Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
There are several hotels in the Saigon area which are good value. The backpacker district is located in District #1 of Saigon. This is the old part of the city. The reason for staying at backpackers I think are:
1. Hotels dont offer you any 'real' experience of how life is in Vietnam
2. You are more likely to meet backpackers and Englih-speaking Vietnamese in the backpacker district
3. Its much cheaper, whereas international hotels are more pricey despite the low cost of building in Vietnam. The reason is the extra fees, plus your fears of being mugged
Some of the budget/backpacker style accommodation I looked at was:
1. Thanh Thanh Hotel, HCMC: Paid $US6/night for fan room with double bed, toilet, table & chair. Can pay $US9/night for air-conditioning (not required). Address: 205 Pham Ngu Lao St, District 1, HCMC, tel: 84-8-886 1751, fax: 84-8-836 7027. I stayed here. No tel in room.
2. Hotel Hoang Huy, HCMC: Located at 18 Bui Vien St, HCMC. Tel: 836 7956. Rooms start at $US5/night. I think alright but the room shown did not have good security.
Hanoi City
Hanoi City is a much nicer city I think than Saigon. Which is why I spent alot of time there. I think its cleaner, cooler, better maintained (as the national capital), and it has attractive old French districts, and well-maintained lakes in the city. The backpacker district is centered around the northern end of Lake Kiem. There are several blocks of backpacker lodges stretching north from there.
1. Nam Phuong Hotel: Located at 64 Cau Go St, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, tel: 825 5988. This place is very close to Lake Kiem. The owners are very friendly & do not take advantage of you. You get more than you pay for. I paid $US8/night for fan+TV+hot water+double bed.
2. My Kinh Hotel: Located at 72-74 Hang Buom St, Hanoi. Tel: 825 5726, fax: 828 0514. Offered $US8/night including TV+hot water+2 beds+closet+table. Large room, but old place, so need adaptor for new plugs. Good value & many rooms.
3.The Old Darling Café: Address 142 Hang Bac St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Tel: 84-4-824 3024, fax: 926 0102.. There is another office at 10 Dao Duy Tu Alley, Hanoi. Tel: 828 1711. Dormitories are good for 6 & only $US3/night. If want security & personal toilet can get room for $US7-8/night. This place probably had the best atmosphere at dinner of all the cafés, and is a good place to meet people. They also organise tours, which apparently gave no problem, though I suspect particular tourists are targeted.
4. Darling Café: Address at 33 Hang Quat St, Hanoi. Tel: 826 9386, fax: 825 6562. Rooms were $US8/night.
5. Especen Hotel No. 8: This is where I stayed on my 1st night. I was in a small room, sharing toilet way downstairs, noisy, though just $US5/night. Address: 30 Luong Van Can St, Hanoi. Tel: 824 5924.
6. The Red River Tours: Address at 73 Hang Bo St, Hanoi. Tel: 826 8427, fax: 828 7159, email: redrivertours@netnam.org.vn. This is one of the 3 travel groups (Sinh Café & Queen Café being the others). It was rooms, a large restaurant & email services. Did not see the rooms.
7. Queen Café: Address at 65 Hang Bac St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Tel: 826 0860, fax: 825 0000, email: queenaz@yahoo.com or queenaz@usa.net or queenaz@fpt.vn. Have rooms & email.
8. Mai Phuong Hotel: I stayed here the following nights. They are associated with Queen Café. Address at 32 Hang Be St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Tel: 826 5341, fax: use Queen Café fax & email. The food here is very cheap & reasonable, the room I got for $US7/night including large bed & room, large toilet/showever, table & chair +fan (was cold so did not need). There was a strange bouncing ball noise I could not identify.
9. N.A.M. Long Hotel: Address at 10b Dinh Liet St, Hanoi. Tel: 826 6054, fax:??? No email. The rooms were cheap here at $US6/night for nice single room + fan. The toilet was downstairs though, so sharing. Maybe older style plug, but I think can take new (USA) or old (French) plug.
10. Ta Hien Hotel: Located at 22 Ta Hien St, Hanoi. Tel: 825 5888. They were offering a single (big) room with fan & toilet for $US8/night. This is an old style hotel. Old power point maybe??? Security might be an issue as there was a side door, though this may allow you to take girls in.
11. Youth Hotel: This place is very pleasant & up-market. Can get air-conditioned room (dont need) & TV for $US25/night, or standard room with air-con, toilet &shower for $US15/night. Common facilities include a restaurant, bar and pool table. There are many cheaper hotels offering similar rooms, but common facilities are superior to most.
12. Love Planet: Address at 98 Ma May St, Hanoi. Tel: 828 4864, fax: 828 0913, email: loveplanet@hn.vnn.vn. Dormitories for $US3/night or offered room for $US6/night, but the room I looked at had a musty smell. Large room with toilet.
13. Dong Xuan Hotel: Address at 26 Cao Thang St, Hanoi. Tel: 828 4474. This place has rooms from$US6/night I understand, but is too far from lake. Did not go there.
14. Binh Minh Hotel: 50 Hang Be St, Hanoi. Tel: 826 7356, fax: 84-4-824 7183. This has the cheapest room I saw for just $US4/night (Room 207), however dark, no ventilation or windows. Good for storage if travelling with valuables. Try get $US2-3/night if need security.
15. Vinh Quang Hotel: A girl told my she paid $US8/night for TV+tel+hot water+double beds. I found it to be $US15/night. Address: 24 Hang Quat St, Hanoi. Near Old Darling Café. Good if can negotiate the price down.
Nha Trang City
Nha Trang City is famous for its nice beaches, though I am sure they dont compare with Australia and USA. I did not go to these places so you might want to research more. Nha Trang is located in central Vietnam, so its midway between Hanoi and Saigon, but a long way.
1. O-Sin Hotel & Restaurant, Nha Trang City: I was recommended to go to this hotel for $US3/night. This place is apparently where all the foreigners go. Danang is a hole I understand. Has nice beach & bars. Can meet pros on the beach.
Halong Bay City
Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam. It is the gateway to the limestone tors that rise out of the Red River Estuary like the scales of a crocodile skin sit out of the water. This is a great place to go sea kayaking, though you would need to be weary about privacy in these unsecure estuaries.
1. Manh Cuong Hotel, Bai Chay precinct, Halong City: Address: 79 Sector 2A Vuon Dao St, Bai Chay, Halong City. This place is on the hill. It has clean, modern rooms, 2 beds, balcony with no chairs or view, 5 floors, hot water for $US15/night, though it was a lot cheaper though Queen Café tour.
3. Opposite Manh Cuong Hotel, Bai Chay precinct, Halong City: I lost the business card for this place, though very cheap. Offered me $US5/night because I think they liked me. Anyway that was 6 years ago. She could have a PhD now?? I think the mother wanted me for her daughter who was a stunner & spoke English. It comprised 2 bed room + toilet & hot/cold water shower.
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