Sapa Indigo Inn

It's a social enterprise, and the staff were kind. The rooms at the back have lovely views across the town and mountains.

I had a clean, pleasant room with a balcony overlooking the city and mountains. The hotel is close to the meeting point for the sleeper bus, and I liked the roughly ten-minute morning walk into town for coffee or breakfast. The owner was very nice and accommodating. Early check-in or checkout depends on availability, but they do their best to find somewhere for you to rest. There's also a trekking company in the same building, and I had a great two-day, one-night trek with them.

The owner's honesty and kindness stood out, and breakfast was nice. We chose the pho soup. After a long, cold walk, the room's fan coil heater was welcome. There's a bus to Hanoi above the hotel, and it's a handy spot if you're setting off early for Fansipan. The little cat was the best company in the early mornings.

She was friendly and helpful, and pointed us toward local specialties and places to see. The room had plenty of space for two, though it smelled damp. The AC remote also didn't always work right.