A review of the overnight sleeper train service from Hanoi (Vietnam) to Nanning (China).

The Hanoi to Nanning train is the only international service from Vietnam, and one of the few international train services in Southeast Asia.

There is also a Hanoi to Beijing train that is a continuation of the Nanning service. For this article I am reviewing the Hanoi to Nanning section, which includes details on the border crossing.

Buy tickets for the Hanoi-Nanning train

Tickets can be bought online at the official site (dsvn.vn) and at Baolau (Nomadic Notes is an affiliate of Baolau).

If you are booking on the dsvn.vn website, look for Gia Lam (for Hanoi) and Nam Ninh (for Nanning). Baolau also allows you to book the onward service to Beijing.

Usually when you buy tickets online in Vietnam, you will get a PDF copy of the ticket sent to you by email. For the train to Nanning, you need to collect the ticket at the station. The ticket office will check your passport and make sure you have a visa (if required). China has expanded visa-free travel for more countries, so if you are eligible you no longer need to apply for a visa.

The tickets are in Vietnamese, Chinese, and Russian. This is a real relic of the past to have a ticket with no English on it.

The ticket is also old-school with the stapled booklet of multi-page carbon paper tickets.

Gia Lam (Ha Noi)

The train departs from Gia Lam Station and not Ha Noi Station. The easiest way to get there is by Grab taxi, and allow about 30 minutes to get there from the old city.

Gia Lam Station is an unassuming station in a small street. There aren’t many food options in this area, so have dinner before you arrive and stock up on snacks.

It’s a small waiting room with no cafe, so it’s not the best station to hang out at.

Passengers are allowed on 40 minutes before departure, so I was glad to be there early to claim my bed.

Note the dual gauge railway track. Vietnam Railways operates on the metre gauge, while this train from China is on the standard gauge (1435 mm).

The obligatory photo in front of the destination plate.

Onboard

Vietnam railway stations are not accessible if you have mobility issues, and it’s a steep step to get into the carriage at Gia Lam.

The ticket inspector takes your ticket and puts it in a little folder, and swaps it for a boarding card. You get your ticket back before arriving in Nanning (just in case you wanted to keep the ticket).

The train is all sleeper cabins, so there are no seats if you were looking for a cheaper option.

The tickets are Soft Sleeper 4-Berth, and there is no price difference for upper or lower. I requested a Lower Berth when booking on Baolau.

I was surprised to see that you get two pillows and a duvet (unlike the one pillow and blanket combination that you get on Vietnam Railways).

There are power outlets under the communal table, so this is a slight advantage for the lower berth passengers.

The mattress was comfortable, and I was able to fit in the bed without touching the wall. I’m 185 cm (6’1″) and I don’t fit in some Thailand sleeper trains.

There is also enough room to sit up on the upper and lower beds. The beds are permanent (like Vietnam and unlike Thailand where they are folded away in the day time).

There is no food service on this train, so come prepared. I had dinner in Hanoi and brought some snacks. I was sharing the cabin with a young Chinese couple, and they asked if it was ok if they eat noodles in the room. They also bought me a packet of chips, so it was nice to be travelling with these polite youngsters.

Pot noodles are the national travel food in China, and you will always find hot water at airports, train stations, and on trains.

The toilet was clean and spacious.

And there is also a separate wash area.

Vietnam to China border crossing

I would have slept well on this train if it wasn’t for the fact that it is interrupted by a long border-crossing procedure in the middle of the night. I saw the timetable at Gia Lam, and I couldn’t work out why there were such long gaps at the border crossing.

The train departs Gia Lam at 21.20 and arrives at Dong Dang at 00.55 (3h 35m).

At Dong Dang Station, you get off the train with all of your luggage and go through Vietnam immigration.

I estimate there were about 100 passengers on the train, and everyone was processed within an hour. Perhaps they have scheduled a 1h 55m stop in case the train is full and there are processing delays.

The train leaves Dong Dang at 2.50 and arrives at Pingxiang (Bang Tuong in Vietnamese) in China at 4.31. China is 1 hour ahead, so that is a 41 minute trip.

At Pingxiang Station, you get off the train again with all of your luggage and go through Chinese immigration. Visa-free travel for Australians made this trip much easier, but no one mentioned that there is an online arrival form to fill out (it would have been handy if this was mentioned in Hanoi). I activated my esim but it took a while to activate. An immigration officer told a foreigner standing next to me to share his internet with me (thanks random traveller!)

Here is the online arrival card.

Most of the passengers were single men (Vietnamese and Chinese workers), so the random handful of westerners were interviewed while waiting to go through immigration. The interviewers had translation devices and asked the usual questions (where are you going? how long are you staying?)

The train leaves Pingxiang at 6.05 (a 1h 34m stop), so overall it took 4 hours and 10 minutes to cross the border.

By the time the train leaves Pingxiang it is sunrise and there is 4h 1m left on the journey.

Pingxiang to Nanning

The Pingxiang to Nanning section is the only daylight section of the trip, so I wanted to see some scenery. The train goes through the region of Guangxi (officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), and it is a scenic trip through limestone mountains (similar to Ninh Binh and Ha Long in Northern Vietnam).

Every square metre of flat land is given over to agriculture.

I think I nodded off for 30 minutes, but by now the train was getting close to Nanning.

The train passed a high-speed train on the way into Nanning. Most of China is connected by high-speed rail by now, so it was good to be on one of these slower green trains.

I was talking to a businessman from northern China while waiting for the train at Gia Lam. He was happy to practice his English on someone, and I was happy to get an insight on why someone would get this slow sleeper train. He was setting up a tech business in Hanoi and prefers to travel by train, even though it took him over a day to get there.

I did hardly any research about Nanning before I arrived, apart from saving Nanning Station and my hotel in my AMap app. Nanning has a population of over 5 million people, so I was looking forward for some urban exploration. I will have a separate report on my trip to Nanning.

Nanning Railway Station

The train from Hanoi arrives at Nanning Railway Station. This is the old main station in the middle of the city, and there are plenty of hotels nearby. The main high-speed station is at Nanning East (Nanning Dong Railway Station).

Unlike Gia Lam, the platform is level with the train door, so it is possible to place a ramp on the train door.

While the train was waiting at Pingxiang, some more carriages were added to the train.

These are “Hard Seat” carriages, which are padded bench seats that don’t recline. It’s a shame there isn’t a day train from Nanning to Hanoi with this seating option, as that would be a cheap way to travel to China.

At Nanning I got a glimpse of the connecting train that continues to Beijing.

I wanted to visit Nanning so I had no plan to continue to Beijing, but I am now curious about getting the Hanoi-Nanning-Beijing service another time.

After a few days in Nanning, I continued to Hong Kong on the direct Nanning-Hong Kong service. A foreign couple I met on the train were going straight through to Hong Kong. It’s a tight schedule but it can be done, so I will post another article about how to go from Hanoi to Hong Kong by train.

The future of the Hanoi to Nanning train service

One of the reasons I got this train (apart from it being a cool travel experience) was that I wanted to experience it in its current form before it is eventually upgraded. It will be years before that happens, but plans are already in motion. Vietnam has invited China to help build three railways to connect the two countries. Two of the railways will be upgrades of old lines (Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong and Hanoi-Dong Dang) and there will be a new line from Haiphong to Mong Cai.

China have already built standard-gauge railways to meet these three railways at the border. In addition to the slow train that goes from Nanning to Pingxiang, there is a high-speed railway that operates in the same corridor on another line.

I checked for tickets between Pingxiang and Nanning, and the options include the slow train and high-speed railway.

The high-speed service is 1h 10m while the sleeper train is 4h 1m. The distance from Pingxiang to Gia Lam is 176 km, so that trip could be feasibly done in an hour.

[Train distance table at Gia Lam Station.]

If the new train line is built so that the immigration facilities for both countries are in one station, then the border stoppage time could be reduced to one hour. That would then make it a 3-hour trip from Hanoi to Nanning. Until that happens, enjoy the sleepover to China.

Read more railways of Vietnam and train travel stories from around the world. Also follow my other site dedicated to rail travel in Vietnam.

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The oddly modern Vinh Station, the old apartments from the German Democratic Republic, remnants of the Nghe An Ancient Citadel, Vinh Market and the famous foam coffee, Ho Chi Minh, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, and future Vinh on the high-speed railway.

Vinh is the capital city of Nghe An province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. It’s about halfway between Ninh Binh and Phong Nha, and not many visitors stop in between. That alone was enough reason for me to visit.

Vinh is on the North-South Railway, so I booked a train trip from Da Nang to Hanoi, stopping at some less-visited places along the way.

I arrived on a cloudy day after spending a day on the train from Dong Ha. The train was outrunning a tropical storm that hit the central coast area (around Hue and Da Nang), so I was glad to arrive to see that it wasn’t raining.

I mention the weather to forewarn that most of the photos in this article are grey and dull. I had planned to visit the beach of Vinh to see what a resort beach looks like in the North Central Coast region, but I have been to enough beaches on grey days to know that I would be disappointed.

These are the notes of my visit to Vinh in October 2025.

Vinh Train Station

Vinh Station is an unusual design compared to other stations in Vietnam. It has that “built after the war” vibe that can be found in Eastern Europe.

There is a photo of the old station in the waiting room, which hints at what Vinh used to look like before the war.

The grey weather added to the ambience of my initial perception of Vinh. I walked out of the station and was greeted with a wide and straight road.

The wide streets and greyness of it all made me feel like I was in a former Eastern Bloc country, and this was another reason why I was curious to visit Vinh.

The DDR Apartments of Vinh

Vinh is known for the apartment blocks that were built with assistance from the German Democratic Republic in the 1970s.

The apartments are on the main street in the middle of the city, and they are gradually disappearing as modern buildings replace them in these prime locations.

I wrote an article about the apartments at Future Southeast Asia: The last days of the DDR Apartments of Vinh.

Remnants of the Nghe An Ancient Citadel

What would have been the tourism highlight of the city was destroyed during the wars. Vinh had an ancient citadel, and its star-shaped footprint can still be seen on the map.

[Map of old citadel of Vinh.]

There are three gates that are somewhat intact.

[Left Gate of Nghe An Citadel.]

The moat is also intact, though it loses its visual impact without a wall to go with it. The citadel is a residential area with houses along the moat.

This article has an aerial photo of the moat and some old photos.

Vinh Market and the famous foam coffee

As I have mentioned many times before, when you are in an unfamiliar city in Vietnam and don’t know what to do, head for the central market.

The Vinh central market is architecturally nothing to write home about, but little did I know that one of the most intriguing cafes in Vietnam is hidden in the bowels of this building.

I got a message from an English teacher from England who lives in Vinh. He saw my update on LinkedIn, which has unexpectedly become a useful social media platform for Vietnam. He invited me for a coffee inside the market, so we met outside and I followed him through the labyrinthian interior.

Long Ly Cafe is named after the husband and wife team that operate the cafe, and Cafe Bọt (Foam Coffee) is the type of coffee that is served here.

The foam is freshly whipped on demand. As far as I can tell, the foam is coffee-infused whipped cream, though the articles I have read say that the recipe is a secret. Mr Long has been here for over 20 years, and he still makes the coffees. In addition to walk-in customers, there were many delivery drivers coming and going, as well as deliveries to other workers in the market.

What is interesting about this coffee is that it hasn’t spread across the country yet. There are many types of coffee in Vietnam that are associated with cities:

– Ca Phe Sua Da (synonymous with Saigon, and called Ca Phe Saigon in Central Vietnam)
– Coconut Coffee (Da Nang)
– Salt Coffee (Hue)
– Egg Coffee (Hanoi)

Maybe when Mr Long retires he will give up the recipe and foam coffee will become common across Vietnam. It could be known as Long Coffee, or Vinh Coffee to put Vinh on the coffee map.

A foam coffee cost 15,000 VND (0.57 USD).

[Cafe Bọt menu (October 2025).]

Legend has it that Mr Long is the second-most Instagrammed/TikTokked person in Vinh, after Ho Chi Minh.

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh was born in a village outside of Vinh in 1890 (his birth name was Nguyen Sinh Cung). While technically not from Vinh, he was from Nghe An province, so there is an appropriate statue in Vinh for the provincial hero.

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai

Someone who was born in Vinh was Nguyen Thi Minh Khai. She was born in 1910 under the name of Nguyen Thi Vinh, and was executed in Saigon by the French in 1941.

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai is one of the 1,375 names in the database of street and public work names. Some names are more prominent than others, and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai is a name I see in almost every city. Maybe I notice this name more because I lived on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai in Ho Chi Minh City for a while. The name is seared onto my brain like where I lived in Melbourne (Barkly St and Mitford St), which are now part of my life history.

The Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Memorial House is on the main street (where the DDR apartments used to be).

There is an alter and some information of her life (Vietnamese only). Here is an article about the life of Comrade Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.

The memorial site has some photos of old Vinh, of which there is no trace of today.

[Avenue Marechal Foch.]

A shame that the old Railway Hotel no longer exists.

[Hotel de la Gare.]

Food in Vinh

Some provinces have their signature dishes, and Nhe An is famous for eel soup (súp lươn Nghệ An).

I like the presentation of the fish at this banh canh ca loc restaurant. The pieces are stacked in a way that everyone gets the same portion.

Apart from the English teacher I met, in the four days I was in Vinh I saw two other guys that looked like English teachers, and two travellers with backpacks. I mention this I was a curiosity to the diners at the restaurant.

Future Vinh

I keep a list of major developments in cities of Southeast Asia at my Future Cities series. There is not enough happening in Vinh to justify a full post, but the arrival of the Sheraton Hotel indicates a new era for the city.

Next to the Sheraton is Vincom Plaza, and they were both nearly finished when I was there. Not that my boss would let me stay there (it’s me, I’m the boss), but if you want a fancy hotel with a view in Vinh, then use my link to book a room at Sheraton Vinh.

I wasn’t expecting to see much here, so the Sheraton was a surprise. I was more interested in seeing Vinh as it is now (including the remaining DDR apartments) before the high-speed railway is built (if it gets built at all).

Vinh will be one of the 5 main express stations (Hanoi – Vinh – Danang – Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh City) out of a total of 23 stations. Being one of the express stations will be transformative for the fortunes of Vinh, and maybe it will become a thriving metropolis after the railway is built.

Follow the construction of the railway at my Vietnam High-Speed Railway page.

A good Vinh guide

This Vinh guide is on a personal website of a resident English teacher.

Onward travel

From Vinh, I got the train to Nam Dinh.

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The Phnom Penh Airport Express Bus connects the city centre to Techo International Airport. Here are the bus details, including the route and ticketing information.

Airport Express Bus route and stops

The Airport Express Bus has limited stops between the airport and city centre.

[Map of Phnom Penh Airport Express Bus.]

The route map of the Airport Express Bus.

[Airport Express Bus route map.]

The Airport Express Bus on the city map gives a better idea of how far the airport is.

If you are staying in the riverside area, the Canadia Park bus stop is the most useful stop.

[Canadia Park Bus Stop.]

If you are staying in the BKK1 area, the Royal University Of Law And Economic Sciences bus stop is closer.

[Royal University Of Law And Economic Sciences bus stop.]

The final stop is at the Kouch Cannon Roundabout Bus Station (Phnom Penh City Bus Terminal), near the Embassy of France. There are not as many hotels around here, thus the Canadia Park stop will be the most useful (though check the map to see what is most useful for you).

If you are unfamiliar with the city, here is my guide on where to stay in Phnom Penh.

[Airport Express Bus at Kouch Cannon Roundabout Bus Station.]

Going from the city to the airport, the University of Health Sciences bus stop is the most useful stop. This is near the Phnom Penh Railway Station.

[University of Health Sciences bus stop.]

The bus stops have shelters that are clearly marked “Airport Express Bus”.

[R & F City Bus Stop]

Airport Express Bus timetable

The bus runs approximately every hour. A timetable is on the airport website.

[Airport Express Bus timetable from Techo International Airport.]

[Airport Express Bus timetable from Kouch Cannon Roundabout Bus Station.]

Airport Express Bus at Techo International Airport

The bus stop is outside the terminal building at the end of the carpark. There are some signs pointing in the direction of the bus stop.

I had some taxi/tuk-tuk drivers approach me to try and persuade my to get a ride. I said I was getting a bus and one of the drivers said that the bus doesn’t run very often and it is slow. Ignore such taxi touts (which is good advice for any airport).

[A long walk through the airport car park.]

Tickets for the Airport Express Bus

The ticket price is 1,500 KHR (0.37 USD) (as of December 2025). The driver doesn’t handle cash so there is an old-school cash drop-box. This is a problem if you don’t have any change. Luckily I had some small riel notes from my last trip so I was able to pay the exact amount.

There is also Tap and Pay for the local payment system WingPay, but this doesn’t accept international cards. Payment by QR code has become the dominant payment system in Cambodia, so payment by Visa and Mastercard is not as prevalent.

If you are arriving at Techo International Airport without riel, there are ATMs and a bank in the arrival hall. Cambodia uses USD and KHR, and many of the ATMs only dispense 100 USD notes. This is inconvenient when you arrive and you are trying to break the note with a small purchase. I took a $100 note to the bank and they converted it to riel. They gave me 20,000 KHR notes (about $5), which is more manageable, but still not useful for buying a bus ticket. Ask for some small change as well (eg some 1,000 and 500 KHR notes).

[Canadia Bank at Techo International Airport.]

Onboard the Airport Express Bus

The Airport Express Bus is city bus with seats and standing room, not a seat-only coach.

There is also a section for luggage.

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Dong Ha is a city in Quang Tri Province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. It was the capital of Quang Tri until Quang Tri was merged with Quang Binh Province in July 2025. Quang Binh lost its name in the merger, but Dong Hoi (the capital of Quang Binh) became the capital of the newly-merged province.

Dong Ha is not a touristy town, though you might pass through here if you are doing a DMZ tour. It was the northernmost city in South Vietnam, and the city was in ruins by the time the war ended. There is not much to see in the city.

My main reason to visit was to see an old train station as part of my Rail Vietnam project. I was also in the process of visiting every provincial capital in Vietnam. My list has been shortened now that the provincial mergers have demoted Dong Ha and other cities as capitals. I haven’t decided what to do with this list, though I will probably still visit the cities that are no longer capitals.

I was here in October 2025, and during my trip Dong Ha was on the edge of a tropical storm that was barrelling towards the coast further south. I wasn’t lashing rain, but it was a persistent sideways drizzle with a wind that destroys umbrellas.

It also didn’t help that the main thoroughfare was being renovated, so the site of grey and wet construction material wasn’t leaving a great first impression.

Despite the rain hampering my exploration hours, I was able to visit the main sites. These are my notes on Dong Ha.

Old Dong Ha Station

I have been through Dong Ha before on the train, and I noticed some military trophies near the railway in the city centre.

