Where to Stay in Vietnam: Best Areas and Hotels in Every Major City

Last updated: October 2026

The short answer: in most Vietnamese cities, the area you pick matters more than the hotel. Stay in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, near the old town in Hoi An, by My Khe beach in Da Nang and in District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, and you’ll walk to most of what you came for. Get the area wrong and you’ll spend every evening in a Grab.

I’ve stayed in quite a few hotels, apartments and homestays around Vietnam, and I can’t name one I wouldn’t go back to. My favorite is a simple one: Aether Apartment in Da Nang, a short walk from My Khe beach. I could grab a snack and a can of beer at midnight and be on the sand for sunrise.

This guide goes city by city: the best area to stay for a first visit, who each other area suits, and three hotels per city at budget, mid-range and splurge level. Prices are per room per night and were checked in October 2026.

My honest take: where to stay in Vietnam, in short

• Pick the area first. A $30 room in the right street beats a $90 room 20 minutes out of town.
• Hanoi: Old Quarter for a first visit, Tay Ho if you’re staying a week or more.
• Hoi An vs Da Nang: stay in Hoi An if you want the old town at night; stay in Da Nang if you want a city beach and better-value hotels. I pick Da Nang: it feels like a real city, and being able to walk to My Khe beach at any hour is what sells it for me.
• Sapa: sleep in a valley homestay at least one night. Sapa town itself is busy and full of construction.
• Ninh Binh: stay in Tam Coc or near Trang An, not in Ninh Binh city.
• Quy Nhon: the best-value beach hotels on the coast right now; stay on the city beach.
• Mid-range is the sweet spot. Around 1–2 million VND ($40–80) gets you a pool, breakfast and good service almost everywhere.
• Book ahead for Tet (late January or February) and long weekends; domestic travelers fill the good places weeks out.
• Hoi An’s old town is overcrowded and noisy now. I’d rather sleep at An Bang beach and go into town for the lanterns.

Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. A couple of places I stay at also give our readers a discount: use the code JACKNG when you book. I get a small commission on those bookings too, at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend places I’ve stayed at myself.

Quick reference: hotel budgets in Vietnam

Level	Typical price per night (2026)	What you get
Budget	under 600,000 VND (about $25)	Hostel dorm or a simple private room with air-con; fine if you’re out all day
Mid-range	1,000,000–2,500,000 VND (about $40–100)	Boutique hotel, breakfast, often a pool; the best value in Vietnam
Splurge	3,000,000 VND+ (about $120+)	Resort or heritage hotel; worth it for a rest day mid-trip

Where to stay in Hanoi

Best area for a first visit: the Old Quarter. The streets north of Hoan Kiem Lake are where the street food, the bia hơi corners and most of the sights are, and you can walk almost everywhere. The downside is noise: motorbike horns from 6am and bars until late. Ask for a room at the back or above the third floor.

Quieter and smarter: the French Quarter, just south of the lake, with wide streets, the Opera House and the big hotels. Still a 10-minute walk to the Old Quarter. Staying longer: Tay Ho (West Lake), where most expats live. Calmer, greener, good cafes, but 15–20 minutes by Grab from the Old Quarter. See Tay Ho.

Budget: Vietnam Backpacker Hostels. Central and sociable, popular with solo travelers. Dorm beds about $8–15, private rooms $25–40.

Mid-range: La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel & Spa. A boutique hotel in the Old Quarter with good service and a solid breakfast included. About $65–150 a night.

Splurge: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Opened in 1901 in the French Quarter and still the grand old hotel of Hanoi. Rooms in the original Heritage Wing are the ones worth paying extra for. About $210–400 a night.

Our honest take: I’d send a first-timer to May De Ville Lakeside Hotel. The location is very good, and you can walk to most of the sights from the door. About $60–150 a night.

