Sunny Garden

The rooms and beds were good, and there’s a nice gym and pool, but the location is really bad. Without a bike or car you’re isolated, with no restaurants nearby and a 20-minute walk just to get coffee. I was the only person in the hostel, and it felt like a ghost town with absolutely nothing to do. I booked two nights but left after one day.

I’ve been traveling around Asia for six months, and this was easily the best bed I’ve slept in, like a cloud. The bathrooms were spotless and had hot water, and the guys were attentive, making breakfast for me when I got up. There’s a huge gym, a boxing ring, and a climbing wall, with impressive facilities all around. It isn’t central, but everything is close if you rent a motorbike or bicycle. Highly recommended.

There’s a lot included in the price, around £16 a night for our bungalow. It had loads of space, cupboards, a kettle, air conditioning, a fan, a sofa, a TV, and a decent bed. Breakfast was included too, with egg sandwiches and fruit. The gym and pool are excellent. The shower gets incredibly hot, though there’s no separate shower area, so the floor and toilet can get wet. We thought the room and bathroom could have been cleaner, but understood the price and would stay again. We went up Lying Dragon Mountain and rowed at Trang An, both about 15 minutes away by Grab. Local kids often use the pool in the mornings and afternoons. We liked hearing them having fun, though it might interrupt a lie-in or afternoon nap. It’s a good place for basic accommodation and a quiet evening at a great price. There isn’t much nearby, but Grab rides into Ninh Binh are cheap and easy to get. For some reason, Grab doesn’t deliver food here.

Really good value, with a sports feel to the hotel. The gym looked great, and there’s even a boxing area. A hidden gem.