This was the location of the old Dong Ha Station. Most of Dong Ha was obliterated during the war, so there isn’t any obvious architectural sign that this was a station. It is marked on Google Maps as the old station, and the site is now a memorial to the war.

Here is my article about old Dong Ha Station.

Central Market

As I have mentioned before, if you are in a new provincial city of Vietnam and don’t know where to start exploring, start with the central market. Dong Ha Market is in a distinctive building that stands out from the surrounding modern buildings.

Another thing to consider when visiting a new province in Vietnam is to see if there are any regional food specialties.

Vietnam is hit-or-miss when it comes to providing useful information on their official tourism portals, so I was surprised to find a useful article about food in Quang Tri on the Quang Tri government tourism website.

With this list I went to the amazing food hall at the market, which is a round building with a covered dome.

It was enjoyable walking around looking at what the vendors had to offer, and everyone was enthusiastically saying hello to me as I was the only foreigner in the market.

I found what I was looking for (Quang Tri jackfruit noodles), but even if I didn’t know what I was looking for I would have been stopped in my tracks by the presentation.

Another lady came over and sold me on the banh loc (cassava cake). I recognised these from the Quang Tri food list, so I bought a plate (well done Quang Tri tourism board, your blog post helped make a sale). The caphe lady then found me, which was an easy sale. Everyone was so nice so it was hard to say no to the other vendors.

I was on my way out and then I met the juice lady. She grabbed my arm in the way that Vietnamese grandmas do that make it impossible to say no.

I ordered an orange juice with no sugar, and she was so incredulous that I didn’t want sugar that she brought the jug of sugar to me in case I changed my mind.

Provincial musuem

Every provincial capital has a provincial museum, and they usually have some war remnants on the property.

I don’t know what will happen to the provincial museums in the demoted capitals, as the Quang Tri capital is now Dong Hoi. For now, there is still a Quang Tri provincial museum in Dong Ha.

[Missile at Quang Tri Museum.]

Le Duan

A giant figure in 20th century Vietnamese history is Le Duan. I mentioned in my notes on Buon Ma Thuot that streets named Le Duan in Vietnam are usually one of the most prominent streets in the city (such as Le Duan in HCMC, which leads to the gates of the Independence Palace).

Le Duan was from Quang Tri, and he became the leader of North Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh died. It was seen as symbolic that someone from the south (just) was the leader of the north.

Fidel Memorial Park

I saw a park on the map named Fidel Memorial Park and I thought, “like Fidel Castro?”

Yes, there is a Fidel Castro Park in Dong Ha, named in honour of Castro for his visit to the liberated region in southern Vietnam in 1973.

Mine Action Visitor Center

Dong Ha is the base for Project RENEW, which is an organisation that is removing unexploded ordnance (UXO) and providing risk education and victim assistance.

Project RENEW has information about their work and the war in Quang Tri at the Mine Action Visitor Center.

The Mine Action Visitor Center is a small museum that has photos and war remnants on display.

This museum is a reminder of why there are no historic old buildings in Dong Ha.

This map shows why they will be still be clearing the land of UXO for decades to come.

I was in Dong Ha a few months after the provincial mergers had taken place. It occurred to me while looking at this old DMZ map that the merging of Quang Binh and Quang Tri has erased the old border between north and south.

Quang Tri province is now where north and south was divided, so it seems fitting that this former divide no longer exists on a provincial level.

If you are visiting Quang Tri then visiting the sites of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) is a must. I had been to Quang Tri province in 2005 when I did a DMZ day trip from Hue. DMZ tours have changed over the last 20 years as it is now more feasible to do a one-way trip from Hue to the DMZ to Dong Hoi, instead of backtracking to Hue. From Dong Hoi you can go to Phong Nha.

I was glad to visit Dong Ha this time as well. I like to visit unassuming provincial cities after I have been somewhere overly touristy (such as Da Nang and Hue), and my experience at the market showed how welcoming the people of Dong Ha are.

The government tourism board describes Quang Tri as the heroic land. The writer of this articles describes Quang Tri’s main tourism specialties:

“What are the specialties of that land? I keep joking, Quang Tri has a specialty called “bomb”, a specialty that few places have as much as Quang Tri.”

Dong Ha to Vinh

From Dong Ha Station I got the train to Vinh. Stay tuned for my notes on Vinh.

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Buon Ma Thuot is the capital city of Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. While Da Lat is the best-known city in the Central Highlands, Buon Ma Thuot is the largest city and is closer to the geographical centre of the Central Highlands region.

I have been to Da Lat many times, mainly because it’s more convenient to get to from Ho Chi Minh City. On my recent trip to Da Lat, I got the bus to Buon Ma Thuot, saving me a longer bus trip (or flying) from HCMC. These are my notes on Buon Ma Thuot from my visit in March 2025.

Buon Ma Thuot city notes

Buon Ma Thuot is also spelled as Ban Me Thuot, and Ban Me is also used as its name. BMT is also an acceptable abbreviation, which I will use from here on in.

What is immediately noticeable about BMT compared to Da Lat is that the city is flatter and there is a street grid in the city centre. Da Lat is surrounded by steep hills, and there are barely any straight roads. BMT is on a plateau, and it’s easy to walk around.

Being in the Central Highlands, I was wondering where the mountains were. It’s a twisty and mountainous road between Da Lat and BMT, but you can’t see any mountains in BMT. I checked a topographic map, and BMT is on a plateau of around 500 metres in elevation.

My visit was just after the 50th anniversary of the Buon Ma Thuot Victory. There were still many posters around the city celebrating this anniversary.

[50th anniversary of Buon Ma Thuot Victory.]

The central roundabout of the city features the Victory Monument, which has become the main landmark of the city.

Every visit to a new city in Vietnam requires a visit to the central market.

The BMT market has a skybridge connecting two buildings.

When in a provincial capital, always check out the provincial museum as they are usually the most architecturally interesting building in the city.

[Dak Lak Museum.]

Note: I was in BMT before the announcement of provincial mergers that happened in July. Dak Lak province was merged with coastal Phu Yen province, and the expanded province is still called Dak Lak with BMT as the capital.

In addition to being walkable, BMT is also very green. There are many tree-lined streets, and the city is also good at pocket parks.

Cities in Vietnam use the same street names of Vietnamese heroes, and streets named Le Duan are usually in the most prestigious locations. The Le Duan Street of BMT has much nicer trees than the Le Duan Street of Ho Chi Minh City.

There is a cathedral near the main roundabout, though it looks more like a parish church.

[Ban Me Thuot Diocese Cathedral.]

There has not been a construction boom like in the coastal cities of Vietnam, so BMT is still a relatively low-rise city. The Saigon Ban Me Hotel is the landmark tall hotel of the city.

[Saigon Ban Me Hotel.]

Coffee

The Central Highlands is a major coffee-growing region, and BMT is the hub of the coffee industry in Vietnam. In a case of poor timing, I arrived in the city just as they were packing up the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival.

If you are visiting BMT for coffee, there is the Coffee World Museum.

The museum houses antique coffee-making equipment with displays that show the history of coffee.

The museum is built in highland-style houses.

Next to the museum is a new urban area called The Coffee City. The project was under construction when I visited, though some sections looked abandoned.

Coffee World Museum was built by Trung Nguyen Legend Group, who were founded in BMT and are now headquartered in HCMC. Trung Nguyen Legend Group are the largest domestic coffee brand in Vietnam, though Highlands Coffee are listed as the largest by number of stores in Vietnam.

Trung Nguyen was on the cusp of cafe domination in Vietnam in the 2010s until a messy public divorce between the founders. The cafe chain rebranded around this time. When I came to HCMC in 2012, Trung Nguyen had the best cafe logo.

[Trung Nguyen Coffee logo in HCMC (2012).]

The new logo is not as distinctive and the branding has gone with notable European coffee-drinkers (such as Beethoven) and imagery of successful people flying in private jets and a G7-brand instant coffee.

On my last visit to Singapore was in a random mall and I saw a Trung Nguyen cafe with the original logo. The wife of the original partnership set up Trung Nguyen International in Singapore using the original logo.

[Trung Nguyen Coffee in Singapore.]

If I were in charge of the Trung Nguyen branding, I would drop the weird obsession with the G7 and famous Europeans and lean into their highland heritage. Have an image of a highland house with the steep roof (like at the museum), and celebrate Vietnamese culture.

I rarely visit Trung Nguyen cafes, mainly because I don’t like the iced tea they serve with coffee. Most iced tea in Vietnam is weak and almost flavourless, while the Trung Nguyen iced tea has a strong flavour (possibly barley tea), and I don’t like the taste of it.

Considering that I was in the origin city of Trung Nguyen, I visited the flagship cafe (Trung Nguyen Coffee Village). Having just said that I don’t go to Trung Nguyen cafes, this cafe was a delight to visit. The village is more like a large garden area with water features and plenty of places for photo opportunities.

I had an iced coffee and tried the iced tea to see if it still tastes weird (it still tastes weird).

In addition to visiting the coffee king of Vietnam, I was curious to see what the cafe scene in general was like in BMT. I visited Dak Lac Coffee purely because it has a cool name. Dak Lak is such a great name for a province, and it would be very brandable as a chain.

The coffee lived up to its good name.

I visited Soul Specialty Coffee, who show on Google Maps as Soul Fine Robusta BMT.

There is a new wave of Vietnamese cafes that are celebrating the robusta coffee that is grown in Vietnam. For too long, the arabica cabal has been badmouthing robusta, so cafes like Soul are promoting Vietnamese robusta.

And there are of course Highlands Coffee cafes in BMT, though the cafe chain was started by a Vietnamese American in Hanoi, and not the Highlands.

Food

For food, one local specialty I was looking for was banh uot. A friend from Dak Lak introduced me to a banh uot restaurant in Saigon, so I had to try it in Dak Lak.

[Bánh Ướt Chồng Dĩa Bà The BMT]

Banh uot (translated as wet cake) is a sticky rice sheet that is used to roll around fillings. The sheet is wet and sticky, so it is brought out on a stack of plates. You then roll your own rolls with meat, vegetable, and herb fillings. The sticky nature of the sheet makes it easier to roll, and at the end of the meal, they count how many plates you used.

When it comes to finding food in new cities in Vietnam, I will see if there is a local specialty (like banh uot), and also walk around and see what is popular. I saw this place called Banh Canh Ca Dam Huong (fish cake noodle soup).

There were many people here, and they had extra seats outside, so that was a good sign.

One of my travel rules is not to eat fish so far inland, but I made an exception here for fish cake. The soup had a delicious broth that I can’t describe (which is why I am not a food blogger), and I noticed it got a bad review on Google because they only offer spoons. I looked around, and everyone was eating the noodles with two spoons and no chopsticks.

Vietnam has been slowly globalising, with chains such as Starbucks and McDonald’s finding their way into more provincial cities. The Central Highlands has few global chains so far. BMT has Jollibee from the Philippines (which partly owns Highlands Coffee), Lotteria from Korea, KFC (which was one of the early fast food arrivals in Vietnam), and Pizza Hut. Starbucks are opening in more provincial locations (including Da Lat), but there are no international cafe chains here.

Elephants of Buon Ma Thuot

Elephants are an icon of highland culture, and they are used in imagery around the city (thus the elephant mascot for the coffee festival).

One of the most clever logos I have seen is for the Tay Nguyen Hotel (Tay Nguyen being the name for the Central Highlands in Vietnamese).

[Tay Nguyen Hotel logo.]

One of the best hotels in Buon Ma Thuot is Elephants Hotel.

Another cafe I visited was Ama H’Rin Coffee House. There are some highland houses on display here with wooden carvings, such as this elephant. I didn’t get to explore highland culture outside the city, so I haven’t covered that in this article.

Riding elephants is still prominent in Vietnam, even while other elephant sanctuaries in the region are going “no ride”. The Vietnam tourism website is promoting the first ride-free elephant sanctuary in Vietnam near BMT, though there was still elephant riding at the coffee festival.

Further reading: Buôn Ma Thuột’s thriving elephant culture in 1957.

Transport

BMT is a good place to start if you are visiting other cities by bus in the Central Highlands.

I got the bus to BMT and then took a flight to Da Nang. Most of the flights from BMV are to SGN and HAN, with only a few other domestic locations. There was talk of upgrading the airport to international standards, though every city wants to become international.

There are no trains in the Central Highlands (apart from the fragment of an old railway in Da Lat). There is a long-term plan to build a Central Highlands railway, which would effectively be an inland version of the train from HCMC to Da Nang. I made a map that shows what a Central Highlands railway system would look like if all of the proposed railways were built.

[View full size map of Central Highlands Railways.]

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This guide on where to stay in Hat Yai lists interesting and best-rated hotels in the best area to stay for visitors.

Hat Yai is the largest city in southern Thailand, near the Malaysian border. This inland city is overlooked by foreign visitors who visit the south for the islands, but it’s worth a stop if you are passing through.

Most international visitors are from Malaysia who descend on the city en masse on the weekend and holiday periods, so you will have more competition for hotel rooms if you are visiting then.

What I like about Hat Yai is that the train station is in the city centre, so you can walk from the station to your hotel. The station is known as Hat Yai Junction, and the city feels like a place that is built for travellers.

The station is also used as a pickup point for minivans that go to the ports for ferries to the islands. If you are staying near the station then it’s easy to get your onward transport to the islands. No need to mess around with bus stations at the edge of the city.

Hat Yai is famous for the dim sum restaurants, and Kai-Tod Decha serves Hat Yai-style fried chicken. It’s worth a pit stop here to eat your way around the city.

[Stay in Hat Yai to wake up for dim sum breakfast.]

This Where To Stay Guide lists the best area to stay in Hat Yai with some notable places to stay.

Map of Hat Yai hotels

Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map.

[View map of Hat Yai hotels.]

Best area to stay in Hat Yai

The best area to stay in Hat Yai is in the city centre between the railway line and the Toei River (Mae Nam Toei) to the east. Staying further east of Rajyindee Rd (the large North-South Road) puts you too far from the action for a short-term stay.

A good aspect about the city area is that it has a gridded street layout, so it feels more like a city and is easy to explore. You can see on the map how there is more activity in the gridded area (the light orange background represents an “area of interest”). Beyond this area, the streets become unplanned and harder to walk around.

Hostels

Lamoon Hostel is a 7-minute walk from the train station.

Budget hotels

Get GuestHouse 2 (Sangsri 4) is one of the top-rated guesthouses in the city.

Indra Hotel Hatyai (2-star) is opposite the Odean Shopping Mall, which I would say is the most central intersection of the city. It’s an old hotel that remains popular for its location.

Sakura Hotel (2-star) is a big hotel in the city area but away from the main market area. These budget hotels in Hat Yai are showing their age, but they are kept in good condition.

Siam Mansion (2-star) is a stylish budget hotel that has dorm beds and private rooms.

Mid-range hotels

Hoshi Hotel Hatyai (3-star) is a Japanese-style hotel offering a ryokan-inspired experience. The hotel is on Pracharom Alley, which is showing signs of evolving into the hipster street of Hat Yai with cafes and bars.

The Lantern Hatyai Hotel (3.5-star) is a boutique-style hotel.

Sakol Hotel (3-star) is a small modern hotel close to the Odean intersection.

Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel (3.5-star) is one of the big landmark hotels in the city centre near the night market.

V.L. Hatyai Hotel (3.5-star).

Centara Hotel Hat Yai (4-star) represents the only brand-name hotel in the city. Centara Hotels & Resorts is a hotel group that was founded in Thailand in 1983, and has since spread to other destinations in Asia.

Urbanli Hatyai Hotel (4-star) opened in 2025, and its modern design is a refreshing addition to the collection of older buildings in the city.

Note that Hat Yai is a provincial city, so there are no 5-star hotels or international hotel brands. The Holiday Inn Express Hat Yai is expected to open in 2027, which will make it the first international hotel in Hat Yai.

Here are my notes on Hat Yai from a previous trip.

Transport

Hat Yai Airport has good domestic connections and limited international flights (such as AirAsia to KL). I have flown from Chiang Mai to Hat Yai (the longest domestic flight in Thailand) and then gone overland to Malaysia after staying in Hat Yai.

There are overnight trains from Bangkok, and minivans to the coast are timed to meet the trains.

Check Bangkok to Hat Yai trains.

I have also taken the train from Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok on the border, and then crossed into Malaysia to get the Jungle Railway.

There are some travel agents in front of the station that book onward travel to the islands. I visited Ko Lipe via Hat Yai, and I booked a van and boat combo ticket in advance.

There is a hotel at the station (The Train Hotel Hatyai) but the city is so close that don’t need to stay here unless you specifically want to stay at a train station.

Hat Yai is near the Padang Besar border crossing. Getting the train from Hat Yai to Penang is a much more enjoyable experience than getting a minivan.

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Introducing my latest travel website, Rail Vietnam. This guide covers every train line in Vietnam, station information, and how to buy tickets.

About Rail Vietnam

I write about train travel in Vietnam here at Nomadic Notes, but I figured it would be better to have a dedicated site to post more detailed information.

A Vietnam rail site is the ideal subject for a niche site. It’s a topic I am very familiar with, and it is a small niche that won’t require too much time once it is set up. I also found a great domain (railvietnam.com) that is easy to brand.

The official website is not the most user-friendly experience, and there are many Vietnamese travel agent websites that try to look like the official website. My site is clear that it is an independent guide.

I will be publishing guides for the passenger lines, and I am open to accepting trip reports from other writers. I may also publish destination guides for every place with a train station if I decide to expand the site.

Future railways

While there is not a great variety of train lines in Vietnam, there are many new lines that are planned for the future. Some of the future lines include:

– The North-South High-Speed Railway (replacing the current North-South Railway)
– Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong Railway (replacing the current Lao Cai-Hanoi, Hanoi-Hai Phong lines)
– Hanoi-Ha Long Railway (possibly high-speed replacing the defunct line)
– Hanoi-Dong Dang Railway (upgrading current line that runs to Nanning in China)
– Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho-Ca Mau Railway
– Central Highlands Railway

Some possible new international lines include:

– Vientiane-Vung Ang
– Hai Phong-Ha Long-Mong Cai (connecting to Dongxing in China)
– Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh

I write about future rail development at Future Southeast Asia, which covers construction and development issues. Rail Vietnam will cover the new railways from the perspective of future travellers. The average traveller doesn’t need to know about a steel plant that is being built to manufacture rail tracks, so Rail Vietnam will cover topics such as stations and tickets.

These news lines are years away from being a reality, but you will find out about them on Rail Vietnam when they are ready.

Follow Rail Vietnam on social media

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I’m not setting up a newsletter for this site, but you can subscribe to blog posts by email (look for the subscribe by email box in the right column). I may start a newsletter if the site evolves into something else, in which case you will be notified about a newsletter if you subscribe by email.

[Somewhere between Da Nang and Hue.]

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Luang Prabang is one of the most charming cities in Southeast Asia and a highlight for any visit to Laos. Calling it a city seems a bit of a stretch as it feels more like a big country town. And within the UNESCO World Heritage protected zone, some parts feel like it hasn’t changed for a hundred years.

