Go Ninh Binh Hostel

The check-in and checkout arrangement was a major problem. We arrived on the morning of the 13th, asked to check in early and stay two nights, and the man at reception agreed, showed us the price, and took payment. The next day, after we’d paid, they demanded we leave a day earlier than agreed, even though we had it in writing. He pointed to the date we’d already agreed on, shook his head, and said “sorry sorry.” The female receptionist was rude and thick-headed. We asked for our laundry to be kept separate, but they mixed it together, returned clothes that weren’t ours, and some of our own clothes came back dirtier. The room was shabby, with only one large light and no bedside lights, and they don’t clean places they think guests won’t check. They advertise 24-hour reception on booking, but when we arrived, we had to knock on a locked door for 15 minutes before anyone came.

Our room was surprisingly spacious for a small hotel, and it felt clean and hygienic. It had a little balcony and a bathtub, which was a nice extra. The staff, or perhaps the owner, were polite and helpful, and made us feel welcome. I was on a tour, so check-in and checkout caused no problems. Breakfast was fine, and they could make hot fried eggs and phở when requested. My one complaint was the bidet. You press a button to start the water and press it again to stop it, but the button can get stuck. There’s no way to adjust the pressure either, which was annoying when I was in a hurry.

We had our laundry done there after telling reception specifically to keep it separate. They didn’t, and some clothes came back dirty. The manager didn’t seem to care and told us to leave, returning only half our payment even though we hadn’t spent even one night there. We arrived early in the morning and the receptionist offered us a deal for two nights with early check-in. Later that day, another receptionist claimed we’d only paid for the night of the 13th and had paid double because of the early check-in. The picture I added shows that isn’t true.

The man who helped us was very helpful, and the price was budget friendly. The hotel is in a quiet spot in Ninh Binh, with a nice view from the window. The rooms weren’t up to the mark, though. They also offer bus service from Ninh Binh to another city.