Wondering where to stay in Vietnam? It’s a long, narrow country where you can start in the busy streets of Hanoi, sail between limestone islands in Ha Long Bay, walk among the rice terraces in the mountains around Sapa and finish on a beach on Phu Quoc. The currency is the dong, and 100,000 dong is roughly ยฃ3.
Precisely because it’s such a long way from north to south, your choice of bases matters a great deal. Most people travel either from north to south or the other way round, and fly the longest stretches. Here are my nine suggestions for where to stay in Vietnam, with good hotels in three price ranges at each place.
Contents
Where to Stay in Vietnam: The Best Areas
- Hanoi - best city for first-time visitors and street food
- Sapa - best area for hiking and rice terraces in the mountains
- Ha Long Bay - best place for a cruise among the limestone islands
- Ninh Binh - best area for rice fields, limestone karsts and boat trips
- Hue - best city for imperial palaces and Vietnamese history
- Da Nang - best city for beach and big-city life at the same time
- Hoi An - best town for lanterns, tailors and a relaxed pace
- Ho Chi Minh City - best city for urban life and trips to the Mekong Delta
- Phu Quoc - best island for a beach holiday and sunsets
I go through the bases in the order they come on a classic north-to-south tour. First Hanoi and the three excursion spots in the north, then Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An in the middle of the country, and finally Ho Chi Minh City and the island of Phu Quoc. For each place you get a map, travel times and three hotels: the most expensive first, then a mid-range option and finally one for a smaller budget.
Domestic flights are the easiest way to get between the regions. Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc all have airports, and the flight between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City takes about two hours. If you’d rather see the scenery, the railway runs all the way along the coast, and you can check departures and buy tickets from the state rail company Vietnam Railways. The night trains are handy on the long stretches, but expect them to be slower than a flight plus transfer. For Sapa, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, you take a bus, minibus or car with driver from Hanoi.
I wouldn’t hire a car and drive in Vietnam myself. The traffic is dense and unpredictable, and a car with driver or a ride-hailing app such as Grab is cheap and much easier. Two weeks is enough for four or five bases, and with three weeks you can do them all. The Mekong Delta doesn’t have its own section, as most people go there on a day trip or with a single overnight stay from Ho Chi Minh City. I tell you more about that in the section on the city.
1. Hanoi - best city for first-time visitors and street food ๐
- ๐ Distance to the centre: Hoan Kiem Lake is the heart of the city. The three hotels here are no more than about 800 metres from the lake, in and around the Old Quarter.
- ๐ต Transport: Walk around the Old Quarter, and use Grab or a taxi for the neighbourhoods further out.
- โ๏ธ Time from the airport: Noi Bai Airport (HAN) is about 27 km by road north of the centre. Allow 45-60 minutes by car and a little longer on airport bus 86. My guide to getting from Hanoi Airport to the city centre covers all the options.
- ๐ฐ Price level: โฌ to โฌโฌโฌ. Lots of small, cheap hotels and a fair number of boutique hotels with rooftop pools.
- ๐ฎ Safety: The traffic is the biggest risk. Bags and phones get snatched from passing motorbikes, so keep your belongings away from the road.
Hanoi is the obvious place to start. It’s Vietnam’s capital and feels far older than Ho Chi Minh City, with lakes, temples, yellow colonial buildings and an Old Quarter where the streets were once divided up by trade. You eat pho and bun cha on little plastic stools on the pavement, and scooters flow past in a steady stream from morning till night.
I’ve chosen three hotels in and around the Old Quarter, because that’s where most people want to stay on their first trip. From here you can walk to Hoan Kiem Lake, the markets and the street food, and it’s also where most buses and minibuses to Sapa, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh pick up their passengers. If you’d rather stay somewhere quieter by West Lake or in the French Quarter, I’ve written a whole guide on where to stay in Hanoi, with five neighbourhoods to choose from.
From the airport, the cheap airport bus 86 runs into the Old Quarter and on to Hanoi Railway Station. If you land late or have a lot of luggage, a Grab or a taxi is easier and still cheap. The Old Quarter is noisy, and many hotels are in narrow, tall townhouses where the cheapest rooms don’t always have a window. Read the room description carefully, and it’s worth paying a little extra for daylight and a room away from the street.
I’d give Hanoi three nights at the start of the trip, and ideally one more night when you come back from Sapa or Ha Long Bay. Many people leave their big suitcase at the hotel while they’re on excursions in the north, and most hotels in the Old Quarter offer this. Ask at check-in whether you can have the same room or simply store your luggage for a few days.
Hotels in Hanoi
Soleil Boutique Hotel Hanoi - five-star hotel with a rooftop pool in the Old Quarter
Soleil is on the shopping street Hang Bong in the western part of the Old Quarter, about 800 metres from Hoan Kiem Lake. The hotel has a rooftop infinity pool and bar, a spa, a sauna and a gym, and the rooms range from 22 to 65 square metres.
This is my pick if you want to stay right in the Old Quarter but still have somewhere to escape the noise. The view from the roof is a big part of the experience. The pool is small, though, and one guest felt it was a little worn and could do with more sun loungers.
