Salem Riverside Hotel

Don’t trust the photos, the place didn’t look like that in real life. It’s badly maintained, with a dirty elevator, poor quality doors and windows, and amateur-looking workmanship. There was a large cockroach in one room, and the toilet smelled like a sewer. Room 904 and 706 were noisy from a water pump, and rooms beneath the water tanks probably have the same issue. Some rooms also have a gap under the door, so you can hear everything outside. It’s beside a nightclub, with loud music and drunk people until 5 am every day. Staff would walk into the room without knocking, so if you’re away, they can just come in and do whatever they want. I paid them 3900 k and they refused to refund any of it, even though they hadn’t kept their promises. They said they’d repair a big crack in the bathtub and that there wouldn’t be noise. Instead they waited until I’d stayed 13 days, so they wouldn’t have to return money, since they charge 300k per day. That may be why they charge the strange amount of 3900k a month. Two girls called Thuy Thi Nguyễn are behind this, one a sales agent and the other the manager.

The room could use a redesign to make it more comfortable. What stood out to me was the modern, eye-catching door, and the elevator, which is at a separate section at the front of the hotel and feels great to use.

For a budget trip, this was fantastic value. The room looked sleek and fancy, and it was clean, as was the bathroom. The bed was VERY comfortable, the staff were friendly and helpful, and breakfast had lots of vegetables and good coffee. The view over the river and mountains was incredible.

I didn’t expect much from the hotel, but its spot right beside the Han River was great for a stroll. There’s street food nearby too. Agree on the price before ordering, though, since some guys may try to charge an impossibly high amount for the food.