rooms come without a window, so it's worth upgrading, but all…

  • Topas Riverside House

    Sapa

    Located in a valley, on the outskirts of teensy Nam Cang village, 36km from Sapa, this stylish wooden house with eight minimalist rooms is a collaboration…

  • QT Guest House

    Ha Giang Province

    This welcoming new guesthouse run by nearby QT Motorbikes & Tours has clean, spacious eight-bed dorms and comfortable doubles (the back-facing twins are…

  • Central Backpackers Hostel

    Cat Ba Island

    One of a new breed of modern hostels, this well-run and spotlessly clean place on the western edge of town has dorms and a few comfortable private rooms…

  • Botanic Sapa

    Sapa

    The cosy Botanic stands out mostly due to friendly husband-and-wife owners Minh and Van, who are wonderful hosts. There are only four rooms, brightened…

  • Ban Van Guest House

    Mai Chau

    Ban Van village is only 800m east of central Mai Chau, but is noticeably less developed for tourism. Three or four stilt-house homestays dot the village,…

  • Coto Center Homestay

    Bai Tu Long Bay

    There are just six comfortable, modern rooms in this well-run homestay in the middle of the island. The location is rural, 4km from the ferry and 2km from…

  • Whisper of Nature

    Cat Ba Island

    Whisper of Nature is a simple place where nature lovers can kick back and enjoy some downtime, or engage in hiking and swimming. Little concrete-and…