This Where To Stay guides shows the best areas to stay in Luang Prabang for visitors.

Where to stay in Luang Prabang guide

Map of Luang Prabang hotels
Best areas to stay in Luang Prabang
Old Town (The historic UNESCO World Heritage area)
Mekong Riverfront (Mekong views with in proximity to old town)
Nam Khan Riverfront (Smaller riverfront area with budget options)
Other places to stay (Resorts outside the city)
How to get to Luang Prabang

Map of Luang Prabang hotels

Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map.

[View map of Luang Prabang hotels.]

Best areas to stay in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is on a peninsula with no through access, so traffic has been naturally controlled. The old town area is very compact, and you can walk anywhere in the town. No matter where you stay you will be able to see everything easily enough.

If you are just looking for the best area to stay, then stay in the old town area as shown on this map.

Search hotels in Luang Prabang.

Beyond the old town, there are a some other areas in Luang Prabang that to consider when picking the best area to stay in Luang Prabang.

Here is the breakdown of the main areas of Luang Prabang.

Old Town

The old town is the highlight of Luang Prabang and the most obvious starting point. This can be defined as the area within the Luang Prabang peninsula, which is bounded by the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. This is within the UNESCO World Heritage zone, and there is an abundance of historic villas, mansions, and commercial buildings that have been converted for tourist purposes. The most historic vats (temples) are in this area, and it’s where you can see the monks lining up for the morning alms.

Given its world heritage status, most of the accommodation here is in the boutique end, though there are some budget options. The budget guesthouses are slightly more expensive than in the other areas, so look outside if you are choosing by price.

Namsok Guesthouse is a budget guesthouse example in this area where you are mainly paying for the location.

Oui’s Guesthouse is a homely guesthouse on the Nam Khan riverfront near the tip of the peninsula.

Mekong Riverview Hotel is in a heritage property facing the Mekong River, not far from where the Nam Khan River meets the Mekong. Check the room type when you are booking if want a view of the Mekong.

[Mekong Riverview.]

Villa Santi Hotel is a boutique hotel in a renovated royal mansion. It’s set in a lush tropical garden in the back streets of the old town.

[Villa Santi.]

AVANI+ Luang Prabang is a 5-star resort hotel on the main road, opposite the tourism centre. It’s a big property, yet unassuming for its location.

[AVANI+ Luang Prabang.]

Mekong Riverfront

Between Phothisalath Rd (the main road) and Khem Khong (the Mekong road) there are numerous little roads that are lined with budget guesthouses and home stays. When I first visited Luang Prabang I just walked around here until I found a place. You can still do that if you want to travel old-school, but these days it’s easier to book in advance as many of them are online.

Chao Fa Ngum Road (pictured here) is a typical guesthouse street, with Phashoke Guesthouse being an example of a guesthouse not bookable online.

[Phashoke Guesthouse on Chao Fa Ngum Road.]

While there are plenty of guesthouses, it still feels residential and not overly touristy. Most of the tourist restaurants and cafes are on the riverfront. There are many ramshackle restaurants overlooking the Mekong River, making it an ideal place to sit and have a drink.

The cheapest rooms are usually a simple private room with shared bathroom. If you are just backpacking around Southeast Asia saving every dollar then these are a good option if you want a private room for a change.

I stayed at Soutikone1 Guesthouse and Villa Philaylack, which are typical guesthouse experiences.

The Mekong Sunset Guesthouse is a basic budget guesthouse that is right on the riverfront. There are dorm beds and private rooms available, and some rooms have a balcony facing the river.

[Mekong Sunset Guesthouse.]

My Lao Home Hotel is a midrange hotel set in a UNESCO-protected property, and is close to such sites as the night market, the Royal Palace, and Phousi Mountain.

[My Lao Home Hotel.]

A bit further down the riverfront is the Relaxful Hotel Luang Prabang. This 5-star hotel faces the Mekong, and the hotel has a shuttle service to the old town area.

Nam Khan Riverfront

Another budget guesthouse area is around the Nam Khan river. This area has more of a backpacker vibe to it, with bars and western food cafes alongside hostels and cheap hotels. It’s no Khao San Rd or Pub Street though, so don’t worry if you aren’t into noisy streets. Like the Mekong guesthouse area, it’s easily walkable to all the sights. Unlike the Mekong side, there is no riverfront road here, so there are only a few actual riverfront properties.

Y Not Laos Hostel is one of the popular hostels in the area that offers cheap dormitory accommodation.

Villa Namkhan River is a small 3-star hotel in a villa featuring seven rooms.

[Villa Namkhan River.]

Merry Riverside Hotel offers hotel rooms with riverfront views.

Other places to stay

Outside of these areas I would only recommend staying if you have your own transport (such as if you were travelling around Laos by motorbike), or if you want to stay in one of the luxury resorts.

While the AVANI is close to town, most of the luxury resort hotels are further out and not walkable to the old town. They usually offer shuttle services in this case.

The La Residence Phou Vao, A Belmond Hotel is a luxurious resort outside the city centre, on a hill overlooking the town. Being outside the historic area affords it more space, with the hotel feeling more like a private estate.

[Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao – Image via Agoda.]

The Grand Luang Prabang, Affiliated by Meliá is downstream of old town and has room with Mekong views.

Outside of the city boundary, Pullman Luang Prabang opened in 2019 on a property of 16 hectares of landscaped gardens.

How to get to Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang has an international airport with connections cities in Southeast Asia and China.

The Laos-China Railway opened in 2021, and there are now services to Kunming as of 2023. Here is my review of the Laos-China Railway.

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This guide on where to stay in Phan Thiet lists the best beach areas on the Mui Ne/Phan Thiet resort coast.

Phan Thiet is a coastal city in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. It’s a popular beach area due to its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City. Phan Thiet is also referred to as Mui Ne, and the two names are used interchangeably.

Phan Thiet isn’t the best beach resort area in Vietnam, but its a good option for an easy beach getaway from Saigon if you don’t want to fly. There is a train from Saigon to Phan Thiet that takes 4 hours, and it’s timed perfectly for short trips.

The main tourist beach faces south, and the coastal breeze that blows from east to west has made it a popular kite surfing destination. There are also some impressive sand dunes that have formed on this dry and windswept coastline.

Having been based in Saigon for years, I have made many trips to Phan Thiet. Like my other Where To Stay guides, I have picked the best area for first-time visitors to save you time. In the case of Phan Thiet, it’s important to pick the right area if you are looking for an actual beach break, because some beaches have lost their sand.

Where to stay in Phan Thiet guide

Map of Phan Thiet hotels
Quick Guide: Best area to stay in Phan Thiet
Is it Phan Thiet or Mui Ne?
Where to stay in Phan Thiet
Ham Tien Beach (The best beach area in Phan Thiet)
Ham Tien Market (Local area popular with backpackers)
Fairy Stream (Guest house options)
Mui Ne (The real Mui Ne)
Phu Hai (Resorts and future new urban areas)
Phan Thiet City (Provincial capital, fishing port, street food)
Tien Thanh (Developing coastal area)

Map of Phan Thiet hotels

Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map.

[View map of Phan Thiet hotels.]

Quick Guide: Best area to stay in Phan Thiet

Best area to stay in Phan Thiet is at Ham Thien.

Top local resorts in this area include:

Sailing Club Resort Mui Ne

Seahorse Resort & Spa Phan Thiet

The top-rated luxury resorts include:

Anantara Mui Ne Resort

The Anam Mui Ne.

The rest of this guide breaks down the main areas to stay in Phan Thiet.

Is it Phan Thiet or Mui Ne?

There is some confusion about the difference between Phan Thiet and Mui Ne. Phan Thiet is a city, which is divided into wards. One of the wards is Mui Ne. This map shows where Mui Ne is within Phan Thiet.

[Phan Thiet Wards Map via Wikimedia Commons.]

Phan Thiet and Mui Ne were put on the tourist map when it was calculated that it would be one of the best places in Vietnam to watch the solar eclipse on October 24, 1995. Guidebooks referred to Mui Ne Bay as ‘Mui Ne Beach’, and the name has stuck ever since. Even now, new hotels and resorts that are not in the administrative ward of Mui Ne brand themselves as Mui Ne.

If you say you are going to Mui Ne but aren’t in Mui Ne, no one will care. For the purpose of this article, I have grouped hotels in their correct wards.

Where to stay in Phan Thiet

These are the main areas in Phan Thiet.

Ham Tien Beach

[Ham Tien Beach, Phan Thiet.]

Ham Thien is where most of the beach action is in Phan Thiet. It has the best stretch of beach, but even here you have to be selective. There has been a lot of coastal erosion over the years, and the steady wind that powers the kite surfers has also piled up the sand to the western half of the beach.

[Kite surfers on the beach in Phan Thiet.]

There are gigantic sand bags that have been placed to stop the sand disappearing completely, making parts of the beach less aesthetically pleasing.

[Sand bag on the beach in Phan Thiet.]

There are some sections of the beach where buildings that were built too close to the sea have crumbled into the sand. The sand bags have stabilised the erosion for now, but this might become a familiar sites on beaches in the future.

Another factor to consider is that shops and restaurants are thinly spread out along one main road (Nguyen Dinh Chieu). This road goes from Phan Thiet to Mui Ne, and there is not really a town centre on the beach area.

Like other beach towns, the big resorts are on the beach side of the road, while the cheaper hotels are on the other side of the road. Arriving from Phan Thiet City, Ham Tien Beach starts at Ong Dia rock beach and goes to about Sunny Beach Resort & Spa.

The widest section of beach is at the western end, with Ca Ty Mui Ne Resort (4-star) and Allezboo Beach Resort and Spa (4-star) marking the start of the beach resort area.

Seahorse Resort & Spa Phan Thiet (4-star) is an independent hotel resort that is on the best section of beach.

[Seahorse Resort & Spa Phan Thiet.]

The Seahorse Resort is on a big property with a great pool overlooking the beach.

[Swimming pool at Seahorse Resort & Spa Phan Thiet.]

Sailing Club Resort Mui Ne (4-star) is a part of the Sailing Club Leisure Group of Vietnam, who have become an institution at beaches across the country. They began in Nha Trang in 1994, and the “Mui Ne” hotel opened in 2001. As the name would suggest, the resort has beach club vibes, and the restaurant is one of the best-located bars on the beach.

[Swimming pool at Sailing Club.]

The pick of the 5-star luxury resorts on this section of beach is the Anantara Mui Ne Resort and The Anam Mui Ne.

Budget accommodation is on the other side of the road. There are some hostels and guesthouses in alley 69, including the Huyen Tran Bungalow.

[Read my review of Huyen Tran Bungalow.]

Delight Hotel Mui Ne is on the main road and close to shops and the good stretch of beach.

[Read my review of Delight Hotel Mui Ne.]

One thing that is remarkable about this beach is that it has managed to stay low-rise. Most beach resorts of Vietnam have big hotels and apartment towers now.

The Vipol Muine (4-star) is in the tallest building on Ham Tien Beach. It’s on the main road, but you will get a good view of the sea from here.

[Vipol Muine (in the background) on Nguyen Dinh Chieu.]

The sandy beach section at Ham Tien goes up to about Sunny Beach Resort.

[Sunny Beach Resort.]

Beyond Sunny Beach Resort the beach thins out dramatically and there are sand bags trying to rebuild the coastline. I went for a coffee at Cafe Sunset on the beach, and this section is a seawall with no beach.

[Seawall at Cafe Sunset on the beach.]

Despite the lack of beach, there are many bars and restaurants in this area and I noticed foreigners who looked like long-termers. If you find a place to stay further along, just know that there is no beach.

Ham Tien Market

Ham Tien Market (Cho Ham Tien) is further along the coast towards Mui Ne. It has a different vibe to the resort area of Ham Tien so I am giving it its own section. Ham Tien Market has a more local feel as it’s the site of the central market of the ward. There are little alleys off the main road with home stays and garden villas. It’s just a shame about the beach.

I stayed here on my first visit to Phan Thiet, and there was a beach lined with fishing boats. I hadn’t been there for a decade, so I was surprised to find that there is now a seawall and most of the beach has gone. At least they have made a walkable seaside promenade here, which is lacking at the resort end of the beach.

[The seaside promenade built along the seawall in Ham Tien.]

This area is popular with backpackers, and it includes the Pineapple Mũi Né beach bar. iHome Backpacker Resort is one of the main backpacker hostels, and there are other guesthouses in this area.

[iHome Backpacker Resort.]

The thing with Phan Thiet is that there are activities in the area such as the sand dunes and fairy stream. If the beach isn’t your priority then this is a place to meet fellow travellers on your Vietnam trip.

Fairy Stream

The Fairy Stream (Soui Tien) is a stream that flows on a sandy river bed through a canyon. The stream is only centimetres deep and it feels more like a walk on a pleasant beach. It is a highlight of visiting Phan Thiet.

[Walking through the fairy stream in Phan Thiet.]

On the main road near the stream are numerous guest houses (look for the “Nhà Nghỉ” signs). I’ve not stayed here before as it is not near a beach. I put this here as an option if you have your own transport and are looking for a cheap room. For example if you are doing a motorbike trip around Vietnam you could just turn up here and ask for a room.

Mui Ne

Mui Ne is the fishing port town at the other end of the bay. Mui Ne is a typical Vietnam fishing township and there are very few places to stay in the town itself. The beaches of Mui Ne aren’t as good as Ham Tien, but the highlight of Mui Ne is the Red Sand Dunes area.

[Red Sand Dunes of Mui Ne.]

Mui Ne starts at Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne. This overlooks the bay with the fishing boats, and there is no beach here. The resort is rated for being family friendly, so it attracts people looking for a villa with access to kid-friendly swimming pools.

[Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne.]

There are some hotels and resorts that are along the coast on the other side of Mui Ne town. These are popular with domestic tourists, and on the weekend the roads can be jammed with buses parked on the side of the road.

There are some big resorts being built along the coast, and like so many places in Vietnam, there are abandoned hotel projects everywhere. At far end of Mui Ne (and the northern boundary of Phan Thiet) is the incongruous Mandala Cham Bay Mui Ne, Phan Thiet. The hotel complex has four towers standing high on top of a sand dune overlooking the sea. They have built a platform on the roadside cliff to access the beach.

[Mandala Cham Bay Mui Ne, Phan Thiet.]

Phu Hai

Phu Hai is the area between Phan Thiet City and Ham Tien Beach. The coastal section is off the main road and it has a rocky coastline compared to Ham Tien. There are small beaches that are broken up by retaining walls to hold the sand.

[Beach road in Phu Hai, Phan Thiet.]

There are mainly resorts along here, such as The Cliff Resort and Residences and Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa.

On the other side of the main road is Sea Links City. This is the largest resort complex in Phan Thiet (or Mui Ne as they refer to themselves). This complex includes hotels, villas, apartments, and an 18-hole golf course (Sea Links Golf Country Club). The beach is accessible via a pedestrian overpass.

Hotels in this complex include Ocean Vista Resort & Residence Mui Ne (4-star) and Sea Links Beach Resort (5-star), which is better positioned for the gold course.

At the top of the hill there are some new urban areas being built. One of the big projects is Mui Ne Summerland. These are future residential areas that are being promoted as second homes or holiday homes. There is nothing here of interest for short-term visitors, though its fortunes may change in the future. The Summerland project sits about midway between Phan Thiet City and the future Phan Thiet Airport.

Phan Thiet City

Phan Thiet City was the capital of Binh Thuan Province before it was merged into Lam Dong Province in 2025. I have stayed in Phan Thiet before, mainly because I am an urban connoisseur that likes to explore provincial cities. There is a seafront, but it’s near the mouth of a river that is home to a fishing fleet.

The Phan Thiet train station is on the outskirts of the city, and most people just get a taxi to the beach area.

The main reason to come to the city of Phan Thiet is for the markets and street food. It’s hard to find proper street food in the beach resort areas. Apart from that, there is no reason to stay here for the casual visitor.

TTC Hotel – Phan Thiet is by the coastal part of the city.

Tien Thanh

Tien Thanh is the ward to the Southwest of Phan Thiet city. You might be looking at the map of Phan Thiet wondering what the beaches are like there, and why there are some familiar brand-name hotels. I don’t recommend this area but I place this here for your understanding.

This stretch of coast is mainly made up of small houses in villages that stretch along the coastal road. It’s a beautiful coastline, and the big property developers have staked out beachfront land for resorts and new urban areas.

The big project in this area (and I mean BIG) is the NovaWorld Phan Thiet development by Novaland. This is a new urban area that is being built from nothing. It looks like a suburb from Florida was placed on the coast, and the main beach here is called Bikini Beach.

At the entrance to NovaWorld is Mövenpick Resort Phan Thiet. This is a family-friendly hotel that features a pirate ship as the centrepiece of swimming pool area. There are theme parks being developed in this area, so it might become a theme park area, even if the residential area remains empty for years.

[Check rates for Mövenpick Resort Phan Thiet.]

The other familiar name here is Radisson Resort Phan Thiet.

The coast of Tien Thanh is littered with unfinished projects, ruining what might have otherwise been a great area to stay if it had been planned better.

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This guide on where to stay in Langkawi lists the best beach areas on the island. This includes all accommodation types, from hostels and guesthouse to luxury five-star hotels and resorts.

Langkawi is an island group comprised of 99 islands, with the main island forming the bulk of the landmass. Langkawi is the third-largest island in Malaysia (not counting Borneo), and it has been designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The main attractions of Langkawi are the beaches, boat excursions to the islands, and the natural interior.

Hotels in Langkawi are on the main island, though the island is too big to explore without transport. Choosing where to stay will depend on what you are looking for.

This guide lists the best areas to stay depending on your budget and travel style.

Where to stay in Langkawi guide

Map of Langkawi hotels
Where to stay in Langkawi
Cenang Beach (The best beach area in Langkawi)
Tengah Beach (Luxury resorts close to the Cenang action)
Kuah (The district capital of Langkawi)
Langkawi resorts (List of luxury beach resorts)
Future hotels in Langkawi

Map of Langkawi hotels

Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map.

[View map of Langkawi hotels.]

Where to stay in Langkawi

These are the main areas in Langkawi.

Cenang Beach

Cenang Beach (Pantai Cenang) is the most popular place to stay in Langkawi. There is a long stretch of beach here with cafes and beach bars. The main beach road has the most amount of shops and restaurants in a walkable area. Using Cenang as a base you can arrange tours or rent a motorbike to explore the rest of the island.

[Cenang Mall.]

Cenang has a wide range of accommodation options, though the most luxurious hotels are elsewhere on the island.

Find hotels in Pantai Cenang in Langkawi, Malaysia.

Hostels and guesthouses in Cenang

At the northern end of the beach there are some side streets that are filled with hostels and guesthouses. If you you are travelling old-school and have not booked anything, then you could try your luck in these streets. There are a few different streets that run off the main road.