More: Hanoi full guide · Things to do in Hanoi

Where to stay in Sapa

Best choice: one night in town, one or two in the valley. Sapa town is convenient for buses and restaurants but has become crowded, with a lot of building work. The villages in the Muong Hoa valley, mainly Lao Chai and Ta Van, are 8–10 km away and much quieter: rice terraces outside the window and dinner with the family. Homestays there cost about 250,000–400,000 VND ($10–16) per person, including dinner and breakfast.

Budget: Go Sapa Hostel. In town, good for meeting people to trek with. Dorm beds from 280,000 VND (about $11), private rooms from 650,000 VND (about $25).

Best value in town: Sapa Indigo Inn. I stayed here in September 2026. It’s a small family-run hotel with 12 rooms on Dien Bien Phu Road, about a 10-minute walk from Sapa Lake, and the decor is much nicer than the price suggests. Standard rooms start around $15 a night; I took the Family Mountain View room, their top room (it sleeps up to four), for $30. What sold me was how they handled our early arrival: the overnight sleeper bus from Hanoi got in early in the morning, hours before the 2pm check-in, and the hotel let us sleep in a bunk-bed rest room for free until our room was ready. I booked direct on the hotel’s website, which takes bank transfer, card via PayPal or cash on arrival, and skipped the hotel breakfast, since there are plenty of Vietnamese breakfast shops nearby.

Mid-range: I haven’t stayed in a mid-range place in Sapa I’d put my name to yet. In town, a comfortable room with a valley view runs about $45–90 a night. In Ta Van, boutique homestays and small ecolodges cost about $20–50, often with meals included.

Splurge: Hotel de la Coupole – MGallery. The colorful French-themed hotel in the center, with an indoor pool for the cold months. It’s right where everything in Sapa happens, and the station for the funicular up to Fansipan is inside the same building. About $130–150 a night in low season, $180–250 on weekends and holidays.

Arriving by sleeper bus? Most buses from Hanoi reach Sapa in the early morning, long before standard check-in. Before you book, message the hotel and ask whether they have a room or lounge where you can rest until your room is ready. It makes a big difference after a night on the bus.

More: Sapa full guide · Hanoi to Sapa

Where to stay in Ninh Binh

Best area: Tam Coc, a small village surrounded by rice fields and karst cliffs, with cafes, bike rental and most of the homestays. Quieter alternative: the villages around Trang An and Hang Mua, closer to the boat tours and Mua Cave viewpoint. Skip Ninh Binh city itself; it’s a regular provincial town with nothing to walk to.

Budget: Tam Coc Bungalow. Simple bungalows near the rice fields. About $30–50 a night.

Mid-range: Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel. Pool, good breakfast, easy cycling to Tam Coc. About $60–120 a night.

Splurge: Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh. A big resort near Van Long nature reserve, about 20 minutes from Tam Coc. Good if you want a pool day; less good if you want to walk to dinner. About $85–180 a night.

More: Ninh Binh full guide

Where to stay in Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba

For most people: on the boat. An overnight cruise on Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay is the hotel. If you want to stay on land, Cat Ba Island is the better base: cheaper, closer to Lan Ha Bay, with kayaking and the national park. Ha Long City (Bai Chay) is mostly big resorts and casinos; only stay there if your cruise leaves early.

Best pick: Flamingo Cat Ba Beach Resort. The one to book if you want to walk to the beach: it sits right by the Cat Co beaches, a short walk over the headland from Cat Ba town. About $60–155 a night, depending on the room.

Budget: I haven’t stayed in a Cat Ba guesthouse I’d put my name to yet. The back lanes of Cat Ba town are full of homestays and small hotels: dorm beds about 150,000–200,000 VND ($6–8), private rooms from about 300,000 VND ($12). Check recent Google Maps reviews before you book.

More: Ha Long Bay vs Lan Ha Bay · Cat Ba full guide

Where to stay in Hue

Best area: the south bank, the streets around Le Loi and Pham Ngu Lao. It’s where most hotels and restaurants are, and the Citadel is a 10-minute walk or short Grab across the river. The north bank inside and around the Citadel is quieter but has fewer places to eat at night. In flood season (late October and November), avoid low ground floors near the river.

