Heuan Lao Guesthouse

The room looked acceptable at first, but the smell of cat and dog urine and feces hit me once I was inside. The whole place was covered in animal hair, and the grounds were unkempt. There wasn't anywhere to sit except a small cement table in the courtyard. The dogs had mange, and many of the cats had wounds. I moved the refrigerator to plug it in, and cockroaches and ants scattered. I told the owner what I'd found and asked for a refund so I could move to a cleaner hotel elsewhere, but he refused. I found a can of Raid in the hallway and fumigated the room myself, then had to leave until the fumes cleared. I strongly recommend spending a few extra dollars and staying somewhere else.

The one bright spot was the unaffiliated Italian restaurant next door. I really struggle to recommend this place, and wouldn't stay here. When I arrived, a few people were around, but nobody was willing to check me in. One man was on the steps picking ticks off a dog and putting them in a bowl. Later I found a tick on my bed. The walls were dirty, the mattress very old, and none of the sockets would hold a plug securely enough to charge anything. Someone smoking downstairs made the smell drift into my room, and there was a smell of urine everywhere. My fan room had no fridge, and the owner's animals were very loud in the middle of the night.

The peaceful atmosphere and beautiful yard made this one of the best places I've stayed in many ways. It was very cheap and relatively quiet for a noisy capital, though run-down and full of cats. The shared kitchen smelled of cats too. Bring your own mosquito net. The shower was just warm enough.

The location is good, with the malls and bus station within walking distance. But bring your lowest expectations. This place has five dogs and 20 cats and kittens, the windows barely shut properly, and the A/C struggles to cool the room. The furniture is the oldest, saddest I've seen in years. A true guesthouse experience!