Black H'mong View Hotel

The owner was sweet and the location is handy, especially for visiting local villages. Our room was spacious and had a shower cabin. Unfortunately, Room 301 was almost as cold as outside. The windows let in wind and noise, and there was no heating or even a little portable heater, so we couldn’t sleep properly. In the morning we saw a few cockroaches crawling on the wall. We’d booked one non-smoking room with a king-size bed for one night and were asked to pay in advance. We agreed at the time, but now I wonder if the owner knew what we were in for. Breakfast was another letdown: we chose pancakes with chocolate and banana, plus coffee with milk, then were told there was no banana. We stuck with the choice and got one crepe and bad coffee, which is rare in Vietnam. They also said we could pick only one of the six breakfast options. One crepe wasn’t enough. I wouldn’t recommend this place, even for a night.

They advertise a bar and restaurant, but there’s neither, and the rooms don’t have the air conditioning they say they do. We booked three nights and left after the first. Traffic noise outside was awful all night and again first thing in the morning. The bathroom towels were as thin as tissue paper, and we were given only two, with no floor towel. When we came back around 3 after being out for the day, the room hadn’t been made up and there were no fresh towels. We had to carry our suitcase up two flights of stairs, and when we returned from dinner that first night, the stairway lights were off. It felt dangerous going upstairs. I wouldn’t recommend this place. There’s a lot of false advertising.

The host was lovely and let us leave our bags until the night bus. Breakfast was good and free, and the clean rooms had heated blankets, which you need in Sapa in December. It’s a little outside the centre, but not a bad walk, and the views are great when the weather allows.

The massage at the hotel was a highlight, a really relaxing way to recharge. Tucked away from downtown Sapa’s bustle, it feels peaceful while still being close to attractions. The owners are incredibly warm and go out of their way to make you feel at home. Even their charming cat adds to the cozy feel. A lovely choice if you want a personal welcome and some quiet. I’d return.