Budget: Purple Hue Charming Riverside Hotel. One of my favorite budget hotels in Hue, within walking distance of the night market on the walking street. About $12–20 a night.

Mid-range: Moonlight Hotel Hue. Rooftop pool and river views on the south bank. About $25–45 a night, which is cheap for what you get.

Splurge: Azerai La Résidence Hue. The 1930s former French governor’s residence on the Perfume River. About $100–200 a night.

More: Hue full guide

Where to stay in Hoi An

Best area for a first visit: the edge of the old town. Stay within a 10-minute walk of the Japanese Bridge so you can see the lanterns at night and the quiet streets at 7am, before the day-trippers arrive. Beach option: An Bang, about 5 km away, with laid-back guesthouses and seafood on the sand; you’ll cycle or Grab into town. Rice-field option: Cam Thanh and Tra Que, quiet villas among paddies and coconut palms, a short bike ride out.

Budget: Tribee hostels. A small group of social hostels around town (Cham, Ede, Cotu and Kinh), with bikes available. Dorm beds from about $7, private rooms about $20–35.

Mid-range: La Siesta Resort & Spa. A 10-minute walk from the old town, with pools and a good breakfast. About $80–150 a night.

Splurge: Four Seasons The Nam Hai. Villas on Ha My beach between Hoi An and Da Nang, one of the top resorts in Vietnam. Expect about $600–1,400 a night for a one-bedroom villa, depending on the season.

Our honest take: I stay at An Bang. The old town already feels overcrowded and noisy, and I’d rather wake up by the beach and ride into town for the lanterns in the evening. The rice fields are worth an afternoon for tea.

More: Hoi An full guide · Hoi An vs Da Nang: where to base yourself

Where to stay in Da Nang

Best area: My Khe beach and the An Thuong streets behind it. You get a long city beach, plenty of restaurants and a 10-minute ride to the Dragon Bridge. City-center option: the west bank of the Han River, good for nightlife and the markets but a Grab ride to the sea. Resort option: Son Tra Peninsula, quiet and green, but you’ll be driving everywhere.

Budget: Kon-Tiki Hostel. Social hostel near the beach. Dorm beds about $5–6, private rooms from about $15.

Mid-range: Brilliant Hotel Da Nang. On the river with a rooftop bar, close to the Dragon Bridge. About $40–90 a night.

Splurge: InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. Built down a hillside on Son Tra with its own bay. The entry room runs about $340 in peak season and $204–238 in the rainy months (September to November).

Our honest take: Aether Apartment is my favorite place to stay in Da Nang. It’s a short walk to My Khe beach, so a midnight snack and a can of beer are always close, and sunrise on the beach is worth setting an alarm for. It’s at 198 Vo Nguyen Giap, with an infinity pool and full kitchens; prices are on request through their website. Mention the code JACKNG when you ask and you’ll get a reader discount (I get a small commission too).

We have a longer list here: Best hotels in Da Nang · Da Nang full guide

Where to stay in Quy Nhon

Best area: the city beach, along An Duong Vuong and Xuan Dieu streets. You can walk to the promenade, the food street, the night market and the seafood restaurants on Xuan Dieu, and Ky Co and Eo Gio are about 30 minutes away by car. The resorts south of town (Bai Dai) and on the peninsula are quieter, but you’ll need a taxi for every meal.

Best value: Sala Quy Nhon. I stayed here in September 2026 for about $30 a night, with a rooftop pool and rooftop bar. Hotels in Quy Nhon feel a level up from what the same money buys in Da Nang or Nha Trang.

Mid-range: Fleur de Lys Quy Nhon. My pick from an April 2026 stay, at about $75 a night: a lovely ground-floor pool, a decent breakfast buffet with lots of Vietnamese dishes and a beautiful bar on the 18th floor. It’s a short walk to Restaurant 114 and Nem Chợ Huyện on Xuan Dieu.

