Royal Hotel 2 Mong Cai

There’s a pool and an area on the top floor with a view over China. The room we stayed in, rm 412, smelled of cigarette smoke, which was the downside. Opening the window for a few hours cleared the smell pretty easily. Otherwise, it was great.

The staff were friendly and enthusiastic, and the breakfast buffet had a decent selection of basic dishes. There’s a small swimming pool on the top floor with a beautiful view. The rooms are clean and decorated quite elegantly, though they aren’t large. Be sure to ask when booking, since some rooms have no windows and can feel stuffy and dark. The hotel is near the Ka Long River and the border, and you can see Dongxing in China from the upper floors. The access road runs through a residential area and isn’t very wide.

Breakfast was average. Over my two days, the options included pho, porridge, rice rolls, fried rice, stir-fried noodles, sausages, fruit, dessert, and tea. Housekeeping came daily. The hotel is new and well built, and the rooms were clean, but the twin room felt small and cramped. The air conditioning was weak. Cigarette smoke was especially strong in the hallway, probably from Chinese guests. There was also a gap in the bathroom floor that smelled strongly of smoke, so I covered it with a towel. The doors don’t close tightly, so soundproofing is poor and noise from inside carries clearly. At check-in I was given just one key. Since unplugging it cuts the power, I had to ring the doorbell whenever I left or came back. I explained the issue and was able to borrow another key.

The breakfast buffet on the second floor had plenty of choices, including beef noodle soup, steamed buns, fried rice, spring rolls, and beef in red wine sauce. It was all quite good, and the staff were attentive and enthusiastic. I stayed at Royal 1, a lovely hotel with Indochine style. The lobby felt spacious and luxurious, with swings for photos, a koi pond, and lots of seating. Our room fit three people comfortably, even though it wasn’t very large inside. It had a view over China, and the bathroom was well equipped with good fixtures.