Hotel Tips
The "Window" Check:
When booking, check the room details. If it says ‘Internal Window’ or just ‘Window’ but does not say anything like a city view, then most probably you are facing a wall. Spend an extra$ 5-$10 on a Grand Deluxe or City View room to get some natural light and see what’s going on in the street below.
Le Duan is a broad and bustling avenue. Motorbikes are perpetually zipping along its length. Crossing can be daunting but the trick is to move slowly and steadily. Do not run, do not step back, keep walking forward, give them time to calculate your trajectory-the motorbike drivers will flow around you like water.
Currency Exchange:
Do not exchange money at the hotel if you want the best rate. Walk to the Han Market area. The gold/jewelry shops (Tiệm Và ng) directly opposite the market entrance offer the best exchange rates for USD to VND in the city.
If you are tired after a flight and do not want to go out, just download the Grab app (in case it is not installed yet). You can order food from hundreds of local restaurants right up to the hotel lobby. The receptionists are used to this; most will simply call your room when the driver arrives.
In case your flight is on a Sunday evening, be informed that traffic becomes heavy around the Dragon Bridge due to the fire show. Add another 15 minutes extra to your time getting to the airport, however close it may be.