Bong Mai

The window faced an inner courtyard, so there was no view, and there wasn't a wardrobe, though there was somewhere to hang clothes. The room itself was clean and had a good bed, an armchair, two high chairs, and a small square table that worked for eating or working. There was WiFi, a bathroom, and plenty of international plugs. No fridge in the room, but they kept our yoghurts in the family fridge. It felt safe and good value for the price. Cuong Phan and his wife were friendly and helpful, though conversation in English was slow. The guesthouse is on a small street of homes with a few shops open in the morning and evening. Cafes, tea shops, and restaurants are a minute or two away on foot. Most guests seemed to be couples staying for a few hours or a short night. We stayed four nights in August 2020 while exploring Thai Hoa.

The staff were really helpful, and the location was convenient. The bathroom didn't have the glass shower screen shown in the photos, just a standard wet-room style motel bathroom. Were those pictures from another hotel? The floor was very dirty, enough that my feet turned black after walking around a little. There were also lots of marks, dust stuck to the walls, and mildew on them.

We paid 200k VND for a room with a double bed and private bathroom. I've stayed in similar hotels for 160k, though hotels in this city seem pricier: places closer to downtown were asking 250k. The place looked good, and they did our laundry for free. The only downside was a huge spider. I spoke to the owner, who came and killed it with his hands.

The sheets were a bit dirty, but for a cheap room with comfortable beds, it was still a good deal for a night stopover. The owner spoke good English and recommended places for us to eat.