Must-see hotels in Northwest Vietnam

  • Pan Hou Village

    Ha Giang Province

    This wonderful ecolodge is tucked away in a hidden river valley in the High Song Chau mountains, with simple, solar-powered bungalows set in a riot of…

  • Little Mai Chau Homestay

    Mai Chau

    It's hard to beat this collection of thatched bamboo bungalows, backing onto karst cliffs, with balconies overlooking the paddy fields, 2km west of Mai…

  • Huy Trung Homestay

    Bac Ha

    This well-designed place is clearly signposted in a residential district to the north of town and walkable from the centre. The five rooms are immaculate,…

  • Mai Chau Eco Lodge

    Mai Chau

    Located on a slight hill surveying the surrounding rice fields is this village-like compound. Step inside the thatched-roof bungalows and you'll find they…

  • Sapa Clay House

    Sapa

    Located 3km southeast of Sapa is this charming compound of adobe rooms and bungalows. Perched on a hillside with views of the rice terraces below, its…

  • Cosy Hotel

    Northwest Vietnam

    This gleaming new hotel in the north of town is your best choice, whatever your budget. The pokey 300,000d rooms don't have windows but all other rooms…

  • Elegance Hotel

    Sapa

    The spacious, well-furnished deluxe rooms with balcony here are one of the best deals in Sapa, especially given the perfect central location. Helpful…

  • Dao Lodge

    Ha Giang Province

    Nam Dam village near Tam Son has dozens of family homestays, but the most stylish place is this traditional lodge built from wood, bamboo and tamped earth…

  • Aira Boutique Hotel

    Sapa

    Located at the edge of a cliff, and offering fantastic views of the valley below, is this fresh, modern hotel. Front-facing rooms with views are the most…

  • Sapa Lodge

    Sapa

    Sapa Lodge is a friendly, well-run place with plenty of small-hotel appeal. The smart, light-filled deluxe rooms come with soaring views of the…

  • Huy Hoan Hotel

    Ha Giang Province

    Run by a friendly family, the central Huy Hoan (pronounced 'Hwe Hwan') offers large, clean, well-kept rooms that represent excellent value. The communal…

  • Topas Ecolodge

    Sapa

    Overlooking a plunging valley 18km from Sapa, this resort has stone-and-thatch bungalows with front balconies to make the most of the truly breathtaking…

  • Mai Chau Lodge

    Mai Chau

    This tour-group favourite has handsome rooms decked out in local textiles, a refreshing plunge pool and a nice bar area overlooking the local pond. It's…

  • Grand Hotel

    Northwest Vietnam

    Your best bet in Hoa Binh is this rather grandiose hotel just over Hoa Binh Bridge. The modern rooms come decked out in cream and beige, equipped with…

  • Auberge Hotel

    Sapa

    An old-school yellow villa with porticos, terrace seating and a garden restaurant, the Auberge retains a vaguely colonial vibe. Rooms are comfortable but…

  • Sapa O'Chau

    Sapa

    The hotel attached to the excellent tour agency exists to train locals in hotel management, so be patient. The best rooms enjoy spacious lake views and a…

  • Topas Riverside House

    Sapa

    Located in a valley, on the outskirts of teensy Nam Cang village, 36km from Sapa, this stylish wooden house with eight minimalist rooms is a collaboration…

  • QT Guest House

    Ha Giang Province

    This welcoming new guesthouse run by nearby QT Motorbikes & Tours has clean, spacious eight-bed dorms and comfortable doubles (the back-facing twins are…

  • Botanic Sapa

    Sapa

    The cosy Botanic stands out mostly due to friendly husband-and-wife owners Minh and Van, who are wonderful hosts. There are only four rooms, brightened…

  • Ban Van Guest House

    Mai Chau

    Ban Van village is only 800m east of central Mai Chau, but is noticeably less developed for tourism. Three or four stilt-house homestays dot the village,…

  • Thai Binh Hotel

    Sapa

    You'll likely feel at home here from the minute you enter the lobby to see the hotel cat dozing in front of the crackling fireplace. Rooms are spacious…

  • Victoria Sapa Resort

    Sapa

    This alpine-style hotel gets top marks for its attentive service and charming garden, terrace and restaurant areas decorated with local weavings. The…

  • Eco Palms House

    Sapa

    These rustic, bamboo and adobe bungalows offer some of the most amazing views in Sapa, but given how tight they are, they do feel somewhat overpriced, and…

  • Bong Hostel

    Ha Giang Province

    A popular central hostel that is always full of people embarking on, or returning from, the Ha Giang motorbike loop. It rents a range of motorbikes, books…

  • Go Sapa Hostel

    Sapa

    Up the hill from central Sapa, this well-run hostel has a multitude of six- and eight-bed dorms (with lockers) set around a communal courtyard and lots of…

  • Cat Cat View Hotel

    Sapa

    There's plenty of choice at this rambling, family-run spot with comfortable pine-trimmed rooms over nine floors and two wings, with the upper floors…

  • Sapa Dragon Hotel

    Sapa

    Professional staff, a quiet neighbourhood and stylish interior design give this hotel a reassuring vibe. The 20 rooms are handsome and spacious and come…

  • Mai Chau Sunrise Village

    Mai Chau

    For a little more privacy than the neighbourhood homestays, this friendly operation in Lac village offers spacious bungalows with rickety bamboo furniture…

  • Du Gia Homestay

    Ha Giang Province

    About 800m east of Du Gia is this collection of ramshackle bungalows, some perched romantically in the middle of a pond, and set around a traditional…

  • Amazing Hotel

    Sapa

    Amazing might be an exaggeration, but this striking, modern, four-star hotel offers comfortable rooms and impressive views from some of them. A rooftop…

  • Congfu Hotel

    Bac Ha

    This place has freshly painted rooms with block-like foam mattresses and white linen. Book room 105, 108, 205 or 208 for floor-to-ceiling windows…

  • Truong Xuan Resort

    Ha Giang Province

    A relaxing place sitting along the bank of the Lo River, 5km north of town, with spacious thatched duplex bungalows set in lush grounds. You'll want one…

  • Ngan Nga Bac Ha Hotel

    Bac Ha

    Rooms here are a solid budget deal; they are a decent size and are decked out with a few homey touches, with a good ground-floor restaurant for a post…

  • Hotel Mai Chau Valley View

    Mai Chau

    This small and professionally run place of just six rooms combines the convenience of being in town with rural views of the paddy fields from the…

  • Holiday Sapa

    Sapa

    It's no surprise this hotel is a favourite with tour groups, the service here is on the ball and there's a wide variety of rooms on offer. You really want…

  • Sao Xanh Hotel 3

    Northwest Vietnam

    Excellent value with spotless, colourful rooms and a friendly vibe at reception. The hotel is just a short walk to a strip of restaurants serving Thai…

  • Minh Son Hotel

    Northwest Vietnam

    Your best choice if forced to overnight in Lai Chau, with spacious, modern rooms and fine views over the city from the upper floors. There's not much in…

  • Cao Nguyen Hotel

    Ha Giang Province

    Near the Lo River, this place has 42 spotless and spacious rooms with actual separate shower cubicles in the bathrooms – some even have rain shower heads…

  • Saturday Hotel

    Bac Ha

    Right in the middle of all the action in Bac Ha is this tidy, pleasant place. Rooms are clean and inviting, if plain, while the dorms, little more than…

  • Luong Thuy Family Guesthouse

    Sapa

    This friendly guesthouse has a decent, though dark, dorm and snug private rooms. Motorcycles and bikes can be hired, trekking and transport arranged, and…