One guest writes on Booking.com: โOur best hotel stay ever! A comfortable, clean and perfectly located hotel with an incredible view over the city.โ
See photos and book Soleil Boutique Hotel Hanoi here.
San Palace Hotel & Rooftop - four-star hotel with a rooftop pool on Hang Bong
San Palace is on the same street as Soleil, less than a kilometre from Hoan Kiem Lake, so you can walk to the lake and the beer street Ta Hien in about 15 minutes. The hotel has a rooftop pool and bar, and the rooms are between 20 and 38 square metres, which is spacious for the Old Quarter.
Choose it if you want a pool and a good breakfast at a price well below the five-star hotels. According to one guest the pool is very small, though, so think of it more as somewhere to cool off than to swim.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: โThe hotel was clean and had a fantastic location. There was something for every taste at breakfast.โ
See photos and book San Palace Hotel & Rooftop here.
Sena Boutique Hotel & Travel - popular mid-range hotel close to the lake
Sena is on Hang Hom street in the middle of the Old Quarter, just over half a kilometre from Hoan Kiem Lake. It’s the cheapest of my three suggestions in Hanoi. There’s no pool, but the rooms are 25 to 35 square metres, and breakfast comes in several versions, including vegetarian and vegan.
It suits you if you want a central base and would rather spend your money on food and excursions. The hotel has a travel desk that can help with tours in the north. The downside is the decor. One guest calls the hotel old-fashioned and thinks it needs a renovation.
One guest highlights on Booking.com: โA wonderful hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, close to everything, especially Hoan Kiem Lake and Train Street.โ
See photos and book Sena Boutique Hotel & Travel here.
2. Sapa - best area for hiking and rice terraces in the mountains ๐พ
- ๐ Distance to the centre: Sapa Lake and the church square mark the middle of town. The hotels here range from under a kilometre from the lake to around 5 km out in the Muong Hoa Valley.
- ๐ Transport: Bus or minibus from Hanoi along the motorway, or the night train to Lao Cai followed by around an hour by bus or car up to Sapa.
- โ๏ธ Time from the airport: Sapa has no airport. From Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, allow five to six hours by bus or car. This is an estimate.
- ๐ฐ Price level: โฌ to โฌโฌโฌโฌ. Lots of cheap homestays in the villages and a handful of pricey hotels and lodges with views.
- ๐ฎ Safety: A quiet town. Bring proper walking boots and take a guide on the longer hikes, as the paths get slippery in the rain.
Sapa sits high in the mountains of north-western Vietnam, close to the Chinese border, and is the place for hiking among rice terraces and small villages. Fansipan towers above the town. At 3,143 metres it is the highest mountain in Indochina, and a cable car takes you almost all the way to the summit if you would rather not walk.
The town itself is touristy, with hotels, cafรฉs and shops around the lake and the church. The real draw is the valley below. In the Muong Hoa Valley, villages such as Lao Chai and Ta Van lie among the terraces, and this is home to Hmong and Dao people, among others. Many visitors go on guided treks with an overnight stay in a homestay, and you can easily book a local guide in town or through your hotel.
You can stay in two places. In town, you have restaurants, the cable car and transport right on your doorstep, which is easiest if you only have a couple of nights. Out in the valley, it is quieter and you get views of the rice terraces, but you will need a taxi every time you want to go into town. I would spend two or three nights, so you have one full day for hiking and one for Fansipan.
Choose your season carefully. The rice terraces are green in summer and golden just before the harvest in early autumn, while winter can be cold and misty, with frost in the mountains. Many hotels have heating, but bring warm clothes from December to February. In summer it rains a lot and the paths turn muddy.
Hotels in Sapa
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery - five-star hotel with a heated indoor pool in town
Hotel de la Coupole is in the southern part of town, just under 700 metres from Sapa Lake and around 600 metres from the bus station. It has a heated indoor pool, spa, sauna and gym, and all rooms have both air conditioning and heating.
It is my first choice if you want to stay in town in real comfort and have a warm pool after a day in the mountains. There are mountain views, but at a distance, and several rooms face the garden. One guest felt the service did not quite live up to five stars.
One guest writes on Booking.com: โBeautiful hotel. From the pool to the lobby and the room.โ
See photos and book Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery here.
Laxsik Ecolodge Sapa - lodge with an infinity pool down in the Muong Hoa Valley
Laxsik is by the village of Lao Chai in the Muong Hoa Valley, around 5 km from town and about ten minutes by taxi. The lodge has an outdoor pool overlooking the valley, a spa and a restaurant, and the rooms have mountain views.
It is my second pick and the place to stay if you would rather wake up to views of the rice terraces than to the town outside your window. You will need a taxi into town and to the cable car. The pool is open all year, but one guest found it too cold to enjoy.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: โThe view from the property is breathtaking. Beautiful pool, delicious breakfast and the staff are lovely.โ
See photos and book Laxsik Ecolodge Sapa here.
Sinai Bungalow & Hotel SaPa - budget hotel with mountain views and a hot tub
Sinai is the cheapest of my three suggestions and sits on the mountainside north of town, around 2 km from the lake as the crow flies. There is no pool, but there is a hot tub, and the rooms have both heating and views over the mountains.
