Maxims Hotel Hai Phong

For a night while passing through, it was okay, though the hostel is about as basic as they come. The alley entrance leads to a 10-bed dorm at least four flights up. The mattress felt like hard plywood, and the beds have curtains. The shower was only slightly warm, but a towel was included. There was no drinking water, though outlets and wifi were available. You could also make Haiphong a day trip from Cat Ba instead. There are a few interesting temples and one museum, but not much else beyond walking around a city without much tourism.

There are small four-person dorms, which I liked, as well as some private rooms. It's a backpacker sort of stay, with a friendly, accommodating host and plenty of cafes and restaurants close by. The bathrooms are shared, but everything was clean.

This is a small homestay run by local owner Ms Lyly, who was lovely and helped my husband and me arrange a bus to CatBa island during our trip. The location is very handy for getting to the local market and Opera house area. She was a welcoming host, and I'd recommend the place for its location.

They charge 250k for a room that stinks so badly it's hard to breathe in there. It's damp, with mold everywhere, even on the sheets. The walls are super thin too, so you hear every scooter on the street.