22 Best Hotels in Halong Bay and North-Central Vietnam, Vietnam

With its French-colonial architecture and smart, well-appointed rooms, this hotel is a prime luxury lodging choice in Haiphong. There's actually no harbor view to speak of, but, misleading moniker aside, this option lives up to its vaunted status. Rooms here are spacious and tastefully decorated, with plenty of delicate touches and welcoming amenities such as IDD phones. The hotel can arrange tours of city sights and Halong Bay, as well as bicycle and trekking trips through the surrounding countryside.

The most prestigious address in Ninh Binh Province, this plush resort luxuriates in a bucolic location on the outskirts of the city. Fusing traditional Vietnamese elements with more contemporary stylings, it is both chic and evocative. Leisure facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, and an expansive gym. The outdoor swimming pool in particular is an unmistakably special feature, with the karst scenery surrounding the large pool. The property has a range of dining options, including sophisticated international and upscale Vietnamese restaurants.

The evolution of Haiphong is encapsulated by this superb luxury hotel, situated in a salubrious area of the city with easy access to luxury shopping and a lake, which is perfect for jogging around. Spacious and sophisticated chambers adorned with intricate decor feature modern conveniences such as Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, compact refrigerators, and coffee machines. Certain rooms boast balconies that overlook the city skyline. For added luxury, suites provide distinct living areas.

The closest thing to a luxury option in Ninh Binh city, this sparkling hotel doesn't disappoint. Those who are acquainted with luxury hotels in smaller Vietnamese towns will know the drill—a whole lot of marble, plenty of fairy lights, and a plethora of rather garish touches. Nevertheless, these are minor quibbles in the overall context of what is a very acceptable hotel. Rooms are very well appointed and feature king-size beds. Recreation facilities include a good-size outdoor pool and a gym. The hotel can arrange tours to nearby attractions such as Trang An and Tam Coc and the resident guides come highly recommended.

This well-known brand does a sterling, if unflashy, job, and as it's on Bai Chay Beach, it offers a stunning outlook over Halong Bay from many of its guest rooms, most of which come with a balcony. The style throughout is neutral and innocuous. The hotel's helpful information desk can assist with booking everything from Halong Bay tours to cooking classes. The hotel's main restaurant, The Square, specializes in seafood from the bay and offers buffet and menu options.

Formerly Song Gia Golf and Country Club, this plush property, 13 km (8 miles) outside Haiphong, is ideal for golfers and those looking to get away from it all. The hotel is in a peaceful setting overlooking the Gia River and rooms are designed in an appealing contemporary style. Trimmings include king-size beds, flat-screen TVs, and a lovely outdoor swimming pool. The hotel is fairly far removed from Haiphong's restaurant options, which means that dining on-site is generally a necessity. Fortunately, the hotel's Japanese restaurant is worthy of repeat visits.

A boutique retreat in the heart of the beautiful Ninh Binh countryside, this is a great place to get away from it all; in fact, you may want to forsake the nearby tourist attractions in favor of a day by the pool. The property enjoys a prime location amid emerald green rice paddies, giving it an effortlessly romantic feel. Accommodations are in a cluster of tile-roofed stone houses, designed to evoke an authentic North Vietnamese village. The on-site restaurant is reasonably priced and offers a selection of Vietnamese big-hitters alongside a prudently chosen smattering of Western dishes.

It is all about the welcome at this smart, family-owned hotel, overseen by manager David, who studied in Canada—hence the hotel's name. Ask him for recommendations for tours and excursions from Ninh Binh. Indeed, David is a fountain of knowledge about the Ninh Binh area and Vietnam in general. Rooms are spotlessly clean and feature flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms. The hotel is centrally located but is tucked away up a little side street so a degree of detective work is needed to track it down.

With 10 rooms situated around a lovely and peaceful courtyard, and just 100 meters away from the beach, you will be hard-pressed to find a better place to rest on the island. Friendly owners collect guests from the ferry port, and barbecues can be arranged on the beach.

With a prime location on the seafront and many rooms with ocean-facing balconies, this is one of the better options in Cat Ba Town. While visiting guests may choose to eschew the in-house karaoke, there's much to recommend the hotel otherwise. Indeed, with its sweeping staircase extending upward from the lobby, it has a certain air of grandeur that other lodging options lack. Rooms are comfortable and clean and come equipped with decent mod cons, such as minibar and TV, and the hotel's café is a nice place to enjoy a Vietnamese coffee while admiring the outlook.

