Where to Stay in Vietnam? – Picture this: You’re sipping coconut coffee in Hanoi, scrolling through lodging options, and suddenly you’re bombarded with choices—$5 hostels where backpackers swap stories over bia hơi, colonial villas dripping with history, and resorts so luxe they make Instagram influencers weep. Vietnam’s accommodations are as wild and varied as its traffic. But fear not, đồng chí (comrade)! As a local who’s navigated everything from sleeper buses to silk-sheeted suites, Fito is here to guide you through the madness.
- Fito Thinh – A Local’s Guide to Sleeping Like a King (or a Backpacker)
Mục lục tóm tắt
Vietnamese Accommodations 101: What to Expect
Vietnam’s Lodging Scene is a choose-your-own-adventure book. Here’s the lowdown:
- Budget ($10 – $20/night): Stay at hostels, homestays, and guesthouses, where you’ll bond with fellow travelers over phở and questionable karaoke.
- Mid-Range (25$ – 100$/night): Boutique hotels with Instagrammable courtyards and actual air conditioning.
- Luxury (100$ – 500+/night): Private pool villas, beachfront resorts, and spas where you’ll forget your name.
Pro Tip: Avoid booking during Tet (Lunar New Year) unless you enjoy paying triple and competing with 98 million locals for a bed.
Where to Stay in Vietnam? – Accommodation Types: Pros, Cons, and Hilarious Warnings
Hostels: Where Backpackers Become Family
- Price: 5$–15$/night.
- Pros: Free beer nights, instant friends, and staff who’ll teach you to curse in Vietnamese.
- Cons: Snoring strangers, shower flip-flops mandatory, and the eternal quest for a working locker.
- Best For: Solo travelers who think “bedbug” is a term of endearment.
- Local Pick:
- Hanoi Backpackers Hostel ($8): Learn to chug bia hơi (fresh beer) while debating whether bánh mì is a sandwich or a lifestyle. Find more on social media like Agoda and Booking.
Guesthouses & Budget Hotels: For When You Need a Door (But Not Much Else)
- Price: 15$–40$/night.
- Pros: Private bathrooms, Wi-Fi that sometimes works, and aircon that could freeze a dragon.
- Cons: “City views” = staring at a concrete wall. Breakfast? Instant coffee and a banana.
- Best For: Couples who still like each other after 12 hours on a sleeper bus.
- Local Pick:
- Tribee Kinh (Hoi An, $20): A guesthouse so cozy, you’ll forget you’re steps from 1,000 tailor shops.
Homestays: Live Like a Local (But With More Mosquitoes)
- Price: 15$–30&/night.
- Pros: Home-cooked bún chả, hammock naps, and chickens as your alarm clock.
- Cons: Communal bathrooms, questionable Wi-Fi, and explaining again that you’re allergic to durian.
- Best For: Hippies and anyone who thinks “rustic” is a vibe.
- Local Pick:
- Ta Van Homestay (Sapa, $15): Wake up to rice terraces, trek with H’mong guides, and learn why “mountain shower” means cold water.
Boutique Hotels: Fancy, But Not “My Parents Are Paying” Fancy
- Price: 50$–150$/night.
- Pros: Infinity pools, breakfast buffets, and staff who smile without judging your sandals.
- Cons: You’ll spend 30 minutes photographing your room before sleeping.
- Best For: Honeymooners and Instagram poets.
- Local Pick:
- La Siesta Hoi An ($80): A restored French villa where you’ll feel like Hemingway (but with better Wi-Fi).
Luxury Resorts: Where You’re Treated Like a Vietnamese Royal
- Price: 150$–1,000+/night.
- Pros: Private beaches, butlers named “Mr. Happy,” and spas that scrub you with unicorn tears.
- Cons: Leaving will trigger an existential crisis.
- Best For: Honeymooners, CEOs, and lottery winners.
- Local Pick:
- JW Marriott Phu Quoc ($300): A resort designed like a fictional university, because why not? Graduation cap not included.
Unique Stays: Because Sleeping in a Cave is Technically Camping
- Jungle Lodges (Phong Nha): Sleep near the world’s largest cave, Son Doong.
- Pro: Epic views.
- Con: Bat symphonies at 3 AM.
- Floating Homestays (Mekong Delta): Drift to sleep on the river.
- Pro: Fresh coconuts delivered by boat.
- Con: Toilet? It’s over there.
- Glamping (Da Lat): Luxe tents with heated blankets.
- Pro: “Roughing it” with room service.
- Con: Still no Wi-Fi.
How to Save Money: A Local’s Cheat Sheet
- Haggle As Your Flight Depends on It: Guesthouse prices are flexible. Smile, offer 70% of the asking rate, and pray.
- Travel Off-Season (May-Sep): Resorts drop prices by 50%, and you’ll have beaches to yourself (monsoon tan optional).
- Eat Street Food: Splurge 2 on “bánh mò” instead of 20$ hotel burgers. Your wallet (and taste buds) will thank you.
Where to Stay in Vietnam? Best Areas to Stay: A Local’s Map
- Hanoi: Old Quarter for chaos, Tay Ho for lakeside peace.
- Hoi An: Ancient Town for lantern-lit romance, An Bang Beach for sunset cocktails.
- Ho Chi Minh City: District 1 for rooftop bars, Thao Dien for expat brunches.
- Phu Quoc: Long Beach for resorts, Duong Dong Market for squid-ink street food.
Booking Tips: Don’t Get Scammed!
- Use Agoda or Booking.com: They’re the Bible for Asian travel. TripAdvisor reviews = your armor against “bait-and-switch” scams.
- Check for Hidden Fees: “Resort fee” = Vietnamese for “give us more money.”
- Avoid Airport Touts: If they say “best hotel in the city!”, run.
FAQs: From a Local Who’s Heard It All
- Are hostels safe?
- Safer than crossing Hanoi’s streets! Just lock your valuables and avoid “mystery meat” dinners.
- Is it worth splurging on a resort?
- If you want a butler to draw your bath and fold your toilet paper into swans, absolutely.
- Can I stay with a Vietnamese family?
- Homestays! But warn them about your durian allergy.
Conclusion: Your Bed Awaits… Now Go Conquer Vietnam!
Vietnam’s accommodations are like its coffee—strong, diverse, and best enjoyed with a side of chaos. Whether you’re crashing in a $5 dorm or sipping champagne in a private villa, remember: The best stories start with “So there I was, in this hostel…” Now book that bed, pack your sense of adventure, and prepare for a trip where even the mosquitoes have personality. I think now, you can answer the question “Where to Stay in Vietnam?“. See you in the next post, best regards from Fito!
Chúc bạn ngủ ngon! (Sweet dreams!)
If you need more information about Vietnam or need Visa services, tours, accommodation, or anything, please let me know. I will support you in the best way!
- Gmail: fitothinh@gmail.com
- Whatsapp: +84 905 835 538