It suits you if you want views and peace and quiet without paying for a luxury hotel. The downside is the distance. Guests mention that you should expect to take a taxi or walk for 30-40 minutes into town.
One guest writes briefly on Booking.com: โA lovely stay, beautiful views and fantastic rooms!โ
See photos and book Sinai Bungalow & Hotel SaPa here.
3. Ha Long Bay - best place for a cruise among the limestone islands ๐ข
- ๐ Distance to the centre: Bai Chay is the town’s hotel and beach district. The three hotels here are between just over one and about three kilometres from the beach.
- ๐ข Transport: The vast majority of cruises in the bay depart from the harbours at Bai Chay and Tuan Chau. For Lan Ha Bay, boats usually leave from Cat Ba or Hai Phong.
- โ๏ธ Time from the airport: Van Don Airport (VDO) is about an hour by car from Bai Chay. From Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, the journey takes two and a half to three hours. Both times are estimates.
- ๐ฐ Price level: โฌ to โฌโฌโฌโฌ. Hotels in Ha Long town are often cheap. A cruise with an overnight stay costs far more.
- ๐ฎ Safety: A safe town. Keep an eye on the weather, as sailings can be cancelled in stormy conditions.
Ha Long Bay is Vietnam’s most famous landscape: thousands of limestone islands rising sheer out of the green water. The bay is on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the archipelago around Cat Ba, and according to UNESCO the area has 1,133 islands and islets. Between the islands you’ll find caves, small beaches and floating fishing villages.
The question here isn’t just where to stay, but whether you should sleep on land at all. Many people choose a cruise with one or two nights on a boat. That way you sail out to the quieter parts of the bay, sleep among the islands and can go kayaking or swimming before the day-trippers arrive. The cruises have their own websites and booking systems, and the price depends heavily on the boat, so compare several before you choose.
See hotels in Ha Long Bay here.
If you’d rather sleep in a proper bed and take a day trip on the water, Bai Chay is where most people stay. The district sits by the town’s beach, has plenty of hotels and restaurants and is close to the harbours. It’s practical, but Ha Long town is a modern tourist town without much charm, and several of the new districts can feel almost deserted outside the high season.
If you have more time, Lan Ha Bay by Cat Ba island is a quieter alternative with the same kind of scenery and fewer boats. I’d give the area one night on a boat or two nights in Bai Chay. Don’t book the cheapest cruise without reading the reviews, as the difference between boats is huge. Also keep an eye on the forecast, because the authorities can halt sailings in stormy weather.
Hotels in Ha Long Bay
The Watson Premium HaLong Hotel - five-star hotel with a rooftop pool and sea views
The Watson is in the new Hung Thang district in the western part of Bai Chay, about three kilometres from the beach. The hotel has a rooftop pool and bar, a spa, sauna and gym, and several of the rooms look out over the bay.
This is my pick if you want a comfortable stay before or after a cruise. The price is high for Ha Long, but still low compared with a good boat. The downside is the location. One guest feels the hotel is a little isolated from central Bai Chay, so expect to take a taxi to the beach and restaurants.
One guest writes on Booking.com: โFantastic hotel, great customer service, I can highly recommend it.โ
See photos and book The Watson Premium HaLong Hotel here.
Halong Lavender Hotel - four-star hotel with a rooftop pool near the beach
Lavender is in the Sun Plaza Grand World area of Bai Chay, about 500 metres from the beach. The hotel has a rooftop pool, a restaurant and a bar, and there’s free parking if you arrive by car with a driver.
It’s a good choice if you want to be able to walk to the beach and the restaurants in the evening. Guests praise the size of the rooms. Don’t count on a sea view, though, as several of the rooms face the town.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: โBeautiful hotel, very clean, comfortable and spacious.โ
See photos and book Halong Lavender Hotel here.
Ha Long Essence Classic Hotel - small budget hotel with high ratings
Essence Classic is the cheapest of my three suggestions and is in Bai Chay, about two kilometres from the beach. There’s no pool, but some of the rooms have sea views, and breakfast comes in several versions, including vegetarian.
It suits you if you just need a bed for a night before or after the boat and would rather spend your money on a good cruise. The area is the weak point. One guest describes the surroundings as rather artificial and almost like a ghost town.
About the staff, one guest writes on Booking.com: โExceptional hospitality … the warm welcome we received made us feel right at home.โ
See photos and book Ha Long Essence Classic Hotel here.
4. Ninh Binh - best area for rice paddies, limestone karsts and boat trips ๐ถ
- ๐ Distance to the centre: Tam Coc is the small village where most people stay. The hotels here are all around a kilometre or less from the boat pier on the Ngo Dong River.
- ๐ฒ Transport: Bike or scooter between the rice paddies, and a taxi to Trang An and Hang Mua. Trains, buses and minibuses run to Hanoi.
- โ๏ธ Time from the airport: Ninh Binh has no airport. From Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, allow around two and a half hours by car. This is an estimate.
