Ngan Nga Bac Ha Hotel

We came to Bac with the night train from Hanoï to Lao Cai (arriving Sunday early morning. Taking a bus from the train station to Bac Ha was very easy and we arrived in time to enjoy the Sunday market. Mr Dong was an amazing host, arranged an early check in and gave us a lot of information about what to do in Bac Ha and around. He booked us a full day hike followed by another half day hike in the mountains, rice paddies and Hmong villages around Bac Ha with a guide! Tau was an amazing guide. She showed us the countryside, explained to us everything we asked about the place, the culture, plants, and even cooked us a fantastic lunch! We had a great experience we will not forget! The hotel was also good, with spacious rooms, comfortable beds, good water pressure. Mr Dong arranged for us a bus to go back to Lao Cai to take the train back to Hanoï. As mentioned by other guests, there is no elevator, so let Mr Dong know if this is a problem so you might get a room on the first floor.

Simple, but pleasant room. All basics there. Have to run the water a long time for the hot water to come, but it was there. Mattress was not the most comfortable. Our room was on the 5th floor, and even though I usually prefer to take the steps, the uneven steps up and down, were a challenge. The owner, Mr. Dong, was very hospitable, knowledgeable and helpful. He had been a guide before, so he was able to let us know details about the markets, arrange for rides for us, and guide us for walks around the area. He was kind enough to treat us to a free breakfast, and to send us some flowers and fruit to our room. The restaurant at the hotel is convenient and the food is good. As is the custom in all restaurants there, the door is left open, even in 40's degree weather!! They were kind enough to occasionally close it.

We used the services of Mr Dong, the hotel manager, to arrange a 2-day, one night track in the surrounding countryside. He did a wonderful job helping us arrange transportation to Bac Ha and our guide was delightful. This is a great alternative to the highly touristed trekking routes around Sapa. We would recommend his services highly!

Only for 1 day here in Bac Ha. From Hanoi a few hours drive. We arrive in this hotel in this village. Better than expected. The owner was very friendly. We could choose which room we liked most. We choose the one on the streetside, but we didn't mind the sounds. In this village it was quiet early. The room was very big, the beds were great and the shower was nice and hot. The breakfast the next day was very nice, prepared with love. Again the fruits were very tasty. Too bad it was only for 1 night.

We stayed here four nights, and this was our favourite hotel in a whole month in Vietnam. We had a double room on the 5th floor, exquisitely clean with great shower and bathroom, excellent air-con, WiFi and a terrific balcony looking over the main street, great for drying clothes! The hotel is perfectly located for the town market - be there on Sunday morning especially! (When we were there, there was quality entertainment in the town square the evening before). The hotel is also only a 1-minute walk to the minibuses for Lao Cai (and on to Hanoi). The staff are as friendly as always in our experience in Vietnam, but special mention must go to the manager, Mr Don, who is a treasure trove of advice and information about the local area, transport and everything, who always seems to make time for you no matter how busy! He even ran to the bus to wish us goodbye as we'd missed him when we left. Now, the food! There is a wide range of freshly-cooked breakfasts on offer (for us, banana and honey pancakes every day!) included in the price, and we also recommend eating there in the evenings - the food is so good they even send tour groups for dinner here from the more expensive hotels. The dining room (and outside) is also a great place to relax and drink beer during the day, but there is so much to do in the surrounding areas, even apart from the markets, and Mr Don will provide advice on several villages within walking distance - we went to one with a large plant nursery, butterfly heaven! Bac Ha is also a wonderful town in a wonderfully scenic area, and should be on everyone's itinerary in Vietnam. Thank you, Ngan Nga, for wonderful memories.