Vietnam off the beaten track

,Gondola Hotel This boutique 3* hotel is located in the heart of the Old Quarter, very close to the charming Hoan Kiem Lake. Upon arrival you will be greeted with fresh fruit and shown to your room. The rooms are welcoming, spacious and attractive, with comfortable amenities such as free wi-fi, air conditioning, flat screen TVs, desks, fresh bottled water, tea/coffee and elegant en-suite bathrooms. All rooms have windows with fantastic city or lake views. Soothing massages are available after a day of activity. Take a wander up to the rooftop bar and admire the panoramic views of Hoan Kiem Lake. Nghia Lo Hotel The Nghia Lo is the best hotel in the area, offering clean, spacious rooms with balconies. Bamboo Hotel Situated in the town centre of Sapa, 1,650m above sea level, this 3* boutique hotel has beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. The restaurant offers a delicious breakfast to enjoy before any trekking activities, The comfortable rooms have large beds, air conditioning, wi-fi access and TVs. Sao Mai Hotel This hotel offers a great location overlooking the famous Bac Ha market grounds. The rooms are clean and colourful with a good, if basic, range of facilities Lam Tung Hotel When it comes to rural Vietnam, the more remote the area, the more basic the hotel. Nevertheless, the Lam Tung Hotel is set in a convenient location in Dong Van, with lovely clean rooms and friendly staff. Thuy Duong Hotel One of the only hotels in this remote area, the Thuy Duong is small and slightly old-fashioned, but with clean rooms and helpful staff. Oriental Sails Enjoy Halong Bay from the sun deck of your floating hotel, as you stay overnight on a traditional- but newly renovated- Halong cruiser. The luxurious cabins are spacious and comfortable, laid out in attractive Vietnamese-style with large windows to enjoy the spectacular scenery. They are fitted to international standards, featuring a rich wooden décor. Each is equipped with individually controlled air-conditioning, a wardrobe, shower, complimentary bottled water, toilet slippers, toiletries and a fire extinguisher. The tour offers a varied program, accompanied by delicious food and helpful, friendly staff. The Oriental Sails’ restaurant offers freshly caught delicious local seafood and other specialties.