Him Lam Hotel

We stayed in one of the stilt lodges and found it comfortable. The restaurant food was good and the bar had cold beers. It's quite a way from the town centre. There weren't many guests when we visited, though I reckon it could get hectic with a large tour group or a conference staying there. I'm not quite sure what makes the place "Eco".

The house on stilts by the lake is really romantic, and the hotel itself is new and nicely designed. We had a good experience for a good price, though the breakfast was poor and the dinner menu was limited. You might want to order in the afternoon. It was quite empty Monday to Friday, then full of Vietnamese people on the weekend, who seem to be falling in love with traveling these days. The reception lady was fantastic, and some other staff spoke English too, but service overall could use some improvement. If you're counting on the pool or massage for a relaxing stay, check first. In November the pool was closed, muddy and green. The massage may be mostly aimed at men. The masseuse was nice, wearing a red short outfit and blouse with matching lipstick, but after 20 minutes of a one-hour massage she said that was enough, asked for a tip, and left.

The food was delicious and all in the style of the ethnic minorities. I had dinner in the resort's stilt-house restaurant, which is built entirely from Tali Wood (gỗ lim), a kind of rosewood. It was beautifully designed, and the staff serving us wore ethnic Thai dress. A definite must-try around Dien Bien Phu.

The scenery and views are stunning, and there are separate pools for kids and adults. I had a good experience, though the whole place is rather small.