22 Best Hotels in The Northwest, Vietnam

One of the highest rated hotels in Sapa, the Aliana Boutique delivers fantastic service and well-designed rooms. Their fitness center is top-notch and guests are treated like royalty. Breakfast is catered to all and no detail has been overlooked.

The premier hotel in Sapa, the luxurious, French-designed BB Sapa Resort & Spa (formerly named Victoria) sits on a hilltop overlooking the town and caters to the fancy of its guests with heaps of amenities. The spacious, clean, and tastefully decorated rooms include a sofa, writing desk, inviting bathtub, and private terrace, and there's a two-room suite with a balcony. If all of that isn't enough, the hotel also sells a tour package that includes travel from Hanoi. 

This is arguably the most relaxing retreat in the valley—surrounded by green hills and rice paddies, the property is both luxurious and sympathetic to its environment. Built entirely from natural materials, the buildings have thatched roofs, bamboo interiors, and wooden furniture. The private bungalows are built in traditional Thai stilt-house style and have outdoor jungle showers, emphasizing the "back-to-nature" ethos. The restaurant serves some alluring Vietnamese dishes as well as a smattering of White Thai specialties.

While some of the lodging options in Dien Bien Phu have seen better days, this hotel is spotless and relatively new. The pride shown by Ruby Hotel owner Mr. Bang in his property is reflected in its all-round excellence. Rooms are spacious and well-equipped, including a fridge and television. There's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, views from the upper floors are magnificent, and Mr. Bang and his family do their best to make guests feel totally welcome.

The only five-star luxury resort in Sapa, this modern-day castle is close to perfection. Laid out like a small town, the Silk Path boasts two restaurants, a heated indoor pool, duplexes, and bungalows alongside standard rooms, and caters to the luxury traveler. The grandest hotel in Sapa by far, Silk Path impresses with sincere design touches.

If Sapa town is too busy for your liking, this luxe Scandinavian-style resort within Hoang Lien National Park has private bungalows arranged around the summit of a small hill, guaranteeing absolute seclusion and some fabulous panoramic views. The private one-bedroom lodges are not exactly the last word in luxury, and the beautiful balconies would benefit from some comfortable seating, but the prime location is the only one of its kind. A range of treks can be arranged at reception for a price higher than in town. The resort's infinity pools and spa are also quite popular with guests.

Like many of Sapa's hotels, the Bamboo Sapa enjoys a stunning location with towering views of the surrounding mountains and the valley below, and to maximize this epic outlook most rooms have private balconies. The stars of the show are the high-category rooms—the Deluxe Mountain View rooms come with wood floors and king-size beds, and the Fansipan Suite benefits from an additional seating area with writing desk, perfect for penning soliloquies to the surrounding splendor.

With spacious and comfortable rooms, this centrally located hotel is right next to the main town square and offers a lot of value. The downstairs restaurant and bar are great additions.

The stately French villas of Sapa have nothing on this distinctive—and decidedly incongruous—crenellated mock-château containing one of the town's better hotels. The pretensions of grandeur don't end with the exterior. Inside there are sweeping staircases and verandas along with rich, dark woodwork. These details are bolstered by stunning views of the surrounding hills. Cream-color bed linens and open fireplaces make the deluxe rooms a cozy retreat after a cold day in Sapa. The hotel has a decent in-house restaurant, which serves above-average Vietnamese dishes in a rather austere space.

With its modern design, the Hanoi Hotel is one of the better lodging options in Son La, and most of the rooms have balconies that offer decent views over the small town and out toward the surrounding rice fields and mountains. Service is on the erratic side at times, but staff is eager to please and can offer information on nearby sights. Breakfast is not exactly tourist-friendly, so buy some bread or snacks on the way in.

While its blocky, utilitarian building design is unlikely to impress, this relatively new hotel that opened in 2020 does offer no-frill quality lodging on a budget. The rooms are clean, spacious, and adequately furnished. There are no rooms smaller than 30 square meters. Aside from standard room options, there are also group rooms with three double beds for groups of friends or families traveling on a budget. The hotel Wi-fi is free, but not always reliable. The swimming pool is clean and large but unheated. 

On the main road leading through the valley, this is the most luxurious lodging option in Mai Chau, with the best restaurant in the area, which specializes in Vietnamese cuisine and has a pleasant, shady dining area. The main building's rather hulking structure won't be to the taste of everyone, but the interior is far more elegant. Rooms are tastefully decorated with traditional art and come with polished wooden floors and high ceilings. Facilities include a nice pool, and the lodge can organize trekking and biking trips.

Located directly across the fields from the Ecolodge, these beautiful bungalows look out over rice paddies and mountains. The service is very warm and friendly and free bicycles are on offer without extra charge. Beds are also extra comfy, and family rooms are nicely laid out.

If you are looking for something smart and comfortable in Mai Chau but don't want to splurge, then this cozy boutique option is ideal. There are only eight rooms in the hotel, creating a welcoming and intimate environment. All the rooms have French windows that open out onto balconies overlooking lush paddy fields. An open-air restaurant serves refined takes on White Thai cuisine. Owner Duong was born and raised in Mai Chau and also works as a guide.

This snazzy hotel complex has cornered the (admittedly limited) business market in Dien Bien Phu due to its clean rooms and immaculate service. The grounds include a tourist office, gym, karaoke, sauna, and even a large pool out back. Breakfast is included in the room rate and there's a decent Vietnamese restaurant as well as a barbecue terrace. Promotional rates can go as low as 800,000d.

Within Son La, Muong Thanh Luxury arguably has no competition for sheer quality. The hotel is under the franchise Muong Thanh, a local Vietnamese hotelier powerhouse. Their quality is easily four stars international standard and, more often than not, at very agreeable rates. Their deluxe rooms typically go for $50 per night, but can go as low as $35 during seasonal promotion. 

The most modern hotel in Bac Ha makes a comfortable base in the center of town. The rooms are clean and spacious, and there's a triple room category that's great for families. The downstairs restaurant is a good place to meet fellow travelers and to dine on some highly ranked Vietnamese fare.

Stepping into Pao's, you may feel that you've found an otherworldly art gallery: the large structure is meant to resemble rice terraces, and the swooping architectural design is inspired. Each room comes with a private balcony and garden, and the window seats are a nice touch. Its spa and heated pool are still being perfected, but the views are stunning.

This is arguably the grandest place to stay in Bac Ha, with rooms that are more than adequate and clean. The hotel has three sections—an older concrete building and two wooden houses that are newer and more aesthetically pleasing. However, rooms on the higher level of the original wing enjoy pleasant views of the surrounding landscape. The cozy restaurant has outdoor seating, and a cheap massage is also available at the hotel.

These bungalows are quiet and peaceful, and the outdoor pool is great for traveling families. The on-site restaurant is nice, as well as the balcony views of rice paddies and natural beauty. Ask for an extra blanket in winter, as the rooms can get quite chilly.