Vietnam - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 842

ACCOMMODATION
Have the exact address of your lodgings written down for taxi
drivers and insist on being taken to the hotel of your choice.
Especen Hotel 28 Tho Xuong and 41 Ngo Huyen T 04
38244401, W especen.vn; map p.840. Both branches of
this well-run operation are located just a stone's throw
from St Joseph's Cathedral. The rooms are spacious and
bright, some have bal coni es, and all come with satellite TV,
wi-fi and a/c. Double $25
Golden Time Hostel 2 8 Ly Thai To T 04 38259654,
W goldentimehostel.com; map p.840. Huge rooms with
flat-screen TVs, welcome drinks for guests and other nice
touches, such as the huge breakfast, earn this hostel rave
reviews, as does the helpfulness of Tony the manager.
Original sister hostel at 43 Ly Thai To ( T 04 93351091) has
smaller rooms but equa lly friendly service and enormous
breakfasts. Double $18
★

a/c dormitory is excellent val ue , includi ng b reakfast and
free coffee all day long. Dorm $6 , double $20
★

May De Ville Backpackers Hostel 1 Hai Tuong T 04
39352468, W maydevillebackpackershostel.com; map p.840.
Luxury for a budget price, this is more like a hotel than a
hostel, with spacious rooms (private ones come with laptops
you can borrow and plasma-screen TVs ), well-f urni shed
dorms and a vast buffet breakfast. Dorm $5 , double $30
Serendipity Hotel 14 Chan Cam T 04 38289868,
W hanoiserendipityhotel.com; map p.840. Central, friendly
guesthouse, with austere, mid-sized rooms and very helpful
reception staff. Breakfast included. Sister hotel, Trung Nam
Hai , at 27 Phu Doan ( T 04 39288228 W trungnamhaihotel
.com), has equally top-notch service, m id-si zed rooms with
all mod cons and good showers. Double $21
Tu Linh Hotel 58 Hang Cot T 04 38282626, W tulinhpalace
hotels.com; map p.840. Not quite a palace, but neither a hovel:
large, sparklingly clean rooms come with mod cons such as
satellite TV, electronic safes and comfortable beds, and the
staff 's attitude gets rave reviews also. Equally popular sister
hotels at 2B Hang Ga and 86 Ma May have virtual ly id entical
decor, facilities and equally congenial staff. Double $28

11

Hanoi Backpackers Hostel 48 Ngo Huyen T 04
38285372, W hanoibackpackershostel.com; map p.840.
Australian-run, standard-setting hostel west of Hoan Kiem
Lake, offering bunks in mixed or women-only dorms and
private doubles. Lockers, breakfast and internet access are
included, and the rooftop bar hosts regular barbecues and
parties. The sociable vibe makes it a great place for solo
travellers, and their tour service runs high-octane trips to
Ha Long Bay that include tubing and paddleboarding. The
second branch at 9 Ma May ( T 04 39351890) is particularly
well located, had a live ly on-sit e bar and spacious dorms
and rooms. Dorm $7.50 , double $25
Hanoi City Hostel 95B Hang Ga T 04 38281379,
W hanoicityhostel.com; map p.840. E cient, well-located
and well-run place with a/c rooms, decked out in pastel
shades. Some sta ff me mbers go out of their way to make
you feel welcome. $16
Hanoi Guesthouse 14 Bat Su T 04 38245732, W hanoi
guesthouse.com; map p.840. Wonderfully welcoming
family-run guesthouse popular among travellers. The
rooms are clean, comfortable and quiet, with heavy
wooden furniture; satellite TV an d bre akfast are included;
the deluxe rooms have balconies. $26
Hanoi Hostel 91C Hang Ma T 04 62700006, W vietnam
-hostel.com; map p.840. Peaceful lilac rooms with crisp
sheets, comfortable dorm beds and sweet, helpful staff
make this a great backpacker choice . Friendl y vib e without
it being a party hostel. Dorm $5.50 , double $18
Hotel Bluebell 41 Ngo Huyen T 04 36345123, W hanoi
bluebellhotel.com; map p.840. This hotel has a great central
location near the cathedral, helpful owner and decent-sized
rooms, plus free tea, coffee and bananas are left out for
guests. $12
Little Hanoi Diamond 48 Hang Ga T 04 38284461,
W littlehanoihostel.com; map p.840. This friendly mini-
hotel has modern superior rooms with baths and
balconies, and cheaper, windowless doubles. The six-bed

EATING
Bun Bo Nam Bo 67 Hang Dieu; map p.840. Deservedly
popular place serving generous portions of rice noodles
topped with lean beef, mint, roasted peanuts and garlic,
all swimming in a delicious broth, for 55,000VND. Daily
7am-9pm.
Bun Cha Dac Kim 1 Hang Manh; map p.840. This local
restaurant draws crowds of locals for its excellent bun cha
(grilled port over flat rice noodles) and nem cua be (crabmeat
spring rolls), from 20,000VND. Daily noon-10pm.
Café Giang 39 Nguyen Huu Huang; map p.840. Pop
down a narrow lane to this very local café, and perch on
a stool to sample some of Hanoi's best coffee. Go for

TREAT YOURSELF
Green Mango 18 Hang Quat, 1a Xuan
Dieu W greenmango.vn; map p.840. Stylish,
subtly lit restaurant reminiscent of an
opium den, offering innovative Western
and Asian-fusion dishes, like blackened sea
bass with turmeric vinaigrette or spicy
lamb sausage with gnocchi. There's an
extensive wine and cocktail menu, and
several dining areas to choose from, with
plush nooks for romantic occasions, an
alfresco terrace for balmy evenings, and
large tables for group celebrations. They
also run a recommended boutique hotel
upstairs. Mains from 200,000VND. Daily
noon-11pm.

★