Honey Homestay

The hosts were flexible when I asked for extra pillows, blankets, toiletries, and clean towels every other day. They also lent me their own scooter with gas at a discounted daily rate, and I didn’t have to refill it when I returned it. I spent two weeks there, from before until after Lunar New Year, and loved every moment. The room was beautiful, and the staff were so caring and friendly. They often offered food and snacks, sometimes shared daily meals with me, and made a different free home-cooked breakfast each day. Staying in the heart of the Old Quarter meant I could walk to everything, though the street noise came with the central location. It’s Vietnam, so I expected that. The whole stay felt like an authentic, eye-opening Vietnamese experience. I love the city and its people, and would definitely come back soon.

The room was spacious, but it was dusty and the blankets smelled. I was surprised when I first arrived and found out they hadn’t mentioned that the toilet was outside the room. There is an elevator, though it’s small and sometimes out of order, so you may need to use the stairs. With a large suitcase, this place doesn’t seem like a good fit.

The room itself was clean, nice, and had new things, but I couldn’t get proper rest without earplugs. There’s no soundproofing, so everything from outside comes through: the market starts before 6 a.m., and scooters honk until midnight. I understand that’s part of the location, but it was still a lot. There’s also a clock machine inside that plays a tune every hour, which kept waking me if I managed to fall asleep. I don’t understand the positive Agoda reviews. I had a balcony room, but the bathroom was outside the room and really small. That part wasn’t a big deal compared with the noise.

I arrived a day early at 6 a.m. by accident, and the family were incredibly accommodating. They were very kind. The room was clean and bright, with a useful desk for work, a mini fridge, and a kettle. I liked the plants on the balcony too. The area can get loud in the morning when the market is going, but it’s quiet at night.