- ๐ฐ Price level: โฌ to โฌโฌโฌ. Lots of small hotels and homestays at low prices, plus a few expensive resorts.
- ๐ฎ Safety: A quiet village. Ride carefully if you hire a scooter, and remember sun cream and water on your bike rides.
Ninh Binh is often called Ha Long Bay on land, and that’s not far off. The same limestone karsts rise up here, just out of rice paddies and rivers instead of the sea. The area lies around two hours south of Hanoi and is one of the places I’d most often recommend staying a night or two rather than doing it as a day trip.
Trang An is the main attraction in the landscape and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as both a natural and cultural site. According to UNESCO, Hoa Lu, which lies within the area, was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries. In Trang An and at Tam Coc you’re rowed in small boats through caves and between the mountains, and at Hang Mua you can climb the steps to a view over the whole valley.
Stay in Tam Coc rather than in Ninh Binh town itself. The town is an ordinary provincial town, whereas Tam Coc is a village with restaurants, bike hire and hotels that look straight out over the rice paddies. Many of the hotels have a pool with mountain views, and several offer bungalows in the garden. From Tam Coc it’s a short trip to the boat ride on the Ngo Dong River, Hang Mua and Trang An.
Two nights is a good minimum. That way you can take the boat trip early in the morning, before the day-trippers from Hanoi arrive, and cycle between the paddies in the afternoon. The rice paddies look their best when the rice is green or golden before the harvest. Ninh Binh is on the railway line between Hanoi and Hue, so you can take the night train south from here and save yourself a trip back to the capital.
Hotels in Ninh Binh
Tam Cแปc Valley Eco Resort - resort with a pool and free bikes north of the village
Valley Eco Resort sits among the rice paddies on the northern edge of Tam Coc, just under a kilometre from the boat pier. There’s an outdoor pool with mountain views, a restaurant and a bar, and you can borrow bikes for free.
This is my pick if you want somewhere quiet and green but still want to be able to cycle into the restaurants. Rooms range from doubles to family suites, so it works for families too. A couple of guests have had problems with the air conditioning in their room.
One guest writes briefly on Booking.com: โThe pool is idyllic.โ
See photos and book Tam Cแปc Valley Eco Resort here.
Tam Coc Serenity Hotel & Bungalow - bungalows around a pool close to the boat pier
Serenity is on the road into Tam Coc, around 800 metres from the boat pier. You can choose between standard rooms and bungalows overlooking the pool, and there’s a restaurant and a bar. Bikes can be hired on site.
It’s a good choice if you want a pool and a bungalow at a sensible price and to be able to walk to the village. The staff are praised for helping with tickets and transport. Soundproofing is the weak point, as one guest could hear noise both from outside and from the room above.
One guest writes on Booking.com: โThe staff were very helpful, especially on the last day when we had to catch the night train.โ
See photos and book Tam Coc Serenity Hotel & Bungalow here.
TamCoc Golden Mountain Homestay - budget homestay with a pool close to the market
Golden Mountain is the cheapest of my three suggestions and is around half a kilometre from the boat pier and the market in Tam Coc. There’s a pool with a view, and several of the rooms have a balcony and mountain views. Bikes can be hired.
It suits you if you want to stay somewhere simple and close to everything. It’s a small, family-run place, so don’t expect round-the-clock hotel service. One guest mentions that there isn’t always someone on reception, but that the host replies quickly on WhatsApp.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: โThe staff are super helpful and friendly.โ
See photos and book TamCoc Golden Mountain Homestay here.
5. Hue - best city for imperial palaces and Vietnam’s history ๐ฏ
- ๐ Distance to the centre: The old citadel with the Imperial City lies on the north side of the Perfume River. The three hotels here are south of the river, around 1.5-2.5 km from the Imperial City.
- ๐ Transport: Walk along the river, and take a Grab, taxi or cyclo to the citadel. For the imperial tombs outside the city, you’ll need a car or scooter.
- โ๏ธ Time from the airport: Phu Bai Airport (HUI) is around 15 km south of the centre. Allow about half an hour by car. This is an estimate.
- ๐ฐ Price level: โฌ to โฌโฌโฌ. Generally cheaper than Hoi An and Da Nang.
- ๐ฎ Safety: A calm and safe city. Flooding can occur in the rainy season, so check the weather forecast before you travel.
Hue was Vietnam’s capital under the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 to 1945, and it’s the place to go if you’re interested in the country’s history. Behind the citadel walls lies the Imperial City with its gates, palaces and gardens, and at its heart are the remains of the Forbidden Purple City. The monuments of Hue were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.
Outside the city, the imperial tombs are scattered across the green hills along the Perfume River, and Thien Mu Pagoda stands on the riverbank west of the centre. You can see it all in two days: one for the citadel and one for the tombs, ideally with a boat trip on the river. The city is calmer than Hanoi and Hoi An, and in the evening there’s plenty of life on the pedestrian streets and by the river on the south side.
Stay on the south side of the river. This is where most of the hotels, restaurants and bars are, and you can walk across the Truong Tien Bridge to the citadel in 20-30 minutes. The north side within the walls is quieter and more local, but has fewer hotels and places to eat. Many people travel between Hue and Da Nang by train over the Hai Van Pass, and the coastal stretch is one of the most beautiful on the entire railway.
