Where to Stay in Phong Nha: Best Views & No Fake Reviews
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Before arriving in Vietnam, I had never heard of Phong Nha. But after spending nearly a week there, it was quickly near the top of my favourite places in Vietnam list.
The nature in this region is hard to beat. There are endless jungle-covered, limestone mountains, full of caves that are super easy to explore by motorbike. It is the perfect place to escape the noise and chaos you usually experience in Vietnam.
But our stay in Phong Nha was not all smooth sailing. We had to change our accommodation after two days because of the loud construction and light pollution in our room.
After re-reading the reviews, we realised a lot of the reviews for the property were obviously fake scam reviews.
Our second accommodation was much better. But after exploring the area for a week on our scooter, I realised there were lots of amazing places to stay that we had missed during our research.
Depending on what type of traveller you are, you will definitely want to stay in different areas.
So keep reading, and I will let you know where to stay in Phong Nha so that you can have a great trip and avoid the scams.
Phong Nha Neighbourhood Map: Where Is The Best Area To Stay?
Despite being a popular tourist attraction in Vietnam, Phong Nha is still quite a small country town in many ways.
In my view, you essentially have a choice between staying close to town. Which are the green and red circled areas Or staying more in the countryside, which is mostly where the blue circle is.
The main road with all the shops is located in the green circle. Not in the red circle where it says Phong Nha on Google Maps
Red Circle: Phong Nha Town (Son Trach) – Best for convenience, tour departures, restaurants and cafes.
Green Circle: Riverside & Central Hub – Close enough to town but with more beautiful views over the river to the surrounding mountains.
Blue Circle: Bong Lai Valley & Countryside – Best for farmstay experiences and visiting attractions like The Duck Stop.
How To Get Around Phong Nha
If you decide to stay in an accommodation in the countryside or outside of town. The best way to get around is by scooter.
I would recommend asking your accommodation where to hire a bike as it will make life so much easier. I think there may be some grab drivers around, but I would not want to rely on them for your transport.
Quick Picks: The Best Accommodation In Phong Nha
If you want a quick overview of my top accommodation picks in Phong Nha, check out the table below
| Where To Stay | Approx Price | When We Recommend It | |
| Best High End | Karst Villas (Countryside) | $40 per night | Beautiful modern rooms, great pool with rice field views |
| Best Budget Choice | Vus Homestay (Town) | $8 per night | Massive private rooms, central location, and a tree in your shower! |
| Best Middle Ground | Son Doong Riverside | $15 per night | Stunning mountain views over the river but still a short walk into town |
Warning ⚠️ We had a couple of bad experiences with terrible accommodation in Vietnam. One was in Phong Nha. We stayed at a place called Cherish Guesthouse, and it had outstanding reviews. But when we arrived, there was a construction site 20 cm from our window. Bright lights shone through the windows all night, and we decided to leave. We later saw there were plenty of bad reviews, but it looked like they had made up tons of good reviews. The property has now created a brand new profile on booking.com, so obviously not honest people. Unfortunately, fake reviews are super common in Vietnam so be very careful when booking accommodation.
Best Places To Stay In Phong Nha Town
Phong Nha town is definitely not my favourite town in Vietnam. I like Phong Nha because of all the beautiful nature that surrounds the town.
But Phong Nha town is just one of those places that have popped up to service tourists. So it does not really feel like it has a “soul’.
However, it is the one place where you have a choice of restaurants and cafes to visit. Plus, it is where the tours and buses leave from.
So if you value convenience, then you will want to stay right in the middle of town.
Vus Homestay: Best Budget Option In Town
Vus Homestay is located just off the main road in Phong Nha. But it does not feel that way.
The rooms are located around a courtyard with a pool, with pot plants and greenery creating a nice, relaxed atmosphere.
What I liked most about Vus Homestay was that the rooms are huge, considering the price.
We only paid about 8 USD per night and had a huge bed with a large private bathroom and our own little balcony.