One of the streets has signs at the entrance listing places to stay. This is the closest the island has to a backpacker street, though don’t come here expecting a party scene like Ko Lipe, which is where most backpackers are coming from.

I’ve marked out some other guesthouses in this area to show where these streets are on the map.

Gecko Guesthouse offers dorm and private rooms and has a common area to meet fellow travellers.

Dar Yasmine Motel has dorm and private room options.

I stayed at The Village Langkawi, which was a typical budget guesthouse experience in Malaysia. This was at the end of the street, yet it is only a 5-minute walk to the beach.

In the same street is the House of Lion Hostel. This place looked more lively than where I stayed as there were always backpackers socialising in the front common area.

Arch Dormitorio Cenang is a hostel on the main road at the southern end of Cenang Beach.

Cenang Rest House is a holdout of Langkawi from another era. While most of the beach locations are taken over by luxury hotels, this budget guesthouse/hotel is on the beachside of the main road.

[Read more about Cenang Rest House.]

Budget hotels in Cenang

AB MOTEL is another beachside budget hotel with bungalows on the beach.

Cenang Plaza Beach Hotel has an unbeatable location on the main road if you want to be near the main shops and restaurants area.

Langkapuri Resort Langkawi is a budget beach resort with a mix of hotel rooms chalet rooms (bungalow rows near the beach).

Mid-range hotels on Cenang Beach

Best Star Resort (3-star) is a budget beach resort in the middle of the Cenang action.

Casa Del Mar Langkawi (4-star) is ideally located on the beach.

[Read more about Casa Del Mar Langkawi.]

Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang (4-star) is near main shopping area.

Luxury hotels on Cenang Beach

Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi is tucked away at the northern end of Cenang Beach, offering a feeling of seclusion while having access to the amenities of Cenang.

Tengah Beach

Tengah Beach (Pantai Tengah) is directly south of Cenang, and it is practically the same beach except it’s separated by Tanjung Mali. This rocky hill on the beach is what is known as a dropstone.

Tanjung Mali is a clear delineation of beach vibes, with Tengah being a quieter beach with more luxury resorts.

Tengah is where the international chain hotels can be found. There are some budget options on the beach road, but they are further inland than the beach road along Cenang.

For budget beach accommodation on Tengah there is Charlie Langkawi Motel. For budget beach hotels you are better off limiting your search in Cenang.

Mid-range hotels on Tengah Beach

Frangipani Langkawi Resort (4-star)

Holiday Villa Beach Resort & Spa Langkawi (4-star) is a favourite for families with its sprawling garden area and pool by the beach.

[The pool at Holiday Villa Beach Resort & Spa Langkawi.]

The Aloft design brand by Marriott International opened in Langkawi in 2018 with the Aloft Langkawi Pantai Tengah.

[Check rates for Aloft Langkawi Pantai Tengah.]

Luxury hotels on Tengah Beach

The RIYAZ Lavanya offers hotel rooms and villa accommodation in a luxury garden resort setting.

PARKROYAL Langkawi Resort opened in March 2023, becoming the biggest hotel name in the Cenang/Tengah beach area.

[Check rates for PARKROYAL Langkawi Resort.]

Kuah

Kuah is the district capital of Langkawi. I don’t recommend staying in Kuah, but I list it here in case you were considering it. Kuah is a port city with no beach, thus it’s not of interest if you come to Langkawi for a beach holiday.

Kuah is a typical small provincial Malaysian city. There isn’t an interesting old town area like Penang or Phuket Old Town. The most popular site of the city is Dataran Lang (Eagle Square). This statue of an eagle taking flight has become the icon of the island.

Langkawi is well known for its status as a duty-free island, and there are duty-free shopping centres in Kuah.

The main ferry port of the island is at Kuah Jetty, which receives ferries from the mainland and Koh Lipe in Thailand. There is a bus service and fixed-price taxi service from the port to Cenang, so there is no need to stay here.

Kuah has been renovating its waterfront, and the Eiffel Tower-inspired Maha Tower is now the defining landmark of the waterfront. Maybe Kuah will become a destination in its own right in the future.

We Hotel Langkawi (3-star) is in the Langkawi City redevelopment area near the Maha Tower.

De Baron Resort Langkawi is a budget resort by the seafront.

Malaysian hotel group Bayview International Hotels & Resorts is represented in Kuah at Bayview Hotel Langkawi (4-star).

Adya Hotel is a 4-star hotel with seaviews near the city centre.

[Check rates for Adya Hotel.]

Langkawi Resorts

Beyond the main beach area of Cenang and Tengah, most of the beaches are the preserve of luxury 5-star resorts.

Usually for these Where To Stay Guides I would make a list broken down into geographical order. Langkawi is famous for being a luxury resort getaway, where the hotel is the destination rather than the specific beach.

This is a list of luxury beach resorts of Langkawi, going clockwise from Cenang.

The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi is a secluded resort with a private beach cove.

Berjaya Langkawi Resort is on Pantai Kok near the Langkawi Skybridge Cable Car station. This resort includes rainforest and overwater accommodation.

[Pantai Kok Langkawi.]

The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort, Langkawi is one of the few hotels on the beach at Datai Bay.

Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia is on Rhu Beach and is next to some other hotels and restaurants.

Tanjung Rhu Resort is near the top of the island on Tanjung Rhu Beach.

The St. Regis Langkawi is to the south of Kuah Town and it has exclusive access to Beringin Beach.

Next to the St. Regis is The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa (both of which are Marriott brands). The Westin has exclusive access to its beach cove as well.

Future hotels in Langkawi

If you are planning a trip to Langkawi in the future, then here are some projects to look out for.

Nautilus Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton was scheduled to open on Cenang Beach in 2023, but it has run into development issues.

Hilton Burau Bay Resort Langkawi is expected in March 2026.

View the full article

There is no direct train service from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, so this guide shows how to make the journey by three different trains.

Getting the train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur used to be a straightforward affair. The train would leave Tanjong Pagar railway station (near downtown Singapore), clear immigration for both countries at Woodlands, and then continue on the same train to Kuala Lumpur. I did this journey in 2009 and it was a great way to travel overland.

In 2011 the service from Tanjong Pagar was discontinued and the train service then began at Woodlands, near the Singapore-Malaysia border. The railway corridor from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands has since been turned into a park (the Singapore Rail Corridor) so it’s unlikely that this line will ever be restored.

Then in 2015 the Woodlands-KL service was discontinued, and a shuttle train from Woodlands to Johor Bahru was introduced.

Also in 2015, the ETS (Electric Train Service) began operations from Kuala Lumpur to Gemas (which is about halfway to Johor Bahru). In 2025, the electric train service was extended from Gemas to Kluang. The remaining section from Kluang to Johor Bahru is via diesel trains.

So now the journey from Singapore to KL takes three separate railway services, plus a ride on the Singapore Metro. It’s hardly convenient, it’s slower than the bus, and it’s not always cheaper than flying. Having said that, getting the train is still a good way to travel if you have the time.

With the direct service broken up, you need to book tickets individually as the train booking sites don’t book multiple sections on one ticket. Here is how to book train tickets from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

[The old Johor Bahru Station.]

Tickets to book for Singapore-Kuala Lumpur train

Tickets for each segment need to be booked individually, so it’s best to open a browser tab for each segment to make sure there is a seat available on every segment first before committing to a single ticket.

To do this, go to online.ktmb.com.my and do a search for each leg on separate browsers. You can also book via the online booking agent Baolau.

There are two combinations to choose from:

Fastest train combination from Singapore Kuala Lumpur

Shuttle Tebrau 81: Woodlands – Johor Bahru (Shuttle Tebrau)

Depart Woodlands 14:00
Arrive JB Sentral 14:05

Train ES44: Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) – Kluang (Intercity)

Depart Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) 14:40
Arrive Kluang 16:34

Train EP9514: Kluang – Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) (ETS)

Depart Kluang: 17:13
Arrive KL Sentral: 20:40

Singapore to Kuala Lumpur with a day trip to Kluang

An alternative itinerary is to get the earlier train and spend half a day in the city of Kluang. This is a long day out as you would have to be at Woodlands by 7am so you can clear immigration. That means you would have to leave Central Singapore around 6am.

Shuttle Tebrau 71: Woodlands – Johor Bahru (Shuttle Tebrau)

Depart Woodlands 7:30
Arrive JB Sentral 7:35

Train ES42: Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) – Kluang (Intercity)

Depart Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) 8:30
Arrive Kluang 10:42

This gives you over 7 hours in Kluang before getting the next train.

Train EP9514: Kluang – Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) (ETS)

Depart Kluang: 17:13
Arrive KL Sentral: 20:40

An alternative itinerary would be to stay in Johor Bahru overnight. That gives you a chance to explore the JB old town and not having to leave Singapore so early.

Kuala Lumpur to Singapore

Here is my guide on how to go from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by train.

Bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

If you’ve read all this and it all sounds too complicated, then book one of the many direct bus services from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

Read more about railways in Malaysia and other train travel articles.

Read more about the railways of Southeast Asia.

View the full article

Getting the train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore involves three separate train journeys. Here are the trains to book and how to buy the tickets.

There used to be a direct train service from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, but that service was discontinued in 2011. The rail corridor in Singapore has been turned into a walking path and nature reserve, so this service is not returning.

It’s still possible to get the train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, but it requires booking three separate train tickets. This is because the rail line is being upgraded to a double-tracked electric service between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.

Half of the project is completed, so the journey requires a change of train at Kluang to switch from the electric trains to the diesel trains.

As for the Johor Bahru-Singapore section, there is a separate shuttle train that crosses the border, and that also requires a separate ticket.

Booking tickets

To add to this inconvenience of multiple trains, the tickets need to be booked separately as the official rail site doesn’t sell combined tickets. If you search for tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru the booking site will not show any train tickets.

Before making a booking, make sure there are tickets available on the same day. I’ve made the mistake of booking one leg only to find out that the other leg had sold out.

To do this, go to online.ktmb.com.my and do a search for each leg on separate browsers. You can also book via the online booking agent Baolau. The sections are:

Train EP9511: Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) – Kluang (ETS)

Depart KL Sentral: 7:45
Arrive Kluang: 11:18

Train ES43: Kluang to Johor Bahru (JB Sentral) (Intercity)

Depart Kluang: 12:22
Arrive JB Sentral: 14:15

Shuttle Tebrau 83: Johor Bahru – Woodlands (Shuttle Tebrau)

Depart JB Sentral 15:15
Arrive Woodlands 15:20

KL to Singapore trains

ETS EP9511: KL Sentral to Kluang

The first section from KL to Kluang is on the Electric Train Service (ETS). This was previously terminating at Gemas, but in 2025 the line has been extended further south to Kluang.

[ETS at KL Sentral.]

The ETS trains travel at speeds of up to 140 km/h, so this the quickest leg of the journey.

ES 43: Kluang to JB Sentral

The electric rail service now travels from KL to Kluang, and by 2026 it is expected that the entire line from KL to JB will be electric.

From Kluang to JB Sentral the old diesel Intercity train services complete the journey.

Here is my review of Intercity service to JB Sentral when it was running to Gemas.

Shuttle Tebrau: JB Sentral to Woodlands

The final leg is from JB Sentral to Woodlands via the Shuttle Tebrau.

This is a popular service as it’s a much quicker way to cross the border than using the shuttle bus service. Tickets for the JB Sentral-Woodlands shuttle trains sell out weeks in advance for the peak-hour trips, but you should be ok in getting a ticket in the afternoon.

The immigration process takes about 15 minutes, even if it’s busy. I saw some veteran border crossers that knew what carriage to get on in order to be the first in the immigration queue. I was at the back of the queue, but the line moves fast.

[Free seating assignment on the Shuttle Tebrau.]

As if getting three trains wasn’t complicated enough, Woodlands is not connected to a metro station. I walked to the nearest station at Marsiling MRT Station, which is 1.5 km/22 minutes away (according to Google Maps). You are then looking at another hour of travel time on the MRT to get to Central Singapore.

By the time you check in to your hotel you might be reconsidering if it’s worth doing this trip in one day. This is not an efficient way to travel if you need to be in Singapore that day. If you are travelling overland and have time, I would stay over night in JB and explore the Old City before getting on the shuttle to continue your journey. Kluang is also worthy of a stopover if you have time.

[James on the Shuttle Tebrau from JB to Woodlands.]

Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train

Going from Singapore to KL by train also requires planning. Here is how to go from
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train.

Future KL-Singapore train services

KL-JB ETS services

The Gemas-Johor Bahru electrified double-tracking rail project is expected to by completed by 2026. Once that is finished then ETS services will run from KL to JB in one service. There should be numerous services a day so you won’t be restricted to the current combination.

The ETS will not be extended to Singapore though, so it will still require a second train. There is a new urban rail link being built from JB to Singapore (RTS Link), so passengers will be able to show up and ride without needing to prebook a ticket.

Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High-Speed Railway

In addition to the current West Coast Line, a high-speed railway from KL to Singapore is being planned. This will travel on a different alignment and not pass through JB Sentral. This is still in planning, so it could be years away from being a reality. If it is built then there will be two different ways to travel from KL to Singapore by rail.

More Malaysia and Southeast Asia rail travel

This article is part of the Nomadic Notes train travel series. Read more about Malaysia train travel and Southeast Asia train travel.

View the full article

Bao Loc is a city in Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam. Bao Loc is the closest highland city to Ho Chi Minh City, and the construction of a new expressway has made it more accessible.

I was reading about some recent tourism developments in Bao Loc, which are being built to cash in on weekenders from Ho Chi Minh City.

There are frequent local buses from the popular tourist city of Da Lat, so I got the bus to Bao Loc to see what is happening.

[Local bus from Da Lat to Bao Loc.]

I thought it would be a short ride as Bao Loc is in the same province as Da Lat. It ended up taking 3 hours, not including the time it took driving around Da Lat to pick up more passengers. I should have looked at the time and distance on the map.

From a tourism perspective, there is not a lot going on in Bao Loc. It is pleasant yet unremarkable town. It doesn’t have the old French villas like Da Lat, and the mountains are not as dramatic as in Da Lat. Like Da Lat, Bao Loc has an artificial lake in the city centre, though the lake was being dredged when I visited.

There are nice tree-lined streets, and you can walk around without worrying about getting mown down when trying to cross the road.

If you are stuck for things to see, look on the map for a pagoda.

[Phuoc Hue Pagoda.]

Phuoc Hue Pagoda is not far from the main lake.

Whenever I am in a small city or town in Vietnam, I look for cafes hang out at. There are plenty of cafes in town to chill out in.

In addition to the lake being restored, the 28/3 Park was was also closed for renovation.

I had been travelling around the South Central Coast and Highlands in March of 2025, and every city had 30/4 posters to commemorate the upcoming liberation day anniversary. Each southern city has their own liberation day, and I was in Bao Loc leading up to the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bao Loc (28 March). If you are in a southern city and see a park with a date in March or April, then you can guess that this is a liberation park.

Bao Loc in 1975 was known as B’Lao Town, and it was the capital of Lam Dong from 1958 to 1975. The provinces and capitals were reorganised after reunification, and Da Lat became the capital of Lam Dong.

It’s hard to imagine now that Bao Loc could have been the capital, but there was a time when Da Lat was not the tourism juggernaut that it is today.

I walked around the peaceful streets of Bao Loc and wondered if this is what Da Lat felt like 30+ years ago.

Bao Loc is starting to get more local media attention, with such headlines as, Is Bao Loc the new Da Lat? It’s also being called a hidden gem, which is probably a sign that it’s no longer a hidden gem.

Most of the tourism activity is outside the city, so the city doesn’t feel like it is becoming the next Da Lat. I didn’t see any westerners when I was there (not even a stray English teacher), and there are no signs in Korean or Chinese.

There are holiday home developments in the surrounding hills with names like Sky Hills and Sakura Gardens, aimed for the short-break market from HCMC. I keep a list of developments in Da Lat and Lam Dong if you want to see more.

[Sky Hills Bao Loc.]

In my previous research about Lam Dong province, I found some plans for various railways in the Central Highlands. One railway was planned to connect a mining project in the highlands to a port, via Bao Loc. I made a map of all of the proposed Central Highlands railways, and this is what Bao Loc would look like if it was connected to a passenger railway system.

[Bao Loc in a futuristic Central Highlands railway network.]

This map has now changed because in July 2025, Binh Thuan province was merged into Lam Dong province. This means that Lam Dong is now a coastal and highland province.

There was also a plan to build a commercial airport on the site of the old Loc Phat airfield.

The railway and airport plans are extremely unlikely to happen, so for now, Bao Loc will retain its sleepy small city charm.

I stayed at the Camellia Hotel, which is located in the city centre near the lake (hopefully filled with water again if you plan to visit).

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The most convenient areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur for visitors, and the pick of the best hotels.

Kuala Lumpur is the biggest city in Malaysia and a major air hub for travel in Southeast Asia. If you are travelling in the region the chances are you are going to pass through here at some point. While it’s nowhere near as big as Bangkok, it’s a spread-out city that can be hard to navigate at first.

This Where To Stay guide is to help find the best areas in Kuala Lumpur. I have narrowed down the best areas to stay in if you are visiting for the first time. These areas are centrally-located with public transport, and have access to the most popular sites in KL.

Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur guide

Map of Kuala Lumpur hotels
Best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur
Old City Centre (Chinatown and Colonial District)
Bukit Bintang (Shopping and entertainment area, hotels for all budgets )
Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) (Upmarket hotels in the business area)
Bukit Nanas (Leafy streets around KL Tower)
Other areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur
KL Sentral / Brickfields (Rail transport hub and Little India area)
Chow Kit (Emerging area in Central KL)
Bangsar (Inner city residential area)

Map of Kuala Lumpur hotels

Map of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur.

[View map of Kuala Lumpur hotels.]

This map shows areas mentioned in this article. The outlined areas are not official boundaries.

Best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur

Old City Centre

Kuala Lumpur gets its name (“muddy confluence” in Malay) from where the Gombak and Klang rivers meet. At this junction is the Jamek Mosque, and the area around here is the old city. To the west of the Klang River are the historic colonial administrative buildings (often referred to as the Colonial District). To the east of the river are the shophouses of the old city.

Chinatown is within the old city, making up most of the area to the east of the river. The Petaling Street market is the centre of Chinatown.

The Old City has the most lively street activity, with lots of cheap places to eat. The Old City also has more old shophouses, though they have not been kept in good condition compared to Singapore. This area has been undergoing a transformation, so there are near-ruined shophouses standing next to freshly-restored shophouses with cool cafes and restaurants. The regeneration of the Old City area is also bringing in some better hotel options, so it is not just for budget travellers.

The biggest thing to have happened in KL is the Merdeka 118 Tower. This skyscraper topped out in 2021 and is now the second tallest building in the world. Merdeka 118 is near the Chinatown area, so this area will see more upgrades in the future. The tower complex has its own metro station (Merdeka), and it includes the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.

