So you don't go wrong choosing accommodation in Vietnam
When planning a trip to Vietnam, the most important thing is choosing your accommodation.
Vietnam, stretching long and thin from north to south, differs greatly by region in climate, culture, and the atmosphere of its cities. Hanoi's Old Quarter, Ho Chi Minh City's Dong Khoi Street, Da Nang's beach resorts. To enjoy the appeal of each to the fullest, the choice of area to stay holds the key to success.
If you're a first-time traveler, the basic move is to choose an area with good access to tourist spots. On the other hand, for the well-traveled, a place where you can taste a local atmosphere is appealing too. The best area to stay changes depending on your budget, purpose, and travel style.
In this article, we introduce points for choosing accommodation without going wrong, city by city in Vietnam.
Choosing an area to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
"Dong Khoi area," recommended for beginners
If you're visiting Ho Chi Minh City for the first time, the Dong Khoi area is the only choice.
This area sits in the heart of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, with more than 100 goods shops, cafes, restaurants, and spas lining the streets. The convenient location, within a 10-minute walk of Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, is another draw. Around Dong Khoi Street, Nguyen Hue Street, and Thai Van Lung Street, four- and five-star luxury hotels like the Park Hyatt, Sheraton, and Majestic are concentrated.
However, since it's an area with some of the highest land prices in Vietnam, room rates are on the higher side compared to elsewhere. Even so, for three- and four-star places, there are some you can stay at within 10,000 yen. It's a downtown that satisfies all of shopping, spa, and dining, and it's possible to complete your sightseeing in this district alone.
"Around Ben Thanh Market," which broadens your trip
The area around Ben Thanh Market is also popular with Japanese travelers.
You can reach the Dong Khoi area in about a 15-minute walk, and the backpacker district is within walking distance too. Walk a little and you can see local streetscapes, so it can also be recommended to well-traveled travelers who want to know Vietnam deeply. This area is lined with many three- and four-star hotels, such as the "Silverland Hotel" and "Liberty Hotel." Three-star ones tend to lack cleanliness and have cramped layouts, so the key is to choose a four-star if possible.
Ben Thanh Market and the Dong Khoi area are a 10-minute walk apart, so within your budget a Dong Khoi hotel is recommended. That said, hotels around Ben Thanh Market are known more as accommodations for Western, Malay, and Indian travelers, and their service quality isn't as high as Dong Khoi's hotels.
Points to note about the backpacker district "Pham Ngu Lao"
If you choose by cheapness, it's the Pham Ngu Lao area, the backpacker district.
場所を選ばなければ、一泊20万ドン(約1200円)以下のホテルも多数見つけることができます。ファングーラオ通り、デタム通り、ブイビエン通りといった目抜き通りで構成されている、タイのカオサンを一回り小さくしたような町です。数百のお店は深夜まで営業していて、その賑わいに度肝を抜かれることは間違いありません。
However, because there's noise from local youth and Western backpackers until late at night, it's not an area we can much recommend unless you're used to Southeast Asian travel. Also, since people of many races and nationalities come and go, caution about the less-than-good public safety is needed too.
Choosing an area to stay in Hanoi
The appeal of the Old Quarter area
Hanoi's Old Quarter is an area where you can fully savor the atmosphere of a historic ancient capital.
Old-fashioned shops line the narrow alleys, and a lively scene of passing motorbikes unfolds. It's within walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake, ideal as a sightseeing base. This area has a wide range of hotels from mid-class to luxury, so you can choose according to your budget.
However, since the Old Quarter is lively until late at night, it may not suit those seeking a quiet environment. Also, because the streets are narrow and winding, first-timers should note that it's easy to get lost.
The calm atmosphere of the French Quarter
The French Quarter is an area with a refined atmosphere even within Hanoi.
Colonial-style buildings line the streets, and luxury hotels and restaurants gather here. Without the clamor of the Old Quarter, you can enjoy a calm stay. It's close to the Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake, a convenient location for sightseeing too.
Room rates are a bit higher than the Old Quarter, but in return you can expect quality service and well-equipped facilities.
Choosing an area to stay in Da Nang
The appeal of the beach resort area
When it comes to Da Nang, it's the beautiful beach resorts.
Along My Khe Beach, luxury resort hotels like the Melia Danang Beach Resort and Grandvrio City Danang line up. With locations offering direct beach access, you can fully enjoy a resort stay. Facilities like pools and spas are well appointed too, ideal for spending time leisurely within the hotel.
However, since it's a little removed from the city center, if you make touring tourist spots your main focus, you need to account for the time travel takes.
The convenience of the city-center area
Central Da Nang is recommended for those who want to enjoy both sightseeing and the beach.
It's close to tourist spots like Han Market and the Dragon Bridge, with plenty of restaurants and cafes too. The beach is about a 10-minute drive away, so a style of spending the day at the beach and enjoying meals in the city center at night is possible.
Room rates are also more reasonable than the beach resort area, so you can expect a stay with high value for money.
A special experience around Ba Na Hills
There's also the option of staying at Ba Na Hills.
If you stay in the French Village at the summit, you can visit the Golden Bridge before the park opens to the public. Being able to take photos before it gets crowded is a privilege only for guests. Also, hotel guests get unlimited access to all the cable cars in the park. Breakfast is generous too, and you can fully enjoy the magical daytime views and the enchanting nighttime atmosphere.
It's an accommodation area offering a special experience, one that many feel was the best choice of their Da Nang trip.
Checkpoints to confirm when choosing accommodation
Location and access
When choosing accommodation, the most important thing is location.
Check in advance the distance to tourist spots, access to the nearest transport, and the safety of the surroundings. We recommend looking up the actual distances on an online map and grasping how far it is to major areas like the Dong Khoi area and Ben Thanh Market.
Especially in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, the atmosphere differs greatly by location even within the same district. Even within District 1, places other than around Dong Khoi and Ben Thanh Market become local neighborhoods, and you may need a taxi to reach tourist spots.
Balancing budget and facilities
It's important to discern the facilities you need according to your budget.
Three-star hotels tend to lack cleanliness and have cramped layouts, so the key is to choose four-star or above if possible. Reception service, breakfast quality, and add-on facilities like pools and spas also change greatly by the number of stars.
Guesthouses and rooms for rent under 200,000 dong a night are accommodations where you rent a room in an ordinary house. You can't expect room service or cleanliness, so you should think of them as purely a place to sleep.
Making use of booking sites and checking reviews
Always check reviews before booking.
The ratings of people who actually stayed are often more trustworthy than the information on official sites. In particular, you can get information you can't know without staying, such as cleanliness, staff service, and noise levels.
Also, since rates can differ by booking site, we recommend comparing several sites. Checking the cancellation policy in advance is reassuring too.
Summary: a comfortable Vietnam trip by choosing accommodation that suits you
Choosing accommodation in Vietnam greatly affects the satisfaction of your trip.
If you're a first-time traveler, staying in a sightseeing hub like Ho Chi Minh City's Dong Khoi area or Hanoi's Old Quarter is reassuring. For the well-traveled, enjoying an area with a local atmosphere or a special experience at a Da Nang beach resort is also good.
Choosing the best area and accommodation according to your budget, purpose, and travel style is the key to success. Firmly check the location, facilities, and reviews, and find accommodation that suits you.
Vietnam is a country that shows more faces the more you meet it halfway. A stay at comfortable accommodation is sure to make your Vietnam trip richer.