A glass-fronted entryway looks out onto the bay from the spacious front lobby at this modern luxury hotel close to the ferry landing. Most of the rooms also have views of the bay, although some face the more industrial rear side. All are comfortable and clean, with wood-trimmed beige walls and floral linens. Bathrooms in deluxe rooms have a sunken bath and glorious views of the ocean and the spectacular Bai Chay Bridge—surely the most opulent bathing in town. The hotel has a decent range of dining and drinking options, including the main Four Seasons restaurant, which offers buffet and à la carte dining, and a French bakery where loaves of bread and decadent desserts are served.

These small but quite nice bungalows lie at the foot of the mountain that houses the Hang Mua or Mua Cave. This guarantees that the area is always quite full of tourists and the hotel accommodates this with tons of selfie-worthy knickknacks. The bungalows have porches as well as outdoor and indoor showers. The restaurants on-site are also reasonably priced and filling.

The bungalows at Mac Lake are possibly the nicest in the park with good facilities including hot water and en suite bathrooms complementing the idyllic surroundings. Serene Mac Lake is one of the prettiest areas of the national park and the accommodations are certainly atmospheric. Adding to the general conviviality of the location is a lively common area. Traditional music is often performed here, and regular bonfires also make for lively gatherings. Dormitory accommodations in a large stilt house are also available for groups. To save energy there's no hot water in the stilt house, so cold showers are the order of the day.

Many of the rooms at this elegant resort overlook beautiful rice paddies and rock formations, and the service is excellent. Dark oak and green tiles are the signature design touches, and the staff speaks perfect English along with providing detailed information and professional service. The hotel’s spa is quite luxurious. There is a top-notch restaurant and outdoor bar area, and Tam Coc is just a little way down the road.

Two stand-alone bungalows, beside a large, algae-green pool, feel far from civilization but are equipped with en suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, and hot water. More basic accommodations are available in a sizeable stilt house, where a single bed costs 130,000d and a twin room is 200,000d. The accommodations in the common area are mixed and there are 10 beds. Electricity is limited to the evenings in Bong, and the stilt house bathrooms are shared. Reservations, which can be made through travel agencies in Hanoi or directly via the park headquarters, are recommended for either location.

Tour operators usually guide people to the facilities at Park Headquarters, which now has a wide range of rooms, from those within detached bungalows and basic accommodations in a large stilt house to deluxe rooms with amenities such as television, air-conditioning, and hot water. Numerous price ranges start at just 400,000d, going up to 1,000,000d per night for the best rooms. Call the park headquarters or visit the park website for information and reservations.

Located close to the city center, Sheraton Hai Phong does everything that is required from a big-brand luxury hotel, and then some. Gracious service, an indoor pool, a spa, and some of the classiest dining options in the city are among the perks at the property. Rooms are spotless and large, while generous-size bathrooms add luster to a highly appealing mainstream option.

These bungalows offer amazing views, indoor and outdoor bathrooms, live traditional music on Saturday, and an outdoor pool and barbecue garden. This is an excellent choice for couples or groups traveling together. If you have the chance, take a farming tour to better understand the culture and customs in Ninh Binh.

In the small village of Viet Hai on the eastern side of the island, these simple concrete-and-thatch bungalows are the very definition of a getaway, and the surrounding landscape of rice fields and the nearby seascape of Lan Ha Bay are as enticing as they come. While Cat Ba Town throngs with tourists and throbs with the often-strangulated noise of karaoke, here the peaceful rhythms of island life come to the fore. The accommodations, arrayed around a stream on the edge of the forest, are nothing fancy, but rooms are comfortable and clean. Getting here involves a boat ride from Ben Beo pier near Cat Ba Town to Viet Hai, followed by a bicycle ride. 

Not for everyone, this bohemian hangout away from the main strip provides great access to the beach and treats guests like family. Run by an ever-changing group of young locals and foreigners, the beach camp has tents, large group rooms, hammocks, and a welcoming nightly family dinner. The restaurant serves Western and Vietnamese favorites and fabulous views of a mostly tranquil bay.

This ocean-facing hotel has all the amenities you’d expect and more, including a kids' pool to compliment the kids' club and a fitness center overlooking Halong Bay. The lobby is stunning, most rooms have bathtubs and balconies, and the location is prime. The design is well thought-out; this hotel is distinguishing itself quickly.