Since 1997, Vietnam has seen a veritable explosion of hotel construction. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as popular tourist towns such as Hoi An, you'll find both five-star hotels and a good range of four-star and business hotels, often run in joint-venture arrangements with international groups. In Ho Chi Minh City, the classic place to stay is the Continental, where Graham Greene wrote
The Quiet American. Most of the major hotels now include spas, beauty treatments and gyms.
Guesthouses and mini-hotels are to be found in all but the smallest towns. For a very low price, you will have a clean, comfortable room with daily housekeeping service, air-conditioning and hot-water shower. Most guesthouse prices include breakfast, and in the south there is frequently a small swimming pool in a courtyard or private garden. Ask to see the room you will be staying in before signing the registration form. As a rule, you will be asked to leave your passport at the desk—don't forget to retrieve it at checkout time.
