Vien Dong Hotel

Okeiii

It is near Chinatown so it would be a great location for anyone interested in the old Chinese culture from the South of China especially Cantonese culture and food from Hong Kong and the South of China. It is about 10 minutes drive from the centre of the city. The people working at this hotel are very friendly and helpful. I would recommend it to Asian travellers and people interested in Chinese cultures who want to stay a little away from the touristic areas of Ho Chi Minh city.

I lived here for more than a year. I could've gotten a condo rental, and I could've afforded a fancier hotel, but Viendong was a perfect home. Perfectly clean. Owners and staff are always cleaning the place. Owners live there, so if you have any problems, just go downstairs and knock on the door. The older generation doesn't speak English, but their (adult) children speak fluent English. I once had a plumbing problem at 2 AM and they came up right away and fixed it, even though I told them it could wait until morning. Totally secure place. Guests are almost exclusively the owners' relatives and long-term Vietkieu guests. No random people coming in and out, no tour groups. Room is small but comfortable. They even offered to buy a new mattress for my bed (but I said it was fine). Neighborhood is lovely. Lots of small street sellers, restaurants, and coffee shops. Minimal English (helps to know Vietnamese or Cantonese), but you can get by without English just fine. Grab Car is about 70K VND to Nguyen Hue Q1, or there's a bus stop nearby (Nguyen Trai street, Bus Route 1) that will take you to Ben Thanh for 9K VND. Good internet, good water pressure. Negatives: 1) The room is too small to have a home office and a big desk, which is why I ultimately left this hotel. Not a concern for most travelers, but it was for me. 2) They close the metal door midnight until 6AM, so you have to wake them up if you want to enter or exit late at night. They do it with a smile and don't complain, but it still feels awkward to be waking them up. 3) Sometimes there is something loud going on in the neighborhood, like a building renovation project, and you can hear it all day and night. Not the hotel's fault, but still can be annoying. Overall? Amazing place, amazing bargain. Great even if you're in town for just a couple of days, but I found it especially good for a long-term, home-like stay.