Overall, the Old City has the advantage of being near the historic colonial-era administrative buildings and most interesting street activity. This makes it my choice as the best area to stay if it’s your first time in Kuala Lumpur.

Budget (1-2 Stars)

Chinatown has the cheapest hostels and budget guesthouses in KL. Some of the budget options are very basic and haven’t aged well. The cheapest private rooms in guesthouse are usually partitioned rooms with a shared bathroom.

I’ve stayed at The Travel Hub Guesthouse and Matahari Lodge, which are budget options in the Chinatown area.

Backhome KL is a hotel with dorm beds and private rooms.

1000 Miles Hotel is another hybrid hotel is dorm and private options.

If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest hotels in Kuala Lumpur you could try your luck with the guesthouses on Jalan Pudu, opposite the old Pudu bus terminal. Here you will find some rooms for 40-45 MYR per night. None that I would personally recommend as they are pretty grim, but I’m just putting this here as information.

Mid-range (3-4 Stars)

The Travelodge City Centre is in a prominent flatiron-shaped building opposite the Central Market.

D Loft Hotel (3-star) is at the centre of Chinatown at the southern entrance of the Petaling Street Market.

Signalling that this area is getting more upmarket, the Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown is in a new building that opened in late 2019.

Luxury (5 Stars)

Most of the action in the old city centre is to the east of the river, and that is where you want to stay. I would make an exception for The Majestic Hotel.

The original Hotel Majestic is national heritage site that was built in 1932, diagonally opposite the even more majestic Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. This historic hotel saw many prominent international visitors over the years. The hotel has been expanded and is now The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection (a luxury hotel group within the Marriott International portfolio).

[Check rates for The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection.]

Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur occupies floors 75 to 115 of Merdeka 118, so this is the place to stay for the best views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline.

Bukit Bintang

Bukit Bintang is a popular shopping street in central KL. When looking for a place to stay, the surrounding streets are usually referred to as the Bukit Bintang area. Running parallel to Bukit Bintang is Jalan Alor, which has a famous night food market on the street. There are bars, nightclubs, and mega malls here, and its also popular with Arabian travellers. This area is KL at its international best.

The Bukit Bintang area has also been through extensive redevelopment over the last few years. There is a new metro station – Bukit Bintang Station of MRT Line 9 – and Bukit Bintang City Centre is rising at the site of the old Pudu Jail.

The central point of this area is the junction of Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail. The Bukit Bintang monorail station is near here, and the corner is starting to resemble a mini Times Square with all the bright lights and electronic advertising displays. The city has turned this busy intersection into a pedestrian scramble, and it is referred to as the the “Shibuya Crossing of KL“.

There are plenty of mid-range hotels, and some cheap guesthouses (though generally not as cheap as Chinatown). On the other side of Jalan Sultan Ismail are luxury hotels, so this area has something for everyone.

Budget (1-2 Stars)

Hotel Paloma Inn

Revopackers

Mid-range (3-4 Stars)

Travelodge Bukit Bintang is on the famous night market street.

WOLO Kuala Lumpur sits prominently on the corner of Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail (the “Shibuya Crossing” corner). This mid-range boutique hotel bills itself as “a hotel for the curious and creative traveller”.

[Wolo Hotel on the corner of Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail.]

Melange Boutique Hotel

The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel has a modern retro vibe and is right in the middle of the BB action.

citizenM Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang is on Jalan Pudu (the road that connects Bukit Bintang to Chinatown) and they describe themselves as “affordable luxury hotels”. citizenM is from the Netherlands and they have established themselves as a modern brand, with features such as mobile check-in.

Melia Kuala Lumpur (4-star) from the Meliá Hotels International of Spain have a hotel on Jalan Imbi.

Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur (4-star) is in

Luxury (5 Stars)

Most of the 5-star hotels are in the upper Bukit Bintang area, near the Pavilion KL Shopping Mall. Luxury hotels here include:

JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur

The Westin Kuala Lumpur

Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur Hotel

Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)

KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) is the central business district of KL, with the Petronas Twin Towers being the undisputed highlight of this area.

There are lots of malls and luxury hotel chains in this area, including the Suria KLCC shopping mall at the base of the twin towers. This opens out to the KLCC Park, where numerous hotels offer sought-after views of the twin towers.

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is in this area, and the streets are generally less chaotic than the rest of KL. Being a high-end luxury area it’s also a bit harder to find cheap eats, but Bukit Bintang is not far away.

[Jalan Pinang, KLCC.]

Like the rest of central Kuala Lumpur, KLCC is undergoing extensive redevelopment. A new MRT line (Putrajaya Line) opened in 2023, and new office towers and hotels are being built around this line.

KLCC is best if you want a great view of the Twin Towers, if you have a preferred luxury hotel, or are in the area for work. For budget travellers, I would stick to Chinatown and Bukit Bintang.

Mid-range (3-4 Stars)

Holiday Inn Express Kuala Lumpur City Centre is rated 3.5 Stars and is within walking distance of Bukit Bintang and KLCC.

Luxury (5 Stars)

Traders Hotel (a Shangri-La hotel) is well-known for having one of the best views of the twin towers. The hotel faces the park behind the twin towers, so there is no other building to obstruct the view.

W Kuala Lumpur is a 5-star hotel that has a swimming pool view of the twin towers.

In any other city the 343-metre tall Four Seasons Hotel would be a defining landmark of the skyline. Here it’s standing next to the twin towers, so its height is not immediately apparent.

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur overlooks KLCC Park.

Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel and Residences Hotel is located closer to Bukit Bintang, so it has the best of both worlds of being in KLCC with the amenities of the Pavilion KL mall.

Bukit Nanas

Bukit Nanas is the small hill that is home to the KL Tower, one of the great landmark towers of the city. This little hill has the last vestige of virgin tropical rainforest in the concrete jungle of Kuala Lumpur.

Bukit Nanas is near Bukit Bintang and KLCC. It’s not part of either but it’s not an official neighbourhood area either. There are not many amenities here as it’s more of an upmarket residential area. There are some serviced apartment accommodation in this area, such as Oasia Suites Kuala Lumpur by Far East Hospitality.

Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur On The Park By IHG (4.5-star) opened in 2023 and it features a living vertical garden in the lobby and a central staircase constructed from old railway sleepers.

The Shangri-la Hotel is set in a lush tropical garden located near the KL Forest Eco Park. This is within a walkable distance to the twin towers and Bukit Bintang. Here is my review.

[Shangri-la Hotel – Kuala Lumpur.]

Other areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur

KL Sentral / Brickfields

Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral) is the central station of Kuala Lumpur. This is the transit hub where long-distance trains, the airport express, commuter railways, and metro services meet. The original central station was the grand Kuala Lumpur Station, but it was moved to this bigger, modern (and uglier) facility.

A new central business district has evolved around KL Sentral, and there are some famous hotel names here.

Opposite the station is the Brickfields area. As the name would suggest, this area was home to the factories that supplied the bricks for the building of Kuala Lumpur in the late 1800’s. This area was quite run down before KL Sentral opened in 2001. Even now there are still some old guest houses that hint at a less glorious past, but the area has cleaned up due to its prime location. A few minutes walk from here is the vibrant Little India area of KL.

As a frequent traveller to Kuala Lumpur, I have often stayed in Brickfields when I’m transiting for a night. From the airport you can get the fast train to KL Sentral, and then walk outside. I would stay here if you want a speedy getaway in the morning, or if you have an allegiance to one of the high-end hotels at the station.

Budget Hotels

Budget hotels near KL Sentral are accessible through the NU Sentral shopping mall and then an overpass across Jalan Tun Sambanthan. KL Sentral can be a bit confusing if you’re not familiar with it, so follow the signs that point to the monorail station and that will get you there.

Some of budget hotels around KL Sentral include PODs The Backpackers Home & Cafe (2-Stars), Easy Hotel KL Sentral (3-Stars), and City Central Hotel @ KL Sentral (3-Stars).

4-Star and 5-Star Hotels

Some of the familiar names built on the station complex include the 4-Star Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral and Hilton Kuala Lumpur, and the 5-Star Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur. These are ideal for business travellers where time is of the essence. From here the airport express train takes just 28 minutes to KLIA.

Chow Kit

An emerging neighbourhood in KL is the Chow Kit area. I wouldn’t stay here if it’s your first time in KL, but I’m putting it here for regular visitors who would like to consider other areas. Chow Kit is in the central city area not far from KLCC. It’s been going through a regeneration of late, and it burst onto the international scene when it was featured by The New York Times in their list of 52 Places To Go In 2020.

The first area to check is the area I call “Lower Chow Kit”. Sometimes the hotels here are classified as being in KLCC or the Golden Triangle. There is no set boundary, but they are technically in Chow Kit.

The hotel of the moment here is the Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection.

Also around here is the Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur.

On the main street of the Chow Kit commercial area is The Chow Kit Hotel.

Next door is MoMo’s Kuala Lumpur, which is described as “social hotel with micro-rooms”. In the reception is a cafe, bar, and MoMosita Taco Bar.

Bangsar

Bangsar is a popular area for expats so I’ve listed this if you want an extended stay in a more residential area. There are lots bars and restaurants around the streets of Bangsar Village.

Bangsar is one stop away from KL Sentral on the Kelana Jaya LRT Line, though it’s a fair walk from the station to Bangsar Village (or most places in Bangsar). Outside of the central area you will discover that Kuala Lumpur is a car-oriented city.

Opposite the Bangsar LRT station is the Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur (5-star), a brand of Hyatt Hotels. This hotel is connected to the LRT station by a pedestrian bridge.

There are not many hotel options in Bangsar so try Airbnb.

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A guide for where to stay in Jakarta – finding the best areas that are close to transport, entertainment, and major tourist sites.

Jakarta is the biggest city in Southeast Asia, and finding a place to stay here can be an overwhelming experience when confronted with the map of the city.

Despite its size and unruly streets, finding where to stay in Jakarta is manageable if you stick to a defined area that is most useful for first-time visitors. This is the point of the Nomadic Notes Where To Stay guides.

This is not to say that the other hotels outside this area aren’t worth staying in, and I have stayed in such places myself on my previous visits to Jakarta. But for the first-time visitor to the Big Durian, I recommend sticking to the following areas to make your visit as efficient as possible.

Where to stay in Jakarta guide

Map of Jakarta hotels
Best area to stay in Jakarta
Jakarta Pusat (Central Jakarta)
Jalan Jaksa (Old backpacker street with budget hotels)
Jalan K.H. Wahid Hasyim (Best location)
Selamat Datang Monument area (Luxury hotels in the middle of Jakarta)
Jakarta Barat (West Jakarta)
Kota (Historic old town area)
Jakarta Selatan (South Jakarta)
Mega Kuningan (Golden Triangle business district)
Kemang (Long-term expats and digital nomads)
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth staying near Manggarai railway station?

Map of Jakarta hotels

Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map, along with train stations in each area.

[View map of Jakarta hotels.]

Best area to stay in Jakarta

The best area to stay in Jakarta is in Menteng District in Central Jakarta. This area is the most convenient for historical sites and transport. It includes every type of accommodation, from the backpacker area of Jalan Jaksa to luxury hotels on Jl. M.H. Thamrin.

Jakarta Pusat (Central Jakarta)

Jalan Jaksa

Jalan Jaksa (Jaksa Street) is the unofficial backpacker street of Jakarta. There used to be quite a scene here when backpackers were overlanding in droves across Indonesia. The street was ideal for overlanders as it’s near Gambir Station (the former long-distance railway station).

These days the backpacker scene here is all but gone, but it still remains the best place to stay if you are on a budget. It’s a short walk from the National Monument, which if you had to pick the central point of Jakarta then you would go with this.

For the ultra-budget conscious there is a selection of cheap hostels and losmen (family guesthouses) where you can turn up and look for a room. You have no choice but to do this as these sorts of places aren’t listed on booking sites. Most of them are in dire need of renovation by now, so you will be getting the full grungy backpacker experience.

For cheap places with walk-in bookings go to Jalan Kebon Sirih Barat I, which is opposite Alphamidi on 31 Jalan Jaksa. Down this alley, you will see signs pointing to little places to stay.

[Hostel alley off Jalan Jaksa.]

At the rate this street is gentrifying they may not even exist soon, so I will keep this post updated if I hear of any changes.

On Jalan Jaksa there are still some old guesthouses that remain from the backpacker days. The Tator Hotel is one of the old-school hotels that has dorm rooms and private rooms. I stayed in another hotel that was terribly run down, and I would only recommend for the ultra price-conscious.

One of the new hotels is the Dafam Express Jaksa Jakarta – modern boxy block that has become a common style in Indonesia (especially Bali).

Jalan K.H. Wahid Hasyim

Jalan Jaksa junctions with Jalan Kh Wahid Hasyim, which has some of the best varieties of mid-range hotels in Jakarta. This street runs between the Sarinah Mall (the future junction of metro lines 1 and 2) and Gondangdia station on the commuter railway. There are lots of places to eat around here, and it’s a 15-minute walk to the current metro station at Bundaran HI.

For first-time visitors to Jakarta, I think this street is hard to beat in terms of value, amenities, and access to transport. It’s also within striking distance of the main tourist sites, making it ideal if you are visiting Jakarta for the first time.

The good thing about Wahid Hasyim Street is that the city planners have put some effort into taming the street, with wide footpaths and bollards to block cars from parking in the pedestrian areas. The Akmani Hotel has also done its bit to make the street more beautiful with frangipani trees outside.

[Akmani Hotel on Jalan Wahid Hasyim.]

Notable hotels on this street include the Ibis Jakarta Tamarin Hotel and the Aloft Jakarta Wahid Hasyim.

[Aloft Jakarta Wahid Hasyim.]

Behind the corner of Jalan Wahid Hasyim and Jalan Thamrin is ARTOTEL Thamrin – Jakarta. This 3-star hotel is popular, especially for this prime location.

At the budget end of the spectrum are hotels like Paragon Wahid Hasyim.

[RedDoorz Hotel Paragon.]

When looking on booking sites (such as Agoda) they will show Jalan Jaksa and Jalan Kh Wahid Hasyim under the Thamrin neighbourhood option.

Selamat Datang Monument area

The area around the Selamat Datang Monument is home to fancy malls and brand-name 5-star hotels. This is on the big north-south thoroughfare of Jalan Thamrin (Jalan M.H. Thamrin) north of the monument, and Jalan Sudirman (Jalan Jenderal Sudirman) south of the monument. Some of the tallest buildings in Jakarta are along this road.

This area includes BNI City railway station, which is a stop on the Soekarno–Hatta Airport rail line.

On the north side of the roundabout on Jalan Thamrin is Bundaran HI metro station (the current northern terminus of the North-South metro line). From Bundaran HI it’s a 20-minute walk to Jalan Jaksa.

For orientation, the landmark hotel here is the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta. This is located next to the Selamat Datang Monument (also known as the Hotel Indonesia roundabout).

The Hotel Indonesia opened in 1962 and is one of the most famous hotels in Southeast Asia. After renovations in 2009, it reopened as the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta.

On the northwest corner of the roundabout is the Plaza Indonesia Mall, home to the Grand Hyatt Jakarta and the Keraton at The Plaza.

[Grand Hyatt Jakarta.]

Opposite Plaza Indonesia on the northeast corner is the Pullman Jakarta Indonesia.

And rounding out the ring of luxury on the southeast corner is the Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta.

[Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta.]

South of the monument on Jalan Sudirman, the next stop on the metro is Dukuh Atas BNI. This is near the BNI City airport rail link. Near the metro and airport rail link is the Holiday Inn Express Jakarta Wahid Hasyim.

The airport train station is also near Sudirman Station for the commuter railway, and the small streets around this station have some more budget-friendly hotel options. Don’t expect too much of budget hotels here, but this area is a good option if you want to be near the airport train.

If I had the money or points to burn then I would stay around the Selamat Datang Monument area. Like most neighbourhoods that have a high proportion of luxury hotels, the area is a bit of a food desert, but there are more food options around the BNI City and Sudirman train station area.

Jakarta Barat (West Jakarta)

Kota

[Fatahillah Square – Kota]

Kota is the old town of Jakarta, in the area that was known as Old Batavia in colonial times. Despite having the best heritage architecture in Jakarta this area hasn’t realised its full potential yet. This neighbourhood should be like Chinatown in KL, which is undergoing a revival.

This may change once the extension of the north-south metro line is completed. Kota will be the terminal stop for the northern extension. This may bring a transformation of the area like Chinatown in KL.

Kota is already served by the commuter railway so it’s not hard to get to. The main problem is the lack of amenities compared to Jalan Wahid Hasyim.

Wonderloft Hostel opened in 2017, and this popular hostel might be the harbinger of a future revitalised old town.

Mercure Jakarta Batavia is also here, with a good location by one of the canals.

Jakarta Selatan (South Jakarta)

Mega Kuningan

Mega Kuningan is the main business district of Jakarta, and it’s within the area that is referred to as The Golden Triangle. At the top of the triangle is the BNI City airport train station, and the western side of the triangle has the metro running down Sudirman Road.

If you are doing business in this part of Jakarta or you like big-name hotels then this is your area.

Some of the more familiar names here include the Ritz-Carlton Jakarta and JW Marriott Jakarta.

There are also budget hotels in this area, including the ubiquitous RedDoorz brand.

This area wouldn’t be my first pick as a first-time visitor unless you are attending business in the area or are burning/collecting hotel points at a preferred hotel chain.

Kemang

If you are just visiting Jakarta then I wouldn’t stay here as it’s too far from the main tourist sites. I mention Kemang in South Jakarta as it’s one of the popular expat neighbourhoods, so if you are reading this and looking for where to stay long-term in Jakarta then this is your area.

A good reference point is the shopping centre at Kemang Square. Grandkemang Hotel is nearby this area.

Another option for Kemang (especially if you are hunting around for apartments) is to stay at an Airbnb in Kemang.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth staying near Manggarai railway station?

Manggarai is the future central railway station of Jakarta, replacing Gambir Station. This is not a recommended area yet, but I have this one on my watch list as there are plans for a shopping area and a 5-star hotel. I will be interested to see if the surrounding area is going to be developed with new hotels, which would make Manggarai a convenient place to stay in the future.

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Sri Racha is a city on the Bay of Bangkok in Chonburi province. The city is in between Bang Saen (the closest beach to Bangkok) and Pattaya, and it is part of the Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area.

Most people would be familiar with Sriracha for the sauce, though the most famous Sriracha sauce brand is made by a Vietnamese immigrant in America and not from Thailand. This name is so famous that it messes with search results when looking for anything to do with the city of Sri Racha.

I was interested to visit Sri Racha as it’s known as the Little Osaka of Thailand. Sri Racha got this title as it’s an industrial hub that includes Japanese car manufacturers. Japanese workers live in Sri Racha, and now it has also become a retirement city for Japanese.

