The Ireland Hotel

Tony is the best. He met us when we got off the bus and helped us out lots when things went wrong with tours and other stuff. It felt like he was always there for us. We were on Cat Ba for Tet, and the welcome felt so warm. The room had everything we needed, including two double beds, and the homestay feel was lovely. It's a great spot, just a short walk from the main street with loads of restaurants and bars. Absolutely recommend.

We arrived on the sleeper bus and the very friendly staff let us into our room around 7am. That was a huge help and a real plus for us. The beds were comfy, the location was good, and a quick hotel breakfast was convenient before our boat trip. The trip cost extra, but the price was very reasonable. The room was a little cold, though we could ask for a blanket or duvet. The shower pressure wasn't great, and the water didn't heat up very well. The rooms felt a bit dated and could use a fresh coat of paint. Still, it's a low-cost place, so you get what you pay for. I'd recommend it for a couple of nights in Cat Ba if you're looking for a budget-friendly stay.

The location is good and the room looked decent, but my stay was frustrating and forgettable. I've visited Vietnam three times and usually found people warm, respectful, and helpful. This was a rare exception. While arranging the booking, the owners got overly familiar and asked if I was travelling with a girlfriend. His wife then suggested a “Vietnamese girlfriend.” I had to explain that I'm married and travelling alone. The owner also kept insisting I didn't need to inspect the room first, calling it a “5-star property” and talking up the stay. After I saw the room, he quoted me a price. I later found the same room on Booking.com for nearly 60% less, which clearly displeased them. Problems showed up soon after check-in: the toilet flush, bidet jet, sink, and shower all had extremely low water pressure; the toilet sink was leaking; and the air conditioning didn't work. I messaged the owner on WhatsApp with photos and also tried calling, but got no response. The next morning I couldn't use the toilet or shower at all, so staying there wasn't possible and I checked out early. The owners and their family don't live on the premises. There's a notice asking guests to call for help, but my service-related messages and calls were ignored. I'm sharing photos of the property and screenshots of my WhatsApp messages so future guests can be fully informed.

I was travelling to Cat Ba Island with a broken collarbone and shoulder, wearing a brace and able to use only my left arm. On check-in day, I reported that the worn door's old key lock had caused its handle to come off when I inserted and removed the key. The female staff member managing the hotel took my report, and the door was repaired about half a day later. The next day, the male owner spoke rudely to me and implied I'd pulled too hard and broken the handle. Even the person who repaired it said normal force would be unlikely to make it come off. The owner claimed he hadn't seen my shoulder brace on check-in day, which made it sound as if he thought I'd deliberately damaged the door and put the brace on the next day. I could only use my left arm at the time. I had to find a Vietnamese interpreter to explain what happened and showed my medical diagnosis. I wasn't charged for the repair in the end, but the owner's attitude was extremely unpleasant. I hope other guests don't go through this.