Hoang Hai Hotel

For a room with everything you might want, including air conditioning and a smart TV, the price in this lovely part of Ninh Binh is hard to beat. Just be careful on the steps down from Hotel2, as they’re slippery.

Right in the middle of the city, it worked well for a transit stay, though there isn't much to do in the city itself. The building feels dated, and the front desk staff weren't as friendly as others I've met. They did keep our luggage for us. Cleanliness was passable, but it didn't have that very clean feeling.

They didn't accept credit cards, so I had to make an emergency cash withdrawal while my taxi waited outside the hotel. Nobody spoke English. It felt expensive for Vietnam, and the staff were bad and seemed to try to get as much money as possible from every extra. There was no breakfast ready that morning, so they quickly prepared eggs and bread for the price of a continental breakfast.

The rooms were spacious, the beds were good, and the air conditioning worked well. The location was central, and the staff spoke okay English and were helpful, even if they weren't especially friendly. Still, at US $50 a night, I expected a much nicer place based on my experience in Vietnam. This one felt a little dumpy, with ants on the counter, a broken sink, some broken power outlets, lots of mold, and a mediocre breakfast.