I visited Sri Racha in January 2025, and these are my notes from that trip.

There are numerous buses that depart from Ekkamai Station in Bangkok. The bus stop in Sri Racha is on the side of the road in front of Robinson department store. Being dumped on the side of the road is not a dignified arrival, but it turns out that this is as central as it gets.

[Robinson on Sukhumvit Rd, Sri Racha.]

The main road that goes through Sri Racha is Sukhumvit Road (the same Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok), and the most useful area for visitors is between Sukhumvit Road and the sea.

I guessed that the best area to stay was near Robinson, so that turned out to be an inspired guess. After dropping off my bags I walked towards the sea.

There is not a coast promenade here so it’s hard to get a view of the sea. There is no real beach here and it is a port city, so there was never a need to make a seaside promenade.

There is an old village on the seafront with houses on stilts.

There are some guesthouses here that I didn’t see online.

These guesthouses reminded me of the jetty guesthouses in Hua Hin that are still operating (for now).

The pier is the best place to get a view of the city and its relation to the sea.

There are some colourful old working fishing boats here.

There is a better stretch of seafront north of the pier at Surasak Montri Public Park. The park includes an artificial beach, but it’s near a waste water runoff and the water was black when I was there. This is why I don’t swim anywhere in the Bay of Bangkok.

Apart from the polluted water, the seafront park is pleasant. It would be a nice place to live if you are happy with a sea view and are not interested in swimming. There are new apartment towers near the park with sea views.

The park includes a running/skating circuit, and it was good to see that kids were putting it to use.

I wandered more around the area between Sukhumvit Road and the sea, and the Osaka of Thailand nickname is apparent with the amount of Japanese restaurants and bars.

There is a karaoke bar area that caters for Japanese, and it was odd to walk through such an area and not be called out. Westerners are not the target audience here. There are some cool bars that would not look out of place in Osaka, such as Rat Fink Bar.

I don’t drink, so I can’t vouch for the bar scene. There isn’t a hipster cafe scene here yet, but I found good coffee at Meloso Coffee Roaster (part of Raphael Bakery).

[Latte at Meloso Coffee Roaster.]

I read online that Sriracha is the only place in Thailand where the government office sign has Japanese language.

There is also a torii gate in the city, so yes, there is a distinct Japanese presence in Sri Racha.

There are many Japanese restaurants here, so I tried out some ramen places while I was there.

[Ramen at Izakaya Ryoma.]

I’m not against fusion food, so when I saw this ramen truck serving tom yum ramen I had to try it.

[Le Mong Ramen Truck]

Tom yum is the Thai hot and sour soup, and ramen is the classic Japanese noodle soup. I love both, but would they work as a combination? It was a tasty soup, but every mouthful was constantly confusing to be tasting ramen ingredients in a tom yum broth. Overall I felt that this Thai-Japanese fusion was an appropriate soup to try in Sri Racha.

[Tom Yum and Ramen, together at last.]

There is also a typical Thai night market in front of the Pacific Park mall. This has all the usual Thai night market staples if you are ramened out.

Ferries for Ko Si Chang depart from Sri Racha. Ko Si Chang is the closest island to Bangkok that is open to the public, and I have listed that in my guide to the closest beaches and islands to Bangkok.

Ferries depart from a little island that is connected by a pier. I didn’t go to Ko Si Chang on this trip, but I walked along the pier to Ko Loi, so I can technically say that I have been to another island in Thailand.

[Walkway to Ko Loi.]

The only obvious tourists I saw in Sri Racha were at the pier coming from and going to Ko Si Chang.

There is a wat on the island, which was something of interest to visit if you aren’t getting a ferry.

The walk is worth it to get a sea view of the Sri Racha skyline.

There is a train station in Sri Racha, but the train is infrequent and slow, and the station is far inland. I took the same train from Bangkok to Pattaya, and I only took it to see what it was like. I am waiting for the 3-airport high-speed railway to open, which will stop at Sri Racha.

I noticed on my wanders around the city some old engines.

[Old engine near the Surasak Montri Public Park.]

I presume there were used to haul freight from the port, but I have not found any info about this.

[Old engine near the Sriracha Town Municipality Office.]

If I was a proper island bagger I would have gone to Ko Si Chang, but I passed that opportunity to visit another island. I might end up back here if/when the high-speed railway opens.

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This guide is to help find the best areas to stay in Dubai for first-time visitors.

Dubai has grown to become one of the most visited cities in the world. Even if you’re not planning on visiting, you might end up here on the way to somewhere else thanks to the extensive Emirates network.

Dubai is a geographically enormous city, so choosing what area to stay in is just as important as what hotel to stay in.

To give you an idea of how big Dubai is, here is Manhattan in New York overlaid on Dubai.

[Size of Manhattan compared to Dubai (via size-explorer.com.]

This Where To Stay guide is to help find the best areas to stay in Dubai for first-time visitors. This is based on my personal experience and exploration of the city. I want to show you what Dubai really looks like, beyond the Instagram-friendly infinity pools.

[A Hilton Garden Inn in an area I don’t recommend staying in.]

These areas are near public transport and amenities to make the most of your time. You don’t want to be stranded in a suburban area surrounded by freeways. I’ve also added hotels that are famous landmarks or that are a destination in their own right.

Where to stay in Dubai guide

Map of Dubai hotels
Best areas to stay in Dubai
Deira (old city area with the most budget options)
Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall)
Jumeirah (see or stay at the Burj Al Arab)
Palm Jumeirah (the palm tree-shaped island in the sea)
Trade Centre (the most central financial district)
Dubai Marina (popular beach and canal neighbourhood)
Frequently asked questions

Map of Dubai hotels

Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map, along with metro stations in each area.

[View map of Dubai.]

Best areas to stay in Dubai

The short version is that if you are on a budget and don’t know where to stay, then stay in Deira.

If you stay outside Deira, then refer to the metro map and make sure you are staying near a station on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro. This will make a big improvement on your trip as you will be able to visit other places that are along the line.

Start your search for hotels in Dubai.

Deira

[Muteena Park in Deira.]

Deira is the best place to stay if you are on a budget, and it’s my preferred area to stay in Dubai. It’s the most interesting place because the streets are more walkable here than in any other part of the city. There are also more affordable eating options, with cafes and restaurants catering to the army of overseas workers that live in the area (especially from South Asia and the Philippines).

Deira is one of the oldest areas of Deira, though don’t expect to see an “old town” with cobbled streets and ancient buildings. It’s old in that it’s more lived-in than anywhere else, and it has more street activity compared to the newer areas.

Deira has the advantage of being close to the airport and having a metro station where the two lines interchange (Union Station). You can base yourself here and use the metro to see the main sights further up the line. If you are doing a stopover in Dubai then it is easy to get to the airport from here.

While Dubai is famous for lavish hotels that are featured in luxury hotel guides, the budget end of the scale is poor value.

The cheapest private rooms I found were on Airbnb, but many of them are no more than a bed in a partitioned room. There are a number of listings like this on Airbnb, and you will find many rooms run by the same agent.

Partitioned rooms and dorms are how many overseas workers live in Dubai, and you will see advertisements all over the city advertising bed space. My tip for looking for a room is to make sure it has a window, that way your broom-closet-sized room won’t be so depressing.

When looking for a place to stay in Deira, look for hotels near Union Station and along the Red Line at towards Al Rigga and City Centre Deira. And on the Green Line, look towards Salah Al Din Metro Station.

Hotels in Deira

The central point of Deira is Al Ghurair Centre mall, near Union Station. The mall is home to Swissôtel Al Ghurair Dubai.

Near Al Rigga is ibis Dubai Al Rigga and Howard Johnson Plaza by Wyndham Dubai Deira.

I stayed at Royal Falcon Hotel near Salah Al Din Metro Station, and at Panorama Hotel Deira near union Station.

Search for hotels in Deira.

Downtown Dubai

Downtown Dubai is a mixed-use complex created by the Emaar Real Estate Development Company, and not a downtown in an American sense (Deira would be more downtown than anywhere). It is centrally located with lots of skyscrapers that are relatively easy to get to, so I can give them a pass on the name.

If you are doing touristy things then you will end up here at some point to see the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest skyscraper). Next to the Burj Khalifa is the Burj Park by Emaar, where you can watch The Dubai Fountain.

Downtown Dubai is home to the Dubai Mall, which is one of the largest malls in the world. The mall is directly connected to the Burj Khalifa/ Dubai Mall Metro Station by an enclosed air-conditioned walkway.

Hotels in Downtown Dubai

Armani Hotel Dubai is a hotel by fashion icon Giorgio Armani. The hotel occupies 11 floors of the Burj Khalifa, and it has direct access to Dubai Mall.

Search for more hotels in Downtown Dubai.

Jumeirah

Jumeirah is a residential area on the stretch of the coast between Deira and Palm Jumeirah. There is a surprisingly good public beach here, and the main landmark is the Jumeirah Mosque.

Jumeirah is not on the metro line, so it’s not a convenient area for using as a base to explore.

Hotels in Jumeirah

If you want to blow out your budget, then head to the Burj Al Arab. This hotel looks like a spinnaker sail of a yacht, and it is perhaps the most recognizable hotel in the world. It became known as a seven-star hotel, even though there is no such thing.

Search for more hotels in Jumeirah.

Palm Jumeirah

The Palm Jumeirah is a group of artificial islands off the coast of Dubai that forms the shape of a palm tree. This land-reclamation projection is not to be confused with the other projects that remain unfinished.

The trunk of the palm tree has a 5.4-kilometre-long monorail that connects the mainland to the top of the tree. The monorail is not part of the metro system, and the ticket price is priced more like a theme park, which this entire island group feels like.

The palm fronds are filled with mansions and villas, and the outer breakwater that surrounds the tree has some famous hotels that are a destination unto themselves.

Hotels in Palm Jumeirah

Atlantis, The Palm is the most well-known resort in Dubai, and you have probably seen the photos of its underwater hotel rooms.

[Atlantis, The Palm]

Nearby is Atlantis The Royal, which has become a visible landmark of the city (even so far out at sea). This ultra-luxury resort made global headlines when Beyoncé earned $24 million for a one-hour grand opening concert. She stayed in a a $100,000-a-night suite.

In the middle of the tree trunk at Nakheel Mall is the Palm Tower. This tower includes The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm. Its location in the middle of the tree gives it a better view, and the infinity pool is often featured by Instagram influencers.

Search for more hotels in Palm Jumeirah.

Trade Centre

Trade Centre is a major financial district characterised by a canyon of skyscrapers along Sheikh Zayed Rd. The metro follows the route of Sheikh Zayed Rd with three stops in this area. The most notable landmark in this area is the Museum of the Future.

[Museum of the Future.]

Stay here if you have a conference or business to attend in the area.

Hotels in Trade Centre

A notable hotel here is the Gevora Hotel. According to Guinness World Records, this 356.33 metre / 75-storey tower is officially the tallest hotel in the world.

[Gevora Hotel.]

25hours Hotel Dubai One Central offers a creative respite in a very suit and tie-focused district.

Search for more hotels in Trade Centre area.

Dubai Marina

Dubai Marina is a beachfront district that was purpose-built with canals. The combination of beaches and canals has made Dubai Marina the most sought-after location in Dubai. There is a large expat community that lives here among the many apartment towers, and the big names in luxury hotels are on the seafront.

Hotels in Dubai Marina

Dubai Marina is dominated by Jumeirah Beach Residence, which includes 35 residential towers and 5 hotels. With so many apartments in this area, it’s worth checking for apartment rentals.

Address Beach Resort is the most distinctive hotel on the beach. The hotel features two 77-story towers connected by a sky bridge, topped of by the world’s highest infinity pool.

[Address Beach Resort.]

Search for more hotels in Dubai Marina.

Frequently asked questions

Where to find hotels with gyms?
Visit this list of the best hotel gyms in Dubai.

View the full article

Where to stay in Macau – a guide to the best areas to stay in, and the best-rated hotels and casinos.

Macau (or Macao in English) is a former colonial trading port of Portugal on the Pearl River estuary in Southern China. Macau was returned back to China in 1999, and it’s governed as a Special Administrative Region of China (like Hong Kong). While it’s much smaller than its counterpart across the river, Macau has made a name for itself as the casino capital of China.

The appeal of Macau is that it still has a well-preserved old city that is distinctly Portuguese. Macau is a popular day trip from Hong Kong, with regular ferries making the trip in one hour. There is also a bridge from Hong Kong, making it possible to get the bus. A day trip is enough if you’re not here to gamble and want to see the sights. If you do want to stay then this Where To Stay guide is for the best areas to stay in Macau.

Where to stay in Macau guide

Map of Macau hotels
Macau City (Historic old city area)
Taipa (Macau International Airport)
Cotai (The Las Vegas of Asia)
Coloane (Laidback southern end of Macau)

Map of Macau hotels

Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map.

[View map of Macau hotels.]

Macau City

[Macau City.]

Macau City is the best area to stay in Macau. The old area of Macau is where most of the action is, with the Portuguese-style street paving and UNESCO World Heritage area. If it’s your first time in Macau, stay in Macau City to make the most of your trip.

Search and compare deals for hotels in Macau City.

Hostels and Guesthouses

SanVa Hostel is the cheapest hotel in Macau. If you’ve ever dreamed of staying in an old-world flophouse in the Far East, then this is your place. This old guesthouse is the only one of its kind now, so staying here is to see old Macau before it disappears. I’ve stayed here before, and the cheapest rooms are nothing more than a box with a bed in it, and all rooms have shared bathrooms. The Hospedaria has been used as a set location for films. It’s located on Rua de Felicidade, one of the most picturesque old streets in Macau. Here is the review of my stay.

[Rua Felicidade, Macau SAR – China.]

Augusters Lodge used to be the go-to hostel in Macau. They have since closed down, and their website was recommending staying in Hong Kong. New accommodation laws (pushed by the powerful hotel lobby) seem be a reason for the lack of backpacker hostels in Macau.

For cheap online hotel bookings Home of Macau and Ka Meng Villa are the best rated cheap hotels in Macau. Villa Tong Keng is another option if you are just looking for a cheap room.

Mid-range Hotels

At the mid-range level (3-4 stars), these are a good option if you prefer not to stay in a casino.

Hotel Central Macau is an iconic hotel that was built in 1928. The “Hotel Central” sign on top of the building is a landmark of the city, and the story of the current owner sounds like out of the pages of Crazy Rich Asians.

Macau Hotel S and the Sintra Hotel are the pick of the 3-star hotels.

At this stage, Macau doesn’t have mid-range casino options like in Las Vegas, where you can find 3-star hotels for $40 a night. All the casino operators are going for the luxury market, so maybe in a few years once the city has built itself out there will be more mid-range options.

5 star hotels in Macau

Most of the luxury hotels in Macau are part of a casino, so if you are here to gamble there is usually a hotel promotion somewhere that is offering a discount rate. It’s worth filtering your search results to 5 stars as there are often deals that would turn this visit into a cheap luxury break.

The best-rated non-casino is the Mandarin Oriental, Macau, while the best-rated casino hotel is the Wynn Macau Hotel.

[Wynn Macau Hotel.]

The defining landmark of Macau is Grand Lisboa Hotel. This is the tallest hotel in Macau and is shaped like no other building in the world. It’s supposed to represent a lotus flower, though I think it looks like a giant flame (a bonfire of gamblers’ cash, perhaps.) Anyway, if you are staying here you will never forget where your hotel is because you can see it from just about everywhere.

[Grand Lisboa Hotel.]

Other familiar names for Vegas visitors include the Sands Macao Hotel and the MGM Macau.

Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau is a 5-star luxury hotel near the Outer Harbour. Here is my review.

Taipa

Taipa is south of Macau City, but there is no need to consider staying here if it’s your first time in Macau. If you are curious to see it, then go to the streets around Rua do Cunha.

Macau International Airport is in Taipa, and the closest hotel to the airport is the Golden Crown China Hotel.

Cotai

[The Cotai Strip – Asia’s Las Vegas]

Cotai is across the bay from the old city, built on reclaimed land between the islands of Coloane and Taipa (thus the name, Co + Tai). Cotai has fashioned itself on Las Vegas, and there is an area known as The Cotai Strip.

The Cotai Strip is mostly luxury casino developments and is best if you’re on a gambling trip, or if your favourite casino is here. When you are on the Cotai Strip you will see they are not joking when they say that Macau is the Vegas of the East. The Cotai Strip is starting to resemble The Strip in Las Vegas. The Parisian Macao even has a half-scale model of the Eiffel Tower, as does the Paris Las Vegas.

The flagship casino of the Cotai Strip is The Venetian Macao, which is the largest casino in the world. This luxury hotel and casino resort is owned by Las Vegas Sands company and is modelled on the Venetian Las Vegas.

Opposite The Venetian Macao is the City of Dreams resort and casino complex. The casino is surrounded by four towers: the City of Dreams – The Countdown Hotel, City of Dreams – Nuwa Macau, and the Grand Hyatt Macau Hotel, which occupies two towers.

While the casinos of Cotai have been copying the formula of Las Vegas, it’s also starting to produce some unique architecture in its own right. Also at City of Dreams is Morpheus – a hotel designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The striking design of this hotel has landed it in numerous best of lists, and it may signal a new era in Cotai where hotels strive for unique architecture.

Even though Macau has surpassed Vegas in terms of gambling revenue, it has a way to go before Macau’s nightlife catches up to the cool factor that Vegas has. There are plans for further Vegasization of Macau, which is to say the development of non-gaming entertainment that Las Vegas does so well. Most of the entertainment options are catering for the Chinese audience, so I will be curious to see how Cotai develops in the future and if it offers more entertainment options like Vegas.

One such hotel that is bringing Hollywood-style entertainment is Studio City. This hotel resort has more family-oriented attractions, such as the Batman Dark Flight simulator and Warner Bros. Fun Zone.

W Macau – Studio City opened in 2023, and it is another hotel designed by Zaha Hadid Architects

Galaxy Macau is a casino resort complex that hosts several band-name hotels, including Hotel Okura Macau, Banyan Tree Macau, JW Marriott Macau, and The Ritz-Carlton Macau.

In September 2023 the Galaxy Entertainment Group opened the Andaz Hotel. This 700-room hotel is the largest Andaz Hotel in the world.

Joining the list of hotels at Galaxy is the Raffles at Galaxy Macau.

The Palazzo Versace Macau is the first Versace hotel in Asia.

The Karl Lagerfeld is located at The Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau. The tower is the only hotel in the world that was entirely designed by and named after the late fashion icon.

Search and compare deals for hotels on The Cotai Strip.

Coloane

Coloane was the island in the south of Macau that is now joined with the island of Taipa. Coloane Village is the main point of interest here, with the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier being the landmark. There aren’t many accommodation options so it is better for a day trip.