Hue is in the part of the country where the rainy season usually falls in autumn and early winter. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that the central regions and the eastern coasts in particular can be hit by storms, typhoons and severe flooding. If you’re travelling during that period, keep an eye on the weather and build some slack into your plans. I’d give Hue two nights before you carry on south to Hoi An.
Hotels in Hue
Grand Royal Riverside Hue, Fusion Collection - five-star hotel by the river and the Truong Tien Bridge
Grand Royal Riverside sits on the south bank right by the Truong Tien Bridge, so you can cross the river towards the citadel in just a few minutes. The hotel has an outdoor pool, spa, sauna and gym, and you can choose rooms with river views.
It’s my first choice in Hue if you want to stay by the river and walk to most things. It’s one of the city’s newer hotels, and guests rate it very highly. The pool is fairly small, though, and one guest mentions that it fills up quickly when the families come down.
One guest writes on Booking.com: โEverything. The staff were fantastic, and the room and all the other facilities were impeccable.โ
See photos and book Grand Royal Riverside Hue here.
Jade Scene Hotel - popular hotel with a rooftop pool and bar
Jade Scene is in the lively area of restaurants and bars east of the Truong Tien Bridge, just over a kilometre from the bridge. There’s a rooftop pool, bar and terrace, a spa and sauna, and many guests praise the breakfast buffet.
It’s a good choice if you want high standards at a mid-range price with restaurants right outside the door. The rooms have city views, so pick another hotel if you’d like to see the river from your bed.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: โEverything about this place was perfect. The staff, the location, the spotless rooms and the rooftop pool, bar and terrace.โ
See photos and book Jade Scene Hotel here.
TA Hue Boutique Hotel - small budget hotel with a rooftop pool
TA Hue is the cheapest of my three suggestions and is on a side street off Hung Vuong on the south side of the river. It’s a small hotel with a rooftop pool and children’s pool, and there’s a lift.
It suits you if you want a pool to cool off in without paying for a big hotel. The pool is in full sun, and one guest mentions that there’s no shade on the roof in the afternoon, so it’s hard to use the pool for long.
One guest writes on Booking.com: โClean and super cute hotel! Unbeatable location, just a few steps from the pedestrian street and Trร ng Tiแปn Bridge.โ
See photos and book TA Hue Boutique Hotel here.
6. Da Nang - best city for beach and big city in one ๐๏ธ
- ๐ Distance to the centre: My Khe Beach is on the east side of the Han River. Two of the hotels are no more than 350 metres from the beach at My Khe, and the third is on the beach about 6 km further south.
- ๐ Transport: Grab and taxis are cheap and easy. Along the beach, you can walk on the seafront promenade.
- โ๏ธ Time from the airport: Da Nang Airport (DAD) is in the city itself, about 5 km from My Khe as the crow flies. Allow around a quarter of an hour by car. This is an estimate.
- ๐ฐ Price level: โฌ to โฌโฌโฌโฌ. Large beach hotels and resorts for every budget, often cheaper than their equivalents in Hoi An.
- ๐ฎ Safety: A safe city. Only swim where there are lifeguards, and watch out for currents when the waves are big.
Da Nang is Vietnam’s third-largest city and a good place to combine beach and city life. It has its own airport, and a long sandy beach stretches along the coast from the Son Tra peninsula south to the Marble Mountains. The Dragon Bridge spans the Han River and is lit up in the evening.
It’s a practical base for the central part of the country. From here, Hoi An is close by, you can drive over the Hai Van Pass to Hue, and Ba Na Hills with the famous Golden Bridge lies in the mountains west of the city. The Marble Mountains, with their caves and pagodas, are close to the beach south of the centre.
Most people stay along the beach. At My Khe, the hotels line up with sea views, restaurants and beach bars, and you’re close to both the airport and the centre. Further south towards Non Nuoc are the large resorts with pools and private beaches, but everything else is further away. The city centre west of the river has the most local restaurants and markets, but no beach.
Da Nang or Hoi An? If the beach is your main priority and you also want big-city choice, Da Nang is the better option. If you want atmosphere and evening strolls through the streets, Hoi An is better. Many people split their stay, as it’s only about an hour’s drive between the two. The waves can be big in winter, so stick to the marked swimming zones.
Hotels in Da Nang
Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa - five-star beach resort by the Marble Mountains
The Hyatt Regency sits right on the beach at Non Nuoc south of the centre, a few minutes’ drive from the Marble Mountains. The resort has several pools, including an infinity pool, plus a spa, gym, tennis court and kids’ club.
This is my pick for families and for anyone who wants resort and beach in one place. It’s about 13 km to the airport and a little further to Hoi An than from the centre. One guest feels the hotel is expensive compared with other equally good hotels in the area.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “It’s a fantastic resort. It’s very child-friendly, with an excellent kids’ club and lots of activities.”
See photos and book Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa here.
