The most concerning issue for foreign travelers when visiting Vietnam is to find a convenient and
reasonable-priced accommodation. That’s why we would like to introduce here the accommodation
system in Vietnam which comprises a wide range of hotels and hostels ranking from five-star ones to
budget ones.
The most common choice of accommodation for foreigners visiting Vietnam would be Vietnam hotels.
The hotel system is available in almost all tourist destinations such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong,
Cat Ba, Sapa, Hoi An, Dalat, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, etc.
In big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, you can find all types of hotels from five-star
luxury to budget ones. Hotels in these cities are located in almost every street which is near tourist
attractions.
In other destinations famous for their beaches such as Phu Quoc and Phan Thiet, there are mainly luxury
resorts and hotels which offer you the most private and comfortable accommodation. The price may be
a little bit high, but the service is really great.
On contrary, there are some tourist destinations in the northwest of Vietnam where the hotel
system is not very well-developed. When making a trip to these areas, for example, to visit ethnic
minority villages, you should consider the possibility of staying in local people’s houses without modern
facilities and services. However, it is a great experience, especially for those who want to explore and
learn about the traditions and culture of Vietnam.
For those wandering souls who would love to explore the peaceful countryside in Vietnam, you may
need to consider staying in some motels (which read “Nhà Nghỉ” in Vietnamese) along the way.
The prices are cheap, there are only standard facilities and English-speaking staff should not be
expected here. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you learn some common Vietnamese phrase
or find yourself a Vietnamese companion. Language barrier had better not be regarded lightly in these
areas.
Hostels are not very popular in Vietnam. You can only find some in a few big cities and tourists
attractions such as Ho Chi Minh City or Danang or Hue city. It is best if you get the recommendations
from some fellow backpackers for there is not much available information on the internet.
Three and four star hotels are most commonly used among foreign tourists in Vietnam.
For four star hotels, you can either contact the hotel directly via the hotels’ websites or book hotel via a
hotel booking website which lists all the available hotels and their prices. The prices from these websites
might be a little lower than the listed prices at the hotels.
When it comes to three star hotels and lower, you might have some difficulties contacting the hotel
directly because some of them do not have a website. Then, your best choice would be making
reservations through a hotel booking websites. Aside from the price factor, you can also compare the
facilities and locations of hotels to pick out the one that best meets your needs.
If you choose a website that focused in hotels in Vietnam only (also Vietnam-based), it may come with
other travel services essential for foreign tourists (such as Vietnam visa, airport transfer and tours) as well
as useful travel guides and tips. With the advantage of being local, they might give you a better insight on
what you need and provide you with better support once you are in Vietnam.
Above is a brief overview of accommodation in Vietnam and the choices available for foreign tourists. We
hope you find them useful in some way and Welcome to Vietnam!
Unique accommodation in Vietnam
homestay (you live with a local family and share their house with them).
APPROXIMATE PRICES for accommodation in Vietnam:
1. Hostel – shared bed for backpackers – 4-8 USD / 1 night
2. Hostel – NHA NGHI – single bed – 7-13 USD / 1 night
3. Hotel – standard quality – single bed – 8-25 USD / 1 night
4. Hotel – luxury quality – single bed – 30+ USD / 1 night
5. Ethnic minority homestay (without the agency) – 7-15 USD / 1 night
6. Ethnic minority homestay (through the agency ) – 20-30 USD / 1 night
7. Private room from Airbnb – host family – from 10 USD / 1 night (Hanoi)
Prices are approximate. Very decent bed in a standard hotel (eg. In Hanoi) you can buy for 8 USD
(depending on the time when you come here, but also on the capacity). Homestay accommodation
included also a trek into the surrounding (with a guide from the agency or people from ethnic
minorities). I recommend to buy a homestay without the agency, ask the people from ethnic minorities.
Overview Immerse yourself in the history of the Vietnam War and the sights of Ho Chi Minh City
during this full-day excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels and city sightseeing tour. Start your day with
a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a sprawling network of underground tunnels, learning about their
role in the Vietnamese fight for independence and during the Vietnam War. In the afternoon
check out Ho Chi Minh city sights including the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace,
Old Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. Your trip covers a guide, lunch, entrance fees,
transport and bottled water. Enjoy a historical tour of Ho Chi Minh City and a visit to the Cu Chi
Tunnels Learn about the history of the sprawling 155 miles (250 kilometers) of tunnels at Cu Chi
Discover the key role the tunnels have played in recent military conflicts in Vietnam Explore Ho
Chi Minh City attractions including the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral,
Reunification Palace and more Includes lunch and all entrance fees
Read more about Ho Chi Minh City Historical Tour Including Cu Chi Tunnels 2018
- https://www.viator.com/tours/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Historical-Tour-including-Cu-Chi-Tunnelsfrom-Ho-Chi-Minh-City/d352-6528P17?mcid=56757
Overview Immerse yourself in the history of the Vietnam War and the sights of Ho Chi Minh City
during this full-day excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels and city sightseeing tour. Start your day with
a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a sprawling network of underground tunnels, learning about their
role in the Vietnamese fight for independence and during the Vietnam War. In the afternoon
check out Ho Chi Minh city sights including the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace,
Old Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. Your trip covers a guide, lunch, entrance fees,
transport and bottled water. Enjoy a historical tour of Ho Chi Minh City and a visit to the Cu Chi
Tunnels Learn about the history of the sprawling 155 miles (250 kilometers) of tunnels at Cu Chi
Discover the key role the tunnels have played in recent military conflicts in Vietnam Explore Ho
Chi Minh City attractions including the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral,
Reunification Palace and more Includes lunch and all entrance fees
Read more about Ho Chi Minh City Historical Tour Including Cu Chi Tunnels 2018
- https://www.viator.com/tours/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Historical-Tour-including-Cu-Chi-Tunnelsfrom-Ho-Chi-Minh-City/d352-6528P17?mcid=56757
Huế is a city in central Vietnam that was the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors and the national
capital from 1802 to 1945. A major attraction is its vast, 19th-century Đại Nội Citadel,
surrounded by a moat and thick stone walls. It encompasses the Imperial City, with palaces and
shrines; the Forbidden Purple City (Tử cấm thành), once the emperor’s home; and a replica of
the Royal Theater.
Location- Poom Coong Village-Mi Chau
Location- Standard hotel in North Vietnam (silver hotel)
Location- Hanoi, varieties of guesthouses
Location- southern part of cat ba island
Location-Hoang lien mountains, north vietnam,sapa
Southern Vietnam
Local Transport
Cyclo
The cyclo is a bicycle rickshaw. This cheap mode of transport is steadily dying out, but is still found in
some Vietnamese cities.
Groups of cyclo drivers always hang out near major hotels and markets. Bargaining is imperative; settle
on a fare before going anywhere. Approximate fares are between 12,000d and 25,0000d for a short ride,
between 25,000d and 40,000d for a longer or night ride.
However, do consider that there are some dodgy cyclo operators out there (HCMC has several) who
target tourists by outrageously overcharging and there have been reports of threats of violence.
Cyclo tours organised by tour operators and some hotels are sanitised rides around cities.
Xe Om
The xe om (zay-ohm) is a motorbike taxi. Xe means motorbike, om means hug (or hold), so you get the
picture. Getting around by xe om is easy, as long as you don’t have a lot of luggage.
Fares are around 15,000d for a short hop, or from 20,000d in HCMC or Hanoi. Negotiate the price
beforehand. There are plenty of xe om drivers hanging around street corners, hotels and bus stations.
They will find you before you find them…
Taxi
Taxis with meters, found in most major cities, are very cheap by international standards and a safe way
to travel around at night. Average tariffs are about 12,000d to 15,000d per kilometre. However, dodgy
taxis with go-fast meters do roam the streets of Hanoi and HCMC; they often hang around bus
terminals. Only travel with reputable or recommended companies.
Two nationwide companies with excellent reputations are Mai Linh (www.mailinh.vn) and Vinasun
(www.vinasuntaxi.com).
App-based taxis (both car and motorbike) including Uber and Grab are available in several Vietnamese
cities including HCMC, Hanoi and Danang.
Bus
Few travellers deal with city buses due to communication issues and the cheapness of
taxis, cyclos and xe om. That said, the bus systems in Hanoi and HCMC are not impossible to negotiate –
get your hands on a bus map.
Online Planning
The website www.baolau.vn has a very useful, and generally accurate, Plan Your Trip function that
allows you to compare train, plane and bus travel (including costs and schedules) between cities in
Vietnam.
Transport Fares
For most visitors one of the most frustrating aspects of travelling in Vietnam is the perception that they
are being ripped off. Here are some guidelines to help you navigate the maze.
Airfares Fares are dependent on when you book and what dates you want to travel. There is no price
difference between Vietnamese and foreigners.
Boat fares Ferries and hydrofoils have fixed prices, but expect to pay more for the privilege of being a
foreigner on smaller local boats around the Mekong Delta and to places like the Cham Islands.
Bus fares More complicated. If you buy a ticket from the point of departure (ie the bus station), then the
price is fixed and very reasonable. However, should you board a bus along the way, there’s a good
chance the driver or conductor will overcharge. In remote areas drivers may ask for four, or even 10,
times what the locals pay. Local bus prices should be fixed and displayed by the door, but foreigners are
sometimes overcharged on routes such as Danang–Hoi An.
Rail fares Fixed, although naturally there are different prices for different classes.
Taxis Mostly metered and very cheap, but very occasionally some taxis have dodgy meters that run fast.
Xe Oms & Cyclos Fares are definitely not fixed and you need to bargain. Hard.
Feature: Metro Progress
Metro lines are under construction in both HCMC and Hanoi, and though both have been delayed
services should start in the next few years. The line in HCMC is a Japanese-Vietnamese partnership; Line
1 is scheduled to open in 2020. Eventually, the plan is for there to be three monorails and six
underground lines.
China is the financial muscle behind the Hanoi metro, which has been beset by construction troubles.
Here eight lines are planned, with a total length of 318 km. Two lines are currently being built, the first is
due to open in 2018.
My Son was also a political centre and a royal burial ground and the complex consists of more
than 70 structures devoted to Hindu gods and goddesses and the most noticeable one, Shiva, was
considered the protector of the Champa’s kings. Their skilful use of red bricks and sandstone is
remarkable. Like many historic sites around the world, My Son was destroyed by time and wars
and after lying neglected for a long time it was rediscovered and renovated by the French in
1898. Sadly the most recent war did great damage to the complex as the Americans bombed this
area knowing that the Viet Cong used it as a hiding place, mistakenly thinking that the enemy
would not touch a holy site. However, the majority of the central complex managed to survive
the bombs and parts of the ruins have now been rebuilt. Overall, this Hindu sanctuary reminds
visitors of other similar sites in Southeast Asia including the great Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A
must-visit for those who appreciate history.
Read more at: http://www.vietnam-guide.com/hoi-an/my-son-sanctuary.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001
Ha Long Bay (Vietnamese: Vịnh Hạ Long, IPA: [vînˀ hâːˀ lawŋm] ( listen)) is aUNESCO World
Heritage Site and popular travel destination in Quang Ninh Province,Vietnam. Administratively, the
bay belongs to Ha Long City, Cam Pha City, and is a part of Van Don District. The bay features
thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a
larger zone which includesBai Tu Long Bay to the northeast, and Cat Ba Island to the southwest.
These larger zones share a similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural
characters.
Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2, including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are
limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 with a high density of 775 islets.[1] The
limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and
environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of
the tropical wet climate.[2] The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity,
including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem.[3] Ha Long Bay is home
to 14 endemic floral species[4] and 60 endemic faunal species.[5]
Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistoric human beings in this area tens
of thousands years ago. The successive ancient cultures are the Soi Nhu culture around 18,000–
7000 BC, the Cai Beo culture 7000–5000 BC[6] and the Ha Long culture 5,000–3,500 years ago.[7] Ha
Long Bay also marked important events in the history of Vietnam with many artifacts found in Bai
Tho Mountain, Dau Go Cave, Bai Chay.[7]
500 years ago, Nguyen Trai praised the beauty of Ha Long Bay in his verse Lộ nhập Vân Đồn, in
which he called it "rock wonder in the sky".[8] In 1962, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of
North Vietnam listed Ha Long Bay in the National Relics and Landscapes publication.[9] In 1994, the
core zone of Ha Long Bay was listed as a World Heritage Site according to Criterion VII, and listed
for a second time according to Criterion VIII.[10]
Ha Long Bay (Vietnamese: Vịnh Hạ Long, IPA: [vînˀ hâːˀ lawŋm] ( listen)) is aUNESCO World
Heritage Site and popular travel destination in Quang Ninh Province,Vietnam. Administratively, the
bay belongs to Ha Long City, Cam Pha City, and is a part of Van Don District. The bay features
thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a
larger zone which includesBai Tu Long Bay to the northeast, and Cat Ba Island to the southwest.
These larger zones share a similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural
characters.
Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2, including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are
limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 with a high density of 775 islets.[1] The
limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and
environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of
the tropical wet climate.[2] The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity,
including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem.[3] Ha Long Bay is home
to 14 endemic floral species[4] and 60 endemic faunal species.[5]
Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistoric human beings in this area tens
of thousands years ago. The successive ancient cultures are the Soi Nhu culture around 18,000–
7000 BC, the Cai Beo culture 7000–5000 BC[6] and the Ha Long culture 5,000–3,500 years ago.[7] Ha
Long Bay also marked important events in the history of Vietnam with many artifacts found in Bai
Tho Mountain, Dau Go Cave, Bai Chay.[7]
500 years ago, Nguyen Trai praised the beauty of Ha Long Bay in his verse Lộ nhập Vân Đồn, in
which he called it "rock wonder in the sky".[8] In 1962, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of
North Vietnam listed Ha Long Bay in the National Relics and Landscapes publication.[9] In 1994, the
core zone of Ha Long Bay was listed as a World Heritage Site according to Criterion VII, and listed
for a second time according to Criterion VIII.[10]
The bay consists of a dense cluster of some 1,600[12] limestone monolithic islands each topped with
thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with
enormous caves. Hang Dau Go (Wooden stakes cave) is the largest grotto in the Ha Long area.
French tourists visited in the late 19th century, and named the cave Grotte des Merveilles. Its three
large chambers contain large numerous stalactites and stalagmites (as well as 19th-century
French graffiti). There are two bigger islands, Tuan Chau and Cat Ba, that have permanent
inhabitants, as well as tourist facilities including hotels and beaches. There are a number of beautiful
beaches on the smaller islands.