You even get your own tree in the shower! Which was funny and weird at the same time.
The only potential negative of Vus Homestay is that, because it is in town, there is the potential of noise from bars and other houses.
Vietnamese love karaoke! And you never know where or when they will start singing at full volume.
Overall, we thought Vus Homestay was great value for money. The owner is super friendly, and the rooms are huge and located right in the middle of town.
Phong Nha Green Homestay
If our budget had been a little higher, I definitely would have considered staying at Phong Nha Green Homestay.
It is one of the best homestays in Phong Nha and has large, beautiful rooms for around 30 USD per night.
Breakfast is included, and the host family that runs the place is supposed to be super friendly.
One of the best features of this property is that there are great views, and you are right on the main road of town.
Central Backpackers Hostel Phong Nha
If you are looking for a great Phong Nha backpackers hostel, then the best spot is the Central Backpackers Hostel.
A dorm bed here costs about 7 USD per night, and that includes breakfast!
The rooms are all comfortable and modern, and there are regular events organised so you can meet other travellers.
RiverSide Accommodation: The Middle Ground
Staying at the end of town by the river is a great option because you can still walk into town. But there is less traffic, and you have clearer views of the river and mountains to greet you every morning.
Son Doong Riverside
Son Doong Riverside is an awesome budget hotel with great views across the river to the beautiful limestone mountains.
It is an awesome option because you are right by the river and many rooms have amazing views. But you are still only a 15-minute walk from town.
Double rooms start from around 15 USD per night, and the owners are supposed to be super friendly.
Phong Nha Mountain House
If you want a comfortable, beautiful hotel on the river, then head to Phong Nha Mountain House.
For around 25 USD per night, you will have your own wooden villa with a large bathroom and beautiful mountain views.
The property location is a bit further from town, but the advantage is that you will be in a quieter, more secluded location.
CountrySide Options: Rice Fields And Peace
On the way into Phong Nha, the countryside is covered in ricefields, and there are also many hotels and guesthouses located amongst the fields.
I really liked driving through this area on our scooter, and I think that if I returned, it would be where I would stay.
There is a much more local feel around this part, and you do not feel like you are in a touristy town.
Phong Nha Rice Fields Homestay
Before originally coming to Phong Nha we had planned to stay at Phong Nha Rice Fields Homestay.
We saw it on a travel video on youtube and it looked perfect. A local family runs the place and it is located right next to beautiful rice fields outside of town.
Ultimately, we decided to stay closer to town so we were closer to places to eat. But in retrospect, I wish we had stayed here.
It looks like the perfect place if you are looking for a local experience on a budget.
Karst Villas
If you want to a beautiful modern room with stunning countryside views, head to Karst Villas.
This property is surrounded by ricefields and has amazing views of mountains in the distance.
Plus, the villas are very modern with great views and large bathrooms. A very good breakfast is included.
It is a more expensive option at about 40 USD per night, but you will have a high-quality stay for that money.
Phong Nha Farmstay
If you do not mind being quite a long way out of town Phong Nha Farmstay is a great option.
The property is beautifully decorated with beautiful views over ricefields. There are two pools on site and a great restaurant that serves a very good breakfast.
At Phong Nha farm stay, you will be close to attractions such as the duck farm. But the downside is you will need to drive about 15 minutes to get into town.
I Hope This Helps You Decide Where To Stay In Phong Nha
We didn’t have the best luck when deciding where to stay in Phong Nha. So I hope that this list helps you to avoid some of the dodgy properties and find your perfect place.
If you are looking for things to do in Phong Nha, make sure to read our article.
If you are heading north from Phong Nha, make sure to check out our articles on Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Hanoi. They are all awesome places to visit and must-visit if you are heading north.
But if you want to head south then I recommend that you go to Hoi An. We spent 2 months in Hoi An and loved it. We have articles about the best cafes, best pho, best things to do, best banh mi and more.