Sala Danang Beach Hotel - four-star hotel with a rooftop pool at My Khe
Sala is on a side street off the beach road at My Khe, less than 200 metres from the beach. The hotel has a rooftop pool with sea views, a spa, sauna and gym, and breakfast comes in plenty of variations.
It’s the obvious choice if you want to stay close to the beach with restaurants and cafรฉs nearby. The hotel gets high ratings from many guests. According to several guests, though, the breakfast restaurant can get crowded.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: “We had a lovely stay here! The rooms were fantastic, and the staff were very attentive and friendly.”
See photos and book Sala Danang Beach Hotel here.
Phuc Long Luxury Hotel Danang - modern hotel with a rooftop infinity pool
Phuc Long is the cheapest of my three suggestions and sits on the Vo Nguyen Giap beach road, about 350 metres from the beach at My Khe. The hotel has a rooftop infinity pool, spa, sauna and gym, and serves a breakfast buffet.
It suits you if you want a rooftop pool and the beach close by at a low price. The location on the big beach road has a downside, and one guest mentions that the area is busy and can be noisy.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “I absolutely loved my stay at Phuc Long Da Nang Luxury Hotel. The hotel is beautiful, very clean and modern.”
See photos and book Phuc Long Luxury Hotel Danang here.
7. Hoi An - best town for lanterns, tailors and a slower pace ๐ฎ
- ๐ Distance to the centre: The Japanese Covered Bridge sits in the middle of the Old Town. The hotels here are from under half a kilometre to about a kilometre from the bridge.
- ๐ฒ Transport: Walk or cycle. Much of the Old Town is pedestrianised for most of the day and evening, and you can get to the beaches by bike or taxi.
- โ๏ธ Time from the airport: Da Nang Airport (DAD) is the nearest. According to Vietnam Airlines, the journey takes 45 minutes to an hour by car.
- ๐ฐ Price level: โฌ to โฌโฌโฌโฌ. From small family-run hotels to expensive resorts by the river and the beach.
- ๐ฎ Safety: A safe town. The riverside and the night market get very busy in the evening, so keep a firm grip on your phone and wallet.
For many people, Hoi An is the highlight of the trip. This small trading town on the Thu Bon River has preserved its yellow merchants’ houses, Chinese assembly halls and the covered bridge, and in the evening paper lanterns glow above the streets and on the river. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you’ll need an entrance ticket for most of the old houses.
The town is also known for its tailors, who can make a suit or a dress in just a few days, and for cookery classes and bike rides through the rice paddies. Just a few kilometres away are the sandy beaches of An Bang and Cua Dai. Hoi An is a place to take your time over. With three to four nights, you’ll have time for the Old Town, a day on a bike and an afternoon on the beach.
In this guide, Hoi An is treated as a single base, and I’ve picked three hotels within walking distance of the Old Town. If you’d rather stay among the rice paddies or by the beach at An Bang and Cua Dai, I’ve written a full guide on where to stay in Hoi An, with five areas to choose from. In short, you’ll get the most atmosphere in and around the Old Town, while the beach hotels give you more space and peace.
There’s no airport in Hoi An, so you fly into Da Nang and drive the rest of the way. Expect the Old Town to be packed in the evening, especially at weekends, so it’s better to take a stroll early in the morning when the streets are empty. In the rainy season, the river can burst its banks and the streets nearest the river can be under water at times, so at that time of year it’s better to choose a hotel a little way from the riverbank.
Hotels in Hoi An
Little Riverside Hoi An - five-star riverside hotel with a rooftop pool
Little Riverside is on the river at the eastern edge of the centre, about 1.1 km from the Japanese Covered Bridge and around a five-minute walk from the Old Town. The hotel has both an outdoor pool and a rooftop pool, a spa and a gym, and you can borrow bikes for free.
This is my luxury pick in Hoi An if you want to stay by the river and walk into town for the lanterns in the evening. Guests give the hotel very high ratings. One small downside is breakfast, where one guest mentions small flies around the buffet.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything about this hotel was magnificent. Location, staff, facilities and the rooftop pool!”
See photos and book Little Riverside Hoi An here.
Lion King Hotel - small hotel with a pool five minutes from the Old Town
Lion King is on Hai Ba Trung in the Cam Pho neighbourhood, about half a kilometre from the Japanese Covered Bridge. It’s a small hotel with an outdoor pool and a garden, and guests rate the hosts very highly for their help and recommendations.
It’s a good choice if you want a pool and to be able to walk to the Old Town at a reasonable price. The hotel doesn’t serve breakfast, so you’ll eat at the nearby cafรฉs. There’s also no lift and no ground-floor rooms, which can be a problem if you have heavy luggage.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: “The hosts were incredibly helpful and generous with their time and recommendations.”
See photos and book Lion King Hotel here.
Thanh Van 1 Hotel - budget hotel with a pool close to the bridge
Thanh Van 1 is the cheapest of my three suggestions and is on Tran Hung Dao, about 450 metres from the Japanese Covered Bridge. There’s an outdoor pool and free parking, and guests praise the breakfast.