Considering that Macau has a decent collection of heritage buildings, there is a surprising lack of boutique hotels in any of the old colonial properties. One such place is the Pousada de Coloane Boutique Hotel, which is set in the old Fortaleza da Barra fortress.

Grand Coloane Resort is the only true beach resort in Macau, overlooking Hac Sa Beach. Macau is part of the Pearl River Delta, so don’t come here expecting The Algarve.

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The best areas to stay in Chiang Mai for visitors. This guides also includes where to stay for longer stays if you are a digital nomad.

Chiang Mai is a surprisingly international city for an inland provincial capital. Part of its charm is the Old City, which is surrounded by a moat and fortress wall. Chiang Mai is considered as the cultural capital of Thailand, and the city is filled with beautiful Buddhist temples (wats).

This Where To Stay guide lists where to stay in Chiang Mai for first-timers, and where to stay if you plan to stay longer as a digital nomad.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai guide

Map of Chiang Mai hotels
Best areas to stay in Chiang Mai
Old City (Historic area inside the moat)
Nimmanhaemin (Entertainment area popular with digital nomads)
Night Bazaar (Shopping area with big hotels)
Other areas to stay in Chiang Mai
Chinatown (Old area that is revitalising)
Santitham (Low-key local area for expats and nomads)

Map of Chiang Mai hotels

Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map.

[View map of Chiang Mai hotels.]

Best areas to stay in Chiang Mai

If you’re visiting Chiang Mai for the first time then stay in the Old City. This is the most historic area with temples and quiet streets to wander around.

If you’re planning to stay longer as a digital nomad, then the Nimmanhemin area is more popular for long-term stays.

The Night Bazaar. and area around the Ping River is where most of the 5-star hotels and resorts are located.

Search for hotels in Chiang Mai.

Old City

The Old City is where all the action is for the casual visitor to Chiang Mai. The area is easily defined by the city wall and moat which forms a square around the city. Inside the moat is the old town area which is distinctly low rise. Cross-town traffic has to go around the moat, so there is no through-traffic. Indeed, some lanes are so quiet throughout the day it feels like you are in a small town.

Each side of the moat has a main gate on the wall, with Tha Phae Gate (East Gate) being the most popular area for accommodation options. If you want to be in the most central area, search around Tha Phae Gate.

Search all hotels in the Old City.

At Tha Phae Gate is Ratchadamnoen Road, which runs east-west to Wat Phra Singh (Gold Temple). On Sunday night this road becomes a walking street for the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market. This is one of the most lively night markets in Thailand. If you are looking for the most central area or “main street”, then Ratchadamnoen Road would be it.

Hostels and Guesthouses

There are lots of options for budget accommodation, and if you will be pleasantly surprised with how much cheaper it is here compared with accommodation in Bangkok or the Thai islands.

The most lively backpacker area is between Tha Phae Gate and the northeast corner of the moat. Moonmuang Road runs along this section of the moat, and there are many cheap places to stay in the sois (alleys) off Moonmuang. It’s nothing like Khao San Road in Bangkok (a noisy party street) so you can come here to chill or party.

There are still guesthouses in this area without online booking presence where you can walk in and get a room. There are lots of cheap places online now so there is no real advantage of showing up without a booking. A cheap guesthouse I’ve stayed which has online booking is the Banwiang Guest House.

S.K. House 1 is one of the older backpacker hotels in the Moonmuang area.

Moonmuang Lane 7 has a variety of budget and boutique guesthouse options, including Sri Pat Guest House (3-star) and Valentier Cafe and Hotel (3-star).

[Sri Pat Guest House.]

Opposite Moonmuang Lane 7 on the other side of the moat is Chaiyapoom Soi 1. This has become a mini backpacker party alley, with Stamps Backpackers being a popular place to socialise with fellow travellers.

[Stamps Backpackers.]

Mid Range

The old city has a good selection of mid-range hotels, some of which have pools and are tucked away in peaceful gardens. There are height restrictions in the old city, so there are no boxy chain hotels here.

Hotel M Chiang Mai (3-star) is in a busy area opposite Tha Phae Gate.

Boutique hotels the old city include Wealth Boutique Hotel Chiang Mai (3.5-star) and Baan Huenphen Boutique Hotel (3.5-star).

On Ratchadamnoen Road is the Moondragon Hotel Chiang Mai (3.5-star).

Another Ratchadamnoen Road option is MoMo Hotel (4-star).

4-star/Boutique

The 5-star hotels in Chiang Mai are located outside the old city, but there are a number of 4-star hotels to choose from.

Amora Tapae Hotel (4-star) is the largest hotel in the Old City vicinity, located outside the moat and near Tha Phae Gate.

[Amora Tapae Hotel next to the Old City moat.]

Hotel De Sripoom (4-star) is in the quiet Moonmuang area.

[Hotel De Sripoom.]

Tamarind Village Hotel (4-star) is built around an old tamarind tree with a garden setting, off Rajdamnoen Road.

[Entrance to Tamarind Village Hotel.]

The Baan Klang Wiang Hotel and 99 The Heritage Hotel are highly-rated 4 Star hotels.

The 4.5 Star Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel is the highest star-rated hotel in the old area.

[Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel.]

Nimmanhaemin

Nimmanhaemin refers to Nimmanhaemin Rd (sometimes written as Nimmanhaeminda Rd) which is northwest of the old city. It’s also referred to as Nimman, which can mean the road or the general area around it.

Nimmanhaemin Road is a busy thoroughfare where the Route 11 Superhighway abruptly ends and funnels traffic into this road. Off Nimmanhaemin there are lanes that are filled with cool cafes and boutique stores that wouldn’t be out of place in Bangkok. This is definitely the coolest place in Chiang Mai, and it’s also the epicentre of the digital nomad scene.

If you are a new visitor or only staying a few days in Chiang Mai then I would stay in the old city. Most of the tourist sites are around there, and the bulk of the travel agencies are around there for onward travel.

I would recommend Nimmanhaemin if you have been to Chiang Mai before and want to experience the modern arty side of the city, or if you are hunting for an apartment rental in the area.

When coming from the old city the main road is Huay Kaew Road. At the intersection of Nimmanhaemin and Huay Kaew is Maya Mall, and Huay Kaew continues towards Doi Suthep (Mount Suthep) – the dominant landmark of Chiang Mai.

[Eastin Tan Hotel and Maya Mall.]

Search for hotels near Nimmanhemin in Chiang Mai.

Hostels and Guesthouses

There aren’t as many budget accommodation options here, and if you are looking for a cheap guesthouse with a private bathroom then I would stay in the old city. If you are a hostel person then there are quite a few good choices here that reflect the boutique style of the Nimman area.

Baan Mek Hostel has Japanese-style private compartments instead of dorm beds and is a cool place to stay. Here is my review of the Baan Mek Hostel.

Another good place to look for.a cheap room is on Airbnb. I found a room on Nimmanhaemin Soi 9 which was ideal for a few days.

Mid Range

Samantan Hotel is a 3-star hotel that has an arty Nimman vibe.

Yantarasri Resort (4-star) is set in a tropical garden and is conveniently located off Nimmanhaemin.

The corner of Nimmanhaemin and Huay Kaew Road is anchored by two big hotels (by Chiang Mai standards). Opposite Maya Mall is the Eastin Tan Hotel Chiang Mai (4-star). Rooms on the western side offer great views of Doi Suthep. The hotel is next to a plaza that has been turned into a Little Tokyo shopping area, complete with a fake metro station.

[Eastin Tan Hotel Chiang Mai.]

Luxury Hotels

On the other corner of Nimmanhaemin and Huay Kaew Road is the 5-star U Nimman Chiang Mai on 1 Nimmanhaemin Road. This is next door to the One Nimman shopping centre, which is a shopping complex with a European-style arcade.

[U Nimman Chiang Mai.]

Amanor Hotel Chiang Mai offer modern 5-star suites.

Night Bazaar

This covers the area between the eastern wall of the old city and the Ping River. I’ve spent several months in Chiang Mai, yet I have rarely stayed in this area. I am always surprised with how busy it is when I go there. Most of the luxury 5-star level hotels are in this area as there is not the same height restriction on buildings.

There are two main roads that connect the old city to the night bazaar area. Thapae Road is a busy one-way street the runs from the Ping River towards Thapae Gate.

The other road is Loi Kroh Road, which is a one-way street from the old city to the night bazaar. Loi Kroh Road is where most of the expat pubs and girlie bars are. It’s another world away from the Nimman hipster scene.

Search for hotels near Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai.

Hostels and Guesthouses

Mad Monkey Chiang Mai is a party hostel which you might have seen in other places around Southeast Asia.

Mid Range

Hotel Montha is one of the best-rated 3 Star hotels east of the Tha Pae Gate.

Movenpick Suriwongse Chiang Mai (4-star) is a landmark hotel in the cluster of big hotels in the Night Bazaar area.

Duangtawan Hotel (4-star) is at the Night Bazaar end of Loy Kroh Road (the bar street).

[Duangtawan Hotel on Loy Kroh Road.]

Luxury

Most of the luxury hotels in Chiang Mai can be found in the Night Bazaar and riverside area in Chang Khlan.

Near the Night Bazaar is the Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel (formerly the Le Meridien).

The InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping opened in November 2023 after taking over the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel which closed in 2019.

[InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping.]

Between the Night Market and the Ping River is the Melia Chiang Mai.

South of the Night Bazaar in Chang Khlan is the Shangri-La Hotel.

Anantara Chiang Mai Resort is not far from the market area and has frontage on the Ping River.

Other areas to stay in Chiang Mai

I have included some other areas to consider if you are a repeat visitor to Chiang Mai and looking for somewhere different to stay.

Chinatown

The Chinatown area is between the Old City and the Ping River, centred around the Warorot Market area. There is a Chinese Welcome Gate, though the exact boundary of Chinatown is undefined.

I’ve been walking around this area for years, and the shops in the area have always been a bit old and run-down. There has been a noticeable change happening in the area, with little bars and boutique shops popping up. The Warehouse on Ratchawong Road is an old warehouse that has been turned into an art space with vintage clothing stores and cool bars. Behind the Warehouse is the The Warehouse Chiang Mai Hotel (3-star).

Also on Ratchawong Road is the Darley Hotel Chiangmai (3-star).

Santitham

The Santitham area is northwest of the Old City area in Ban Sathaphon. Santitham is named after a road and it’s not an official district name. This area has become popular with expats and digital nomads who are looking for a more local living experience while being close to the Old City and Nimman.

Santitham is my preferred area if I’m spending a month in Chiang Mai. If you are considering a longer stay then have a look around the area to see if you like it. You may find it’s too quiet or not close enough to the main areas. The main drawback for me is there are no cafes open at night in this area.

There aren’t as many hotels in Santitham as it’s mostly residential. There are cheap monthly rentals in the area that aren’t listed on booking sites. I have found monthly rentals by walking around looking for rental signs. I have stayed here for 5,500 THB ($154 USD) per month.

Ban Kong Rao Yododo Resort (2-star) is a guesthouse in the main area near the shops and restaurants.

Wiang Inn Mansion (3-star) offers daily and monthly rentals.

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On the railway to China, the hidden ancient citadel, and visiting the Koreatown and Chinatown in this booming manufacturing hub of Northern Vietnam.

Bac Ninh is the capital city of Bac Ninh province, neighbouring Hanoi. Bac Ninh province is part of the Hanoi Metropolitan Area, and on the drive to Bac Ninh it’s hard to tell where Hanoi ends and Bac Ninh begins. At least there is still some farmland in between that stops Hanoi fully merging into Bac Ninh.

Bac Ninh is an industrial powerhouse of Vietnam, so it’s not exactly high on the list of places to visit for leisure travellers. Apart from the fact that I am making my way through the list of provincial capitals in Vietnam, there were some things here I wanted to see.

The Hanoi-Dong Dang Railway passes through Bac Ninh (the train line to Nanning in China), and I noticed there is a citadel next to the station. I also read that Bac Ninh has a large Koreatown and Chinatown area, which seemed unusual for a provincial city.

[Map of Bac Ninh Ancient Citadel.]

I visited Bac Ninh in July 2024, and these are my travel notes.

Bac Ninh Station

Bac Ninh is on the Hanoi-Dong Dang Railway, though there were no trains running at the time of my visit. The Hanoi-Nanning train was cancelled during the pandemic and had not been restored.

[Bac Ninh Station]

Even without this international connection, it seemed like a missed opportunity to not run local trains on this line. I couldn’t find the bus stop for the local bus, so I ended up getting a Grab taxi from Hanoi to Bac Ninh.

For rail nerds, the Hanoi-Dong Dang Railway has a dual-gauge track. There is a metre-gauge track for local trains, and the standard-gauge line is for the train to China.

The line goes through the urban area of Bac Ninh, and I wondered if any of these streets would become famous like Hanoi Train Street if the train was running.

Bac Ninh Ancient Citadel

The Ancient Citadel of Bac Ninh is next to the train station, so this geographical advantage had me wondering if the citadel could become a tourist attraction in the future. I already knew the answer was going to be no, but I had to see for myself.

There are several citadels like this in Vietnam, and most of them have been absorbed into the cities they are part of. There is a citadel in Dong Hoi that has a major road through the middle of it, and you wouldn’t you were driving through a citadel unless you looked at a map.

The Bac Ninh citadel is accessible by a bridge and there is no through traffic, so it has the right geographical ingredients to be a tourism attraction.

The citadel is a residential area that is shared with an active military base, so that explains why it’s not a tourist attraction. Thus I had to be careful of taking photos in this area.

Inside the citadel it is residential area that could be anywhere in Vietnam. There are a few hints of it being a fortress, but it is not filled with architectural marvels.

Being inside the citadel doesn’t feel like you are in a citadel. This is partly because you can’t see the water from most places inside. If there was a walking path around the citadel perimeter it would be the gem of Bac Ninh.

A fair chunk of the citadel interior is off limits, so there wasn’t much to see here.

Old Bac Ninh City

There isn’t really an old town in Bac Ninh, but I discovered that there are two distinct areas of Bac Ninh: normal provincial city Bac Ninh, and the new international boomtown Bac Ninh.

I had a wander around “old” Bac Ninh, and it’s a typical provincial capital city of Vietnam with tube houses built next to each other and market vendors on the street. I enjoy wandering around provincial cities to reset after being in more touristy places.

There are some lovely tree-lined streets here that defy the stereotype of Vietnamese cities being chaotic. It feels distinct from Hanoi, even if Hanoi is gradually creeping up to Bac Ninh.

If you ever find yourself in a provincial capital, look for the provincial bao tang (museum). The museums almost always have some war remnants such as an aircraft or tank.

[War-era jet at the Bac Ninh Museum.]

And even in the seemingly unremarkable cities there is always something to see by wandering around.

New Bac Ninh City

The older area of Bac Ninh follows the train line, while the new area is a few blocks to the south and follows Ly Thai To Street.

[Ly Thai To Street in Bac Ninh.]

There are more modern apartment towers in this area, and there are many shopfronts with Korean and Chinese signage.

I was interested to visit this area after reading an article about the tech worker Chinatown that is emerging here. It is noticeable from walking around that Bac Ninh is a manufacturing hub with ties to China.

Bac Ninh has an established Koreatown here as there are numerous Korean factories in the province.

The most well-known Korean brand in Bac Ninh is Samsung. There is a special Samsung bus that goes from the city centre to the factory. This reminded me of the Google Bus that runs from San Francisco to Silicon Valley.

As the aforementioned article mentioned, there is now also a visible Chinatown area.

There isn’t a demarcated Koreatown or Chinatown, and there is an overlap between the two cultural areas.

What makes Bac Ninh so distinct from other cities in Vietnam is that the Chinatown area is so visible. Most Chinese businesses in Vietnam are low-key, and there are no Chinatown arches like in other cities in Southeast Asia. Bac Ninh feels like a boomtown where everyone is coming to make money.

Despite its economic success, the city is still too provincial for international hotel brands to consider, so there are these big local hotels to serve business travellers.

Chain stores have not arrived in Bac Ninh yet either (apart from Lotteria and Jollibee). I saw a Luckin Coffee (the massive chain from China), but Luckin have not arrived in Vietnam yet so I don’t know what this was (it was closed when I went by).

Future Bac Ninh

A year after my visit, Bac Ninh merged with neighbouring Bac Giang province (so I never got to visit Bac Giang on my province list).

Bac Ninh continues to thrive economically, with the province topping the list of exporters from Vietnam.

While I was researching this article, I discovered Bac Bling by Hoa Minzy, which was released after my visit to Bac Ninh.

I don’t have my finger on the pulse of Vpop, so I had never heard of this song. I was intrigued by the title, so I clicked through and was staggered to see that this song has a quarter of a billion views after only 5 months! Even if this music isn’t your style, the video production is outstanding, so it’s no wonder it has found a global audience. I ended up watching the “making of” video that was recommended after watching this.

Hoa Minzy is from Bac Ninh, and this video is a homage to her home province. The video made me want to visit these parts of Bac Ninh that I didn’t see. This video would do more for tourism than running ads on CNN, and a local news site has made a map of the places in Bac Ninh that are featured in the video.

I was in Bac Ninh city to visit the Koreatown and Chinatown areas that are serving the industrial boom of the province. Bac Bling seems like an appropriate name for modern Bac Ninh.

There are some grand transport plans for Bac Ninh that might see me back here in the future. Bac Ninh is building a new airport, and the plan has been revised to make it larger than Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport. This will be the second airport of Hanoi, so the planned second airport will be the third airport.

There was also talk of a 12-line(!) urban railway. I have not seen any maps for this, but presumably it would be integrated with the Hanoi Metro railway. Another useful railway would be a commuter line to Hanoi, and perhaps there will be international train services from Bac Ninh to China when the Hanoi-Dong Dang Railway is upgraded.

Meanwhile there there is also a new tourist train that will run from Hanoi to Tu Son (in Bac Ninh), helping to elevate the Bac Ninh name beyond its association of being a manufacturing hub.

Maybe I will be hanging at a cafe in Bac Ninh sooner than I thought.

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The best areas to stay in Quy Nhon, including the city beach, Phuong Mai Peninsula, and beaches to the south of the city centre.

Quy Nhon is a city in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. The city has similarities to Da Nang and Nha Trang in that it has a municipal beach in the city centre. Unlike Da Nang and Nha Trang, it has yet to be discovered by international mass tourism.

There are some occasional international news articles that proclaim that Quy Nhon is Vietnam’s next big beach destination, but you still have time to get here before it goes mainstream.

Quy Nhon is an unusual city in that it has covers a large area with distinct geographical features.

[Quy Nhon city area outlined in red.]

If you’re visiting Quy Nhon for the first time and just want to find the main area to stay, then stay near the beach in the city area of Quy Nhon.

Search for hotels near Quy Nhon City Beach

If you are looking to learn about all of the different beaches, then read on. This where to stay guide breaks down the main areas to stay in Quy Nhon, including the city beach, Phuong Mai Peninsula, and beaches to the south of the city centre.