Sea view: Grand Hyams Hotel Quy Nhon Beach. I stayed here in February 2026 and paid about $70 a night for a balcony room right over Quy Nhon beach. February is busy because of Tet; in quieter months standard rooms list from about $26–31 (Kayak, October 2026), so the price swings a lot with the season. The buffet brunch was wonderful, there’s a pool and bar on the 3rd floor, and a fresh coconut in the hotel restaurant looking out at the beach felt like the real vacation. From Phu Cat airport, a taxi cost me about $8.

Splurge: we haven’t stayed at a Quy Nhon resort yet. Avani Quy Nhon on Bai Dai beach runs about $120–155 a night, and it’s cheapest in October.

More: Quy Nhon travel guide · Quy Nhon destination page

Where to stay in Da Lat

Best area: within walking distance of Xuan Huong Lake or Da Lat Market. The center is compact, and the pine hills get cold and dark at night. Weekend and holiday prices jump 30–50%, since Da Lat is where Vietnamese families go to escape the heat.

Budget: guesthouses around the market and Truong Cong Dinh street, roughly 250,000–600,000 VND (about $10–25). I don’t have one I’d vouch for by name yet, so check recent Google Maps reviews and ask about heating or extra blankets, because nights get cold.

Splurge: Ana Mandara Villas Dalat. Restored French villas with fireplaces, about 4 km from the center. Typically $85–140 a night in autumn 2026.

More: Da Lat full guide

Where to stay in Nha Trang

Best area: the Tran Phu beachfront in the center, with the beach on one side and restaurants behind. It’s also where the Russian and Chinese package tourists stay, so it’s busy. Quieter: the north end around Hon Chong. Resort option: Bai Dai (Long Beach) near Cam Ranh airport, 30–40 minutes south, good for a pool-and-beach break, not for exploring the city.

Budget and mid-range: I haven’t stayed in either I’d recommend by name yet. For budget, look in the backpacker streets around Biet Thu, Hung Vuong and Nguyen Thien Thuat, a few minutes’ walk from the beach: dorms about $5–9, private rooms from about 400,000 VND ($15) to $25. For mid-range, the 3- and 4-star hotels on and just behind Tran Phu cost about 800,000–1,500,000 VND ($32–60), many with a rooftop pool.

Splurge: Vinpearl Resort & Spa Nha Trang. Far from the city on Hon Tre island across the bay, so it’s quiet and very much a stay-put resort. Book it for a few lazy days, not for exploring Nha Trang. About $95–215 a night.

More: Nha Trang full guide

Where to stay in Phu Quoc

Best area for most people: Long Beach (Bai Truong) near Duong Dong town, for sunsets, restaurants and the night market. Quieter: Ong Lang, 15 minutes north, with small resorts and a calmer beach. South: An Thoi and Sao Beach, close to the Hon Thom cable car but far from everything else. The far north (Bai Dai, Grand World) is big resort complexes; fine if you plan to stay put.

Budget: I haven’t stayed in a budget place on Phu Quoc I’d vouch for yet. Look along Tran Hung Dao, the road behind Long Beach: simple guesthouses start around 300,000 VND ($12), and basic beach bungalows run about $18–28.

Mid-range: Levan Hotel (Le Van). In the center of Duong Dong town, so restaurants and the night market are close, and it’s easy to get out to the rest of the island. I booked directly on the hotel’s own website rather than through Booking or Agoda. It came out slightly cheaper than the booking sites, which list it at about $30–60 a night.

Upper mid-range: Thien Thanh Resort. A very good location and a great pool, a step up in comfort without full luxury prices. About $70–180 a night.

