Van Mieu Garden House

On the eighth floor, my bedroom smelled strongly of exhaust fumes. I had to open two windows, switch on the fan, and run the AC. The door had no locker because it had been removed, as the photos show, and both window handles were broken.

For a brief visit, this cheaper hotel works well. It's central, with several sightseeing spots, including the famous Train Street, only a short walk away. The staff made us feel welcome and were helpful. The bathroom is tiny and the rooms can get quite hot. I'd suggest it for couples, friends, or families with older kids.

The rooms are spacious, clean, and good value, and there's secure underground parking where we could lock our bicycles. Staff were polite and helpful. The hotel sits in a friendly area between the old town and the museum, with plenty of well-priced places to eat right beside it. We paid 550k on Booking.

Breakfast was advertised as free, but it had been discontinued. Our room had no heat, and a gap around the balcony door let the winter cold in. The shower water wouldn't stay hot the whole time, and the drain was clogged. There was a water cooler, but refilling a bottle cost 3,000 won, so a disposable one was cheaper. I asked the hotel to mail my prepaid postcards, but staff wanted 20,000 vnd to take them to a mailbox five minutes away. I walked them there myself. A very cold and unpleasant stay, with charges for everything. I don't recommend it.