Where to stay in Quy Nhon guide

Map of Quy Nhon hotels
Quy Nhon City (the beachfront city)
Phuong Mai Peninsula
Nhon Hai (fishing village near Coral Island)
Merryland Quy Nhon (under-construction tourism area)
Nhon ly (fishing village and beach resorts)
Bai Dai (Long Beach) (small beaches south of city centre)
Bai Xep Fishing Village (beach hotels in a fishing village)
Bai Dai Resorts (beach resorts packaged with Vietage luxury train)

Map of Quy Nhon hotels

Hotels and other locations mentioned in this article are pinned on this map of Quy Nhon.

[Map of hotels in Quy Nhon.]

Note about addresses: In July 2025, Vietnam merged provinces and cities across the country. Quy Nhon was the capital of Binh Dinh province, but Binh Dinh has now been incorporated into Gia Lai province. Quy Nhon is now the capital of the enlarged Gia Lai province, but many maps and online addresses still show Binh Dinh province.

Quy Nhon City

The city of Quy Nhon has a beach that faces Quy Nhon Bay. The total seafront is about 6 km in length, with about 4.5 km of sandy beach (the beach disappears at the northern end). While the beach sand isn’t quite as soft as the beaches of Da Nang and Nha Trang, the beachfront park and promenade makes for a scenic seaside city.

One of the great aspects of coastal cities of Vietnam are the beach parks, and the beach park of Quy Nhon is one of the best in the country.

[Quy Nhon Beach Park.]

The centre of Quy Nhon is on the beachfront at Quy Nhon Square. There is a giant statue of young Ho Chi Minh (then known as Nguyen Tat Thanh) with his father (Nguyen Sinh Sac). The beachfront area is very walkable, so picking somewhere near the beach is fine. If you want to be nearest to the centre, then use Quy Nhon Square as the central point.

[Quy Nhon Square.]

Guesthouses and budget hotels

Quy Nhon is still mostly a domestic tourist destination, so there are cheap hotels everywhere. I usually look for budget hotels close to the city beach, and see what the deals the hotel booking sites are offering.

The Green Park Hotel (2-star) is typical of what to expect with a budget hotel in Vietnam. It’s no frills but it’s clean and everything works.

The Green Park Hotel is named after the park it is in front of. The park along Nguyen Tat Thanh Road is a linear park that runs alongside the road, and it makes Quy Nhon feel green and civilised.

[Nguyen Tat Thanh Park.]

I visited Song Suoi Homestay to rent a scooter. This guesthouse feels like a travellers hostel where guests mingle in the lounge area. The homestay also has travel information for the surrounding area, which I have not seen in any other budget hotel in Quy Nhon.

[Song Suoi Homestay.]

Mid Range

HAKU Boutique Hotel (2-star) is near the beach and around the corner from the best cafe in Quy Nhon (Adiuvat Coffee Roasters).

Mento Hotel (3-star) is centrally located near Quy Nhon Square.

[Mento Hotel.]

Fleur De Lys Hotel Quy Nhon is a 4-star hotel at the northern end of the beach (before the sand disappears). The hotel is opposite East West Brewing and Surf Bar 1, which are cool bars that are on the beach.

[Fleur De Lys Hotel Quy Nhon.]

Odin Hotel Quy Nhon (4-star) is 4 minutes walk inland from the beach.

Sala QuyNhon Beach Hotel (4-star) opened in 2025, and its contemporary architectural design stands out among the boxy tube hotels that are common in provincial Vietnam.

[Sala QuyNhon Beach Hotel.]

A’dor Hotel & Spa (4-star) is opposite Nguyen Tat Thanh Park.

[A’dor Hotel & Spa.]

The southern end of the beach features several large blocks that have been redeveloped. It has a different feel to the old city core, but it’s a pleasant walk along the beachfront to get to the old city area.

This area is notable as there are some older hotels that are on the beachfront (between the beach and the main beach road). Other beach cities like Nha Trang and Da Nang have been actively removing hotels on the city beachfront. Most of the Quy Nhon beachfront is now a city park, so these hotels are an exception to the rule. These hotels look like they are from a bygone era, and their main selling point is that they are on the beach.

Ocean View Hotel (3-star) and Binh Duong Hotel (Khach San Binh Duong) (3-star) are two hotels on this beachfront area.

[Binh Duong Hotel.]

The Seagull Hotel (4-star) looks like one of the original seaside hotels of Quy Nhon, and it only has the Vietnamese name on the building (Khach San Hai Au).

Anya Hotel Quy Nhon (4-star) is one of the new hotels among the cluster of new towers on this section of the beach.

Luxury Hotels

Grand Hyams Hotel – Quy Nhon Beach is in the tallest building in Quy Nhon (168.8 metres) and it’s one of the landmark buildings of the city. The hotel is one street away from the beachfront, and there are no other tall buildings nearby to obstruct its view.

[Grand Hyams Hotel – Quy Nhon Beach.]

In the same building as the Grand Hyams Hotel are the TMS Residences. There are numerous apartments for rent, and the apartments are listed separately on booking sites.

Note that this building was originally going to be the Pullman Quy Nhon, but the Pullman pulled out some time during the pandemic years. Some old news sites and booking agents still show the Pullman name, in case you were wondering why you can’t find the Pullman on current booking sites.

FLC City Hotel Beach Quy Nhon is the landmark hotel at the south end of the beach. FLC Group are a Vietnamese conglomerate with interests in real estate, aviation, and tourism. The group owns Bamboo Airways, and they plan to turn Quy Nhon into an international tourism hub. Part of that plan is to develop luxury hotels in Quy Nhon.

Behind the FLC City Hotel Beach is the FLC Sea Tower, which is part of the FLC Group’s redevelopment of this area.

FLC Sea Tower is an apartment tower that has individual apartments for rent. If you search for FLC Sea Tower you will be presented with numerous options, such as FLC Sea Tower – The Beach Quy Nhon.

[FLC Sea Tower.]

Anya Premier Hotel Quy Nhon is also on the main beach road in this redeveloped area of the city.

[Anya Premier Hotel Quy Nhon.]

Phuong Mai Peninsula

The Phuong Mai Peninsula is separated from the city centre by the Thi Nai Lagoon. The peninsula is reached via the Thi Nai Bridge (2.477 km), and the peninsula area is a mix of sand dunes and rock formations. It is technically in the boundary of Quy Nhon City, but it couldn’t be more different to the city.

Quy Nhon is developing the peninsula into an industrial estate, and the coastal areas with beaches have various tourism projects. There are some lovely fishing villages here, as well as some examples of tourism development gone wrong.

I’ve never stayed on the peninsula as I only visit by motorbike when I stay in the city. It’s not easy to get around by public transport, so I would only consider staying in this area if you are touring by motorbike or if you are ok with just getting a taxi from the airport to sit on a resort beach.

Nhon Hai

Nhon Hai is a fishing village at southeast corner of the Phuong Mai peninsula. Nhon Hai is set in a beautiful location that is worth a visit even if you aren’t staying.

The village has two beachfronts that form an L shape. The first beach is the working fishing area. Depending on the time of day you are here, you will see fish being hauled onto land and nets being mended. It’s not a leisure beach, but the boats look great on the dazzling blue water on a sunny day.

[Nhon Hai Fishing Beach.]

Around the corner is a longer beach that is more conducive for leisure. There is a play area for kids, and this beach is where day trippers come to get boats the nearby Hon Kho Beach on Coral Island.

[View of Coral Island.]

This beach also has a rubbish problem, which a problem with fishing villages in general.

At the south end of the beach is the Nhon Hai Beach Restaurant, which is literally on the beach. Here you can put your feet in the sand while enjoying a beer or ca phe sua da.

[Nhon Hai Beach Restaurant.]

Opposite the Nhon Hai Beach Restaurant is the Nhon Hai Beach Hostel. The hostel was open when I last visited, but it’s showing as closed on some sites and I can’t find any website or social media presence.

[Nhon Hai Beach Hostel.]

Some of the homestays and guesthouses in Nhon Hai are bookable online, or just look for houses with “nha nghi” signs (guest house) if you are riding around by motorbike.

[Guest houses in Nhon Hai.]

There are few amenities in Nhon Hai, and most of the restaurants are seafood places that cater to groups of day trippers.

Sometimes people say they want to stay in an authentic fishing village without thinking of what that would really be like. Do you really want to stay in a village where there are no convenience stores or cool cafes? On the other hand, a stay in a rustic fishing village is the antidote for the big city beaches that Vietnam is known for.

[Nhon Hai fishing town.]

I will be interested to see what happens to Nhon Hai in the future. It’s one of those places that could break out, and maybe it will be filled with boutique hotels and hipster cafes in the future, and we will all be moaning about how it became too touristy.

Merryland Quy Nhon

Merryland Quy Nhon is a new leisure area at the southern end of the Phuong Mai peninsula. The project is still under construction, but I place it here in case you see advertisements for it in Quy Nhon. ⁠There are billboards all over Quy Nhon promoting the project, and advertisements have been prominent at airports across Vietnam.

[Billboard promoting Merryland on the road to Merryland Quy Nhon.]

Nhon Ly

Nhon Ly coastal commune is about 20km northeast of the Quy Nhon city centre. this area has a long stretch of rugged coastline with hidden beaches, fishing villages, and luxury resorts.

This area is still being developed, and there are lots of new roads with hardly any traffic. There are big sand dunes and wind farms on the surrounding hills.

FLC Luxury Resort Quy Nhon (5-star) is the main resort in the Nhon Ly coastal area. Like many coastal resorts in Vietnam (such as in Da Nang and Cam Ranh), FLC Luxury Resort is isolated from the city centre, so this is the sort of place you go if you just want a relaxing time at a beach resort.

[FLC Luxury Resort Quy Nhon.]

FLC were planning to turn parts of the Phuong Mai Peninsula into a major tourism and resort area, but some corruption scandals in the company have derailed the plan. As a result, there are lots of half-finished buildings in the new urban area near the FLC resort. There are a few shops that are open in this area, but overall it’s a depressing site to see abandoned concrete shells.

FLC did manage to complete the FLC Quy Nhon Golf Links which is connected to the resort, and there is also the FLC Zoo Safari Park Quy Nhon. I’ve been to enough zoos in Southeast Asia to know that I don’t need to go to this.

The FLC Resort is near the Nhon Ly fishing village. There is another nice beach here that is used by fishing boats, and there are some homestays and guesthouses in the town.

[Beach at Nhon Ly fishing village (FLC Resort to the left).]

The Nhon Ly fishing village doesn’t show correctly on Google Maps.

[Google Map of Nhon Ly fishing village.]

here is the same map using Google Map satellite view.

[Google Map satellite view of Nhon Ly fishing village.]

This area is also referred to as the Eo Gio Tourist Area, and the branding between Nhon My and Eo Gio is confusing. One of the main sites here is the cliff walk along the coast.

South of Nhon Ly village is the KyCo Peninsula Quy Nhon Resort (3-stars). This hotel is famous for its location on a secluded beach. It’s the only hotel on the beach and there are no other facilities nearby, so you come here to get away from it.

There are lots of interesting things to see on the peninsula, but you will need a motorbike to get around. Alternatively, a day trip from the city would cover the main sites.

Bai Dai (Long Beach)

Bai Dai is a beach to the south of the city centre. It includes the Bai Xep Beach (a fishing village popular with budget travellers), and the southern end of Bai Dai Beach is home to exclusive resorts.

Bai Xep

[Bai Xep Beach.]

Bai Xep is a fishing village on a peninsula 12 km south of Quy Nhon city centre. Bai Xep is technically part of Quy Nhon, though it doesn’t feel like it.

[View of Quy Nhon skyline from Bai Xep fishing village.]

The village of Bai Xep clings onto the rocky coastline, and it’s a steep walk from the main road down to the beach. There is a village well at the main intersection of the small streets, and there is an assortment of accommodation options among the seafood restaurants.

Mira Bai Xep (2-star) is at the entrance to the beachfront next to Haven Vietnam (2-star).

Casa Marina Resort (4-star) is the most luxurious option on Bai Xep Beach.

I stayed at Life’s a Beach Bai Xep, but the hotel has since moved 3.4 km down the coast in Dak Lak province (former Phu Yen province). This is technically not in Quy Nhon but I place it here because some sites still list Life’s a Beach as being in Quy Nhon. Here is the new listing for Life’s A Beach.

Bai Xep can be reached by Bus T11 from Quy Nhon.

Bai Dai Resorts

Next to Bai Xep Beach is Bai Dai Beach. Some sites list Bai Xep as Bai Dai, and to add to the confusion, there are also Bai Dai beaches in Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. Bai Dai Beach is a private beach for resorts, so I am listing Bai Xep and Bai Dai separately to distinguish between the public and private beaches.

Avani Quy Nhon Resort (5-star) is a luxury resort located on Bai Dai Beach.

Next to Avani is the Anantara Quy Nhon Villas (5-star), both of which are brands of Minor Hotels.

The Avani and Anantara can be booked as part of a package with The Vietage by Anantara luxury train between Da Nang and Quy Nhon. The train service are luxury carriages attached to the back of a regular train, and the train goes to Dieu Tri Station (near Quy Nhon).

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The Old City (Kota Lama), Surabaya Chinatown, and Jalan Tunjungan (one of the coolest streets in Indonesia).

Surabaya is a port city in the northeastern corner of Java island. The city is the capital of East Java province and the second-largest city in Indonesia.

I visited Surabaya in May 2024 as part of my rail trip across Java. This was my second trip to Surabaya, and I happened to be there while the city was undergoing a renovation of its old city streets. This old town renaissance might finally put Surabaya of the map of great city getaways in Southeast Asia.

On this trip I visited the Old City (Kota Lama), Surabaya Chinatown, and Jalan Tunjungan (one of the coolest streets in Indonesia).

Kota Lama (Old City)

Kota Lama (Old City) is the old town area of Surabaya. It’s also shown on maps as Kota Tua (Old Town).

The Kota of Surabaya has some similarities of Kota in Jakarta. Both areas have a collection of historical colonial-era buildings that are in varying states of decrepitude. Both Jakarta and Surabaya have finally realised the worth of these historic areas, and both cities have been restoring some of the buildings and fixing the streets.

The old city area was undergoing a big revitalization when I was there. The streets were being dug up and new sidewalks were being built. It was unfortunate timing, but I was glad to see that this area was finally being renovated.

[Streets under renovation at Gedung Cerutu (the cigar building).]

Rajawali is one of the main streets of the old city, and it includes the Gedung Internatio building.

[International Credit and Trade Association “Rotterdam” – Gedung Internatio.]

Next to the Kali Mas River on Jl. Jembatan Merah is a row of florist shops that are under a stylish covered concrete shelter.

On this street is the Twin Lion Statue Building (Tweeling Leeuw Standbeeld Gebouw), which is one of the most distinctive buildings in the old town. After I visited this building, I saw a link posted by Stuart from Travelfish about the Lion Building. There is not much information about the old town, so a Surabaya walking tour would help bring this area to life.

I probably wouldn’t stay in the old city as there still aren’t convenient amenities, especially at night. The Arcadia Hotel is on Rajawali and is the best located hotel in the Old City.

[Horison Arcadia Heritage Rajawali Surabaya.]

Surabaya Chinatown

Chinatown is part of the old town area, though it is demarcated as Chinatown on Google Maps. The Roode Brug (Red Bridge) marks the entrance to the Chinatown area.

Kembang Jepun is the main street of Surabaya Chinatown, and there is a Chinatown archway at each end.

As with the rest of the old town area, Chinatown was undergoing a major street renovation while I was there.

I think the Chinatown will become a groovy area once the streets are fixed up and some of the old buildings are restored.

Jalan Karet under renovation.

The side streets of the Chinatown area are an interesting place for urban exploration.

There are some smaller temples hidden away in these side streets.

In the Chinatown area is the Kokoon Hotel, which is a modern 3-star hotel that looks like it’s betting on the area becoming a hipster area.

I would like to revisit Surabaya Chinatown when the construction equipment is gone from the streets. Maybe one day the Chinatown will be as famous as the Chinatown’s of Singapore and Bangkok.

Tunjungan Street

The coolest street in Surabaya is Jalan Tunjungan and the surrounding area.

There are some historic buildings along this street, but the most pleasing aspect is the wide sidewalks.

Building pleasant cities is not rocket science. Build some tree-lined streets with wide footpaths and watch the area flourish.

I ended up staying near the main train station (Surabaya Gubeng), mainly because I was researching trains and getting photos. If I was to pick an area to stay in Surabaya I would stay near Tunjungan Street for my next visit. And if I wanted to stay in style, I would stay at the Hotel Majapahit. This hotel was built in 1910 by Lucas Martin Sarkies, the son of one of the fabled Sarkies brothers who founded a chain of luxury hotels throughout Southeast Asia.

[Hotel Majapahit Surabaya.]

Another notable hotel on Jl. Tunjungan is the Varna Hotel.

[Varna Culture Hotel Tunjungan Surabaya.]

Train travel

Like Jakarta, there is a Kota Station in Surabaya. And like Jakarta, Kota isn’t the main station. “City station” sounds like it would be the central station, but the main station is Surabaya Gubeng.

There is a historic station that looked like it would have been the central station of Surabaya, but the current building is a grim concrete block. I hope that the continual improvements of the Kota area leads to the restoration of the old Kota Station.

[Old Kota Station.]

Surabaya is a useful hub for train travel around East Java. I got the train from Surabaya to Ketapang, where I then got the ferry to Bali. I have already been to Mt Bromo, so you should visit if you haven’t already been.

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How to get the public bus from Da Nang to Hoi An.

Da Nang and Hoi An are about 27 km apart, but getting the public bus isn’t as straightforward as you would expect.

There used to be a public bus between Da Nang and Hoi An (Bus 1) but that was cancelled during the pandemic.

[The old Bus Number 1 (Da Nang to Hoi An).]

After a few years with no service, there is now a proper direct bus service operated by FUTA .

This bus is a useful way to travel between Da Nang and Hoi An without resorting to getting a Grab taxi, though the service could use some slight improvements.

Bus LK-02: Da Nang to Hoi An

Bus details

Bus LK-02 operates from BX Trung Tam (the bus station in Da Nang) to Cua Dai Hoi An (a beach area in Hoi An). The front of the bus also says “Hoi An Ancient Town” on the destination board.

Bus Number: LK-02
Frequency: Every 15-30 minutes
Ticket: 31,000 VND
Travel time: 1 hour
Operator: FUTA
Website: danangbus.vn

Bus LK-02 bus map

[Map of LK-02 bus between Da Nang and Hoi An.]

I have marked some random bus stops along the way to give an overview of the route.

Bus from Da Nang to Hoi An

The bus departs from the city area of Da Nang and it doesn’t go to the beach area.

The bus travels along Tran Phu Street in Da Nang. The most useful bus stop is in front of the Da Nang Cