Introduction
A brief look at the hotels and resorts of Vietnam..
Vietnam has seen something of an explosion in accommodations catering to all budgets during the past decade. The bad news is that for so many hotels, there is a remarkable absence of quality small boutique hotels, homestays and guesthouses. Vietnam favours large scale developments.
Many travellers will want to make one of the country’s historic French era hotels part of their Vietnam experience. The Metropole in Hanoi will likely be your best bet. Apart from the somewhat corporate atmosphere of the place, the rooms are simple and stunning and the building itself a delight.
Saigon’s historic hotels are less impressive. The Continental and the Majestic, at the centre of Graham Greene’s 1950s Saigon as well the Vietnam War era, have suffered from ill thought out renovations and neglect. The Majestic is the pick of the two but both are disappointing.
You can plan a Vietnam holiday staying at deluxe accommodations throughout just as you can get very good value for money spending US$20 to US$30USD per night. Comfortable, clean, modern hotels for under US$30 are easy to find and we include a selection of these in our recommendations.
You’ll likely have better access to free wifi staying in a cheap hotel in Vietnam than in the deluxe properties. Some deluxe properties are now starting to follow the free wifi trend established by their lower priced piers.
On the resort front, Vietnam’s beach areas of Phu Quoc Island, Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Hoi An have all seen big developments. Vietnam is favouring huge imposing resort developments - especially around Danang and Nha Trang - but there are still some lovely smaller properties to be found. Phu Quoc Island and Hoi An (when in season) get our vote for the best places to spend your beach holiday.
