13 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.