Hi. Hope someone can help build on my web research! Visiting Vietnam in September and spending around a week in each of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Have sorted out two hotels to match our budget - the Army Hotel in Hanoi and the Liberty 4 Hotel in HCMC. We're mid-late 50s and past our back-packing days. Can anyone offer any thoughts on those choices?

I never actually saw the Army Hotel, but it has had some good reports, so I think you're probably making a wise choice.

The Liberty 4 is one of about a hundred hotels in a couple of blocks around the Pham Ngu Lao - De Tham area, and this is cerytainly a good place to be, especially if you want to go on bus tours, all of which seem to leave from right there. The hotels all look like peas in a pod, and the prices are all similar.... we only have personal experience of one hotel there, the Phoenix 74, in De Tham (around the corner), but it was fine (and, in my sixties, I guess I'm past my "roughing-it" days also).... clean, friendly proprietors, a room with a very good outlook, and CHEAP... for a family of four, it cost us $USD17 a night. If you don't get any good feedback about the Liberty4, definitely look at the Phoenix74 as a fall-back. Just as a point of (possibly minor) interest, De Tham is a slightly quieter street than Pham Ngu Lao... not that any street in HCMC could be called "quiet"!

Hi Avis
We are actually staying at the Army Hotel on 29th May so I'll let you know what I think when we get back. We are also staying at the Horison Hotel because we got a bargain deal too good to pass up for a 4 star hotel. In HCMC we are staying at Windsor Plaza Hotel.www.directrooms.com have deals on WPH for $55 USd a night at the moment which is also great for a 5 star hotel

Hi everyone who's responded to my request for help - thank you all very much. Be really interested to hear from "rosiemolly" abt the Army Hotel.... have looked at the Windsor Plaza, and it seems great. But criticism is that it's a bit far from centre of town. Thanks again to everyone - and anyone else who may be abler to help. Regards, Avis

Hi Avis,Bad news i'm afraid....the Army Hotel was not what we had hoped.We actually thought they were the rudest people we had encountered in all of our trip.The rooms are pretty standard...clean but ordinary.The pool is always full of people so can also be a bit noisy.Drinks (ie bottled water) was double what we paid elsewhere.The buffet breakfast is however excellent and the location near the Opera House and just a short walk from the lake is good too. I really do think that better deals can be found in Hanoi though for the price. Windsor Plaza Hotel was sensational.Extraordinary staff...the biggest breakfast buffet you've ever seen plus a nightly buffet at $14 USD with seafood,barbeque,sushi,sashimi,local specialties...you name it.There is also a free shuttle service every half hour that takes you to the Dong Khoi district so the distance was never a problem.Good luck and enjoy your trip

Hi Rosiemolly:

Been waiting for your posting! Thanks so much - it's the Windsor Plaza for us then!

And I should have added: we're now going for a new place called the Golden Lotus in Hanoi. Looks great and gets good billing from a couple of review sites. Tks again

I stayed in the WIN Hotel (Hanoi) and got a great deal on the Duxton (HCMC).

WIN was $30 but I had to climb 76 steps! So I complained, paid an extra $5 and was put in room 204. It was fine, and well located, though the bed was a bit hard. Had a cute balcony, and the room was quiet.

Duxton was very posh but I paid about $80. My cheap MCMC alternative was the Indochine, which got good reviews, but after my WIN experience, I'd have asked for a room on a low level as many of the cheap hotels don't have elavators.

I avoided the backpacker area in HCMC. I went there, and thought it was nowhere near as good as where I stayed at the Duxton.

Personally, I'd have stayed 4 nights Hanoi, 2 nights Hoi An, and 3-4 nights HCMC. Hoi An is wonderful, and should not be missed.

Hi avis
Where else are you going? We stayed in Luang Prabang,Vientiane,Siem Reap,Phnom Penh,Hoi An ,Dalat,Nha Trang,HCMC,Hanoi and our accomodation varied from fabulous to appalling.Like you,we too not longer think it's a thrill to stay in a rat infested flea pit and there are great deals to be had in 4 and 5 star accomodations.

Hi Rosiemolly

We're being pretty boring. It's our first visit to Vietnam and we figure we'll stick to the main centres. In Bangkok for four nights and then seven nights HCMC (with overnighter, yet to be booked, to Mekong Delta) and eight nights Hanoi (with overnighter to Halong Bay, also yet to be booked). Did you guys get to Halong Bay and Mekong Delta? If so, all advice/guidance appreciated! Tks for your help.

Hi Avis,

I think that you should not so worried about the hotels in Hanoi or Hochiminh city because most of them are good. I can suggest you some hotels, that are very resonable price but the services are nice and good if you would like.
About your itinerary, I respectfully suggest you spend 3 days in Hanoi, 3 days in Halong Bay and the rest spend in other destination such as Tam Dao or Ninh Binh, so it must be more interesting and you will have chance to see more.

Many cheers,
Neil Nguyen

I would add Hoian to your list. It is so unlike HCMC and Hanoi, and is charming. The cost of a flt from HCMC/Hoian/Hanoi is not much different to HCMC/Hanoi. Personally, I think 7 nights in HCMC and 8 nights in Hanoi (even including an overnighter in each place)might be a bit long unless you go on some countrside tours outside the two cities...

I used Handspan for my Halong Bay overnighter, and was delighted. The company delivered what it promised, the junk was spotless, and the food was amonf the best I had in Vietnam. Word of warning, though - Most halong Bay cruises specialise in seafood, so unless you warn the booking company in advance that you or someone in your party is allergic to seafood, the pickings can be pretty slim.....