More: Phu Quoc full guide · Things to do in Phu Quoc

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

Best area for a first visit: District 1, around Dong Khoi street, Nguyen Hue walking street and Ben Thanh Market. Avoid rooms on or right next to Bui Vien unless you want music until 3am. Quieter and more local: District 3, a short Grab from District 1 with good food and fewer tourists. Staying longer: Thao Dien (now part of Thu Duc City), the expat area across the river, 20–30 minutes away.

Budget: The Like Hostel & Cafe. District 1, clean and social, a 4-minute walk from Bui Vien. Dorm beds about $8, private rooms about $14–19.

Mid-range: Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel. On the river end of District 1 with a rooftop pool. About $55–130 a night.

Splurge: The Reverie Saigon. Over-the-top Italian-designed luxury on Dong Khoi. About $190–290 a night.

More: Ho Chi Minh City full guide · Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

How to book hotels in Vietnam

Booking.com or Agoda? They’re the same company (both belong to Booking Holdings), so the hotel lists overlap a lot. Agoda is the more Asia-focused of the two and often a little cheaper for mid-range hotels in Vietnam, while Booking.com tends to have more flexible cancellation. Compare both for the same dates, and check the hotel’s own website too: booking Levan Hotel in Phu Quoc direct was slightly cheaper for me.

Check Google Maps reviews too. For small guesthouses and homestays, Google Maps reviews are usually more recent than the booking-site score.

Book early for Tet and holidays. Vietnamese New Year (late January or February), 30 April–1 May and 2 September are when the good places sell out weeks ahead. See traveling Vietnam during Tet.

Your passport at check-in. Hotels have to register foreign guests with the local police, so they’ll ask for your passport. The hotel files the registration online, usually within 12 hours of arrival, and you don’t need to do anything yourself. Most scan your passport and hand it back the same day; if they want to keep it, ask for it back once they’ve copied it.

Homestays in the north. In Sapa, Ha Giang and Pu Luong, a homestay usually includes dinner and can arrange your guide. It’s the better choice over a hotel for at least one night. In Ha Giang, I like Anans Home, a lovely farm stay about 5 minutes’ drive from the Km 0 marker in Ha Giang city. Private rooms are about $16–23 a night, dorm beds are cheaper, and the same team runs Ha Giang loop tours and motorbike rental. Book on their website with the code JACKNG for a reader discount on both the stay and their tours. I get a small commission when you use the code; I’ve stayed there and done their tours myself.

Is it better to stay in one base or move around?

For a two-week trip, most people do best with three or four bases: Hanoi (with day trips or a night in Ninh Binh), a Ha Long or Lan Ha cruise, Hoi An or Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Moving every night wastes half a day each time. Our 2-week Vietnam itinerary uses this setup.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to stay in Vietnam for a first trip?

Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Hoi An near the old town and District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. In all three you can walk to most sights and the best street food, which saves money and time on transport.

Is it better to stay in Hoi An or Da Nang?

Stay in Hoi An if the old town at night is the reason you’re coming. Stay in Da Nang if you want a city beach, more restaurants and better-value hotels, and visit Hoi An as an evening trip (about 45 minutes by Grab). My own pick is Da Nang, within walking distance of My Khe beach.

Booking.com or Agoda for Vietnam?

Either works; they’re owned by the same company, Booking Holdings. Agoda is more Asia-focused and often slightly cheaper for mid-range hotels in Vietnam, while Booking.com tends to have easier free cancellation. Check both for your dates.

Why do hotels in Vietnam ask for my passport?

Hotels must register foreign guests with the local police. They usually scan your passport and give it back; ask for it back if they want to hold onto it.

How much does a good hotel cost in Vietnam?

Around 1,000,000–2,500,000 VND (about $40–100) a night gets a comfortable mid-range hotel with breakfast and often a pool. Budget rooms start under 600,000 VND (about $25), and resorts start around $120.

Read more

• 2-week Vietnam itinerary
• 1-week Vietnam itinerary
• Best hotels in Da Nang
• Hoi An vs Da Nang
• Weather in Vietnam by month