It suits you if you want a simple stay right next to the Old Town. Choose a room away from the street, as guests with rooms facing the road mention traffic noise.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything! Very friendly and helpful staff, good breakfast, very clean and comfortable beds!”
See photos and book Thanh Van 1 Hotel here.
8. Ho Chi Minh City – best city for big-city life and trips to the Mekong Delta ๐
- ๐ Distance to the centre: Ben Thanh Market and the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street are in the heart of the old District 1. All three hotels are less than a kilometre from the market.
- ๐ Transport: Walk around the centre and use Grab or a taxi for everything else. The traffic is heavy, so allow plenty of time during rush hour.
- โ๏ธ Time from the airport: Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) is about 7 km north of the centre. Allow 30-45 minutes by car depending on the traffic. This is an estimate.
- ๐ฐ Price level: โฌ to โฌโฌโฌโฌ. A wide choice in every price range and often good deals at the big hotels.
- ๐ฎ Safety: Bag snatching from passing motorbikes is particularly common here. Carry your bag on the side facing away from the road, and keep your phone out of sight.
Ho Chi Minh City, which most people still call Saigon, is Vietnam’s largest city and a completely different experience from Hanoi. Here you’ll find skyscrapers, rooftop bars and nightlife that goes on until late, but also French colonial buildings such as the Opera House and the Central Post Office, markets and street food on every corner.
Stay in the old District 1, which is the city centre. The districts have been given new official names in an administrative reform, but most hotels, maps and taxi drivers still use the old names. From here you can walk to Ben Thanh Market, Nguyen Hue and the Opera House. The backpacker street Bui Vien is also here, and it’s very noisy at night, so stay a few streets away if you want to sleep.
See hotels in Ho Chi Minh City here.
Ho Chi Minh City is also the gateway to the Mekong Delta, where the river splits into a network of canals between fruit orchards and rice fields. On a day trip you’ll usually reach the area around My Tho and Ben Tre, while it takes longer to get to Can Tho, where the Cai Rang floating market is at its liveliest early in the morning. If you want to see it, spend the night in Can Tho rather than doing the whole trip there and back in a single day.
The Cu Chi Tunnels from the Vietnam War are another popular half-day trip. I’d give the city two to three nights, plus an extra one if you want to visit the Mekong Delta. The city has flights to the rest of the country, and the flight to Phu Quoc takes about an hour, so it’s easy to end your trip on the beach.
Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
Caravelle Saigon – classic five-star hotel by the Opera House
The Caravelle is on Lam Son Square right by the Opera House, about 700 metres from Ben Thanh Market and close to the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. The hotel has an outdoor pool, a spa, a sauna, a gym and a rooftop bar with views over the city.
This is my pick if you want a historic, very central stay with a pool to cool off in. It’s one of the city’s classic hotels, and the rooftop bar is a great place to start the evening. Breakfast is expensive, and one guest missed a discount for longer stays.
One guest writes on Booking.com: โThe staff are fantastic. The pool is lovely and very welcome in the Ho Chi Minh City heat.โ
See photos and book Caravelle Saigon here.
Au Lac Charner Hotel – four-star hotel with a rooftop pool between the market and the river
Au Lac Charner is on Ho Tung Mau between Nguyen Hue and the river, about 600 metres from Ben Thanh Market and a five-minute walk from the Opera House. The hotel has a rooftop pool and bar, a spa, a sauna and a gym.
It’s a good choice if you want a pool and views at a lower price than the classic luxury hotels. The pool is popular at sunset, but according to one guest there aren’t many sun loungers.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: โThe rooftop pool had a great view over the city and was lovely at sunset.โ
See photos and book Au Lac Charner Hotel here.
Huong Sen Hotel – three-star hotel with a pool on Dong Khoi
Huong Sen is the cheapest of my three suggestions and is on the shopping street Dong Khoi, about 250 metres from the Opera House and around a 12-15 minute walk from Ben Thanh Market. The hotel has a rooftop pool and restaurant, a spa and a gym.
It suits you if you want to stay right in the centre with a pool without paying for a five-star hotel. Breakfast is a buffet with lots of local dishes, and one guest felt there were too few Western dishes to choose from.
One guest writes on Booking.com: โIt’s a really good hotel in an excellent location. The staff are very friendly and helpful.โ
See photos and book Huong Sen Hotel here.
9. Phu Quoc - the best island for a beach holiday and sunsets ๐
- ๐ Distance to the centre: Duong Dong is the island’s main town and home to the night market. Long Beach starts just south of town, and the hotels here stretch from the middle of Duong Dong to about 3 km south.
- ๐ต Transport: Grab, taxi or scooter. The island is big, so you’ll need to drive to most of the beaches and sights.
- โ๏ธ Time from the airport: Phu Quoc Airport (PQC) is a little inland, east of the southern part of Long Beach. Allow 15-20 minutes by car to most of the hotels here. This is an estimate.
- ๐ฐ Price level: โฌ to โฌโฌโฌโฌ. Lots of large resorts and new hotels. Cheapest in and around Duong Dong.
- ๐ฎ Safety: A laid-back island. Drive carefully if you hire a scooter, and watch out for currents in the rainy season.
Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island, set in the Gulf of Thailand close to Cambodia. It’s where most people end their trip with a few days by the sea. The west coast faces the sunset, while the east coast and the south have some of the island’s best-known sandy beaches, including Bai Sao.
Long Beach is the long stretch of sand on the west coast south of Duong Dong, and the most practical place to stay. Resorts, restaurants and beach bars line up one after another, and you’re close to both the airport and the night market in town. At the far southern tip is An Thoi, where the cable car to Hon Thom island and boat trips to the small islands for snorkelling depart. The northern part of the island is quieter, with a national park and smaller beaches.
The island has developed quickly, and there’s still a lot of construction going on. So choose your hotel carefully, and check the map for building sites and the distance to the beach before you book. The beaches are usually kept cleanest in front of the hotels, while public stretches can have more litter, especially after storms. The best beach season is the dry period from around November to April. In the summer rainy season there’s more rain and wind, and the sea can be rough.
I’d give Phu Quoc four to five nights. That gives you time for a day in An Thoi and on a boat trip, a day at Bai Sao and the rest on the beach by your hotel. There are flights from both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, so you can end your trip here and fly home via one of the big airports.
Hotels on Phu Quoc
Salinda Resort Phu Quoc - five-star resort on Long Beach with a free airport transfer
Salinda sits right on Long Beach in the southern part of the beach, about a 15-minute drive from the night market in Duong Dong. The resort has a pool with sea views, a private beach, a spa and a kids’ club, and transfers to and from the airport are included.
This is my pick if you want a proper luxury resort with the beach right in front of you and everything in one place. The breakfast gets lots of praise. The spa, on the other hand, is expensive, and one guest feels the prices are high compared with local levels.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Fantastic breakfast with plenty of choice and variety. The staff were exceptional, very friendly and professional.”
See photos and book Salinda Resort Phu Quoc here.
L’Azure Resort and Spa - beachfront resort within walking distance of Duong Dong
L’Azure is on the beach at the northern end of Long Beach, around a ten-minute walk from the night market. The resort has an outdoor pool, a private beach area, a spa and a gym, and there’s a free airport transfer.
It’s the obvious choice if you want to combine the beach with restaurants in town. Right by the resort there’s a strip of beachfront restaurants and bars. The flip side is that it’s livelier and busier with traffic here than further south on Long Beach.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: “Lovely, spacious resort on the beach. Close to a strip of restaurants and bars on the beach where you can watch the sunset.”
See photos and book L’Azure Resort and Spa here.
City Center Rosa Hotel Phu Quoc - budget town hotel five minutes from the beach
City Center Rosa is the cheapest of my three suggestions and is on Tran Hung Dao in Duong Dong, around a five-minute walk from Long Beach and about a kilometre from the night market. It’s a simple two-star hotel with large rooms and a lift.
It suits you if you spend your days on the beach and just need a good bed. There’s no pool, and you pay extra for an airport transfer. If you’re travelling as a group, be aware that the hotel doesn’t have connecting rooms, as one guest mentions.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Hotel with large rooms in the middle of Phu Quoc. The staff are friendly and polite.”
See photos and book City Center Rosa Hotel Phu Quoc here.
Where not to stay in Vietnam?
I wouldn’t stay in Hanoi and do Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa as day trips. Ha Long and Ninh Binh can be done in a long day, but you spend many hours on the bus and see the places in the middle of the day when they’re at their busiest. Sapa is far too far away for a day trip. Nor would I stay in Da Nang just to see Hoi An, because then you miss out on the evenings in the Old Town.
In the big cities, I wouldn’t pick a hotel far from the centre to save money, because the traffic makes every journey long. Also be wary of cheap hotels in the Old Quarter in Hanoi and around Bui Vien in Ho Chi Minh City if you’re a light sleeper. On Phu Quoc, I wouldn’t book a hotel far from the beach without checking the map, and bear in mind that Ha Long city is practical but not somewhere to stay for long.
If you have two weeks, I’d do three nights in Hanoi, one night on Ha Long Bay, two in Ninh Binh, four in Hoi An and three in Ho Chi Minh City. With three weeks, you can add two or three nights in Sapa and two in Hue, and finish with four or five nights on Phu Quoc. If you only have a week, pick one part of the country, for example Hanoi with Ha Long and Ninh Binh, or Hoi An with Da Nang and Hue.
Choose the time of year to suit your route, because the weather varies a lot from north to south. As a rule of thumb, winter is cool in the north and cold in the mountains, while the dry season in the south runs from around December to April. In the centre of the country, the rainy season usually falls in autumn and early winter. Around the Vietnamese New Year, Tet, in January or February, many hotels and trains are fully booked, so book well ahead if you’re travelling then.
Entry rules change, so check them before you book flights. If you need a visa, you can read about applying in the official e-visa guide from Vietnam’s tourism board. If your trip continues around Southeast Asia, I’ve also written about where to stay in Bangkok, the best areas in Singapore and where to stay in Kuala Lumpur. Fancy more beaches? You’ll find ideas in my guide to where to stay in Thailand.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time ๐
โข Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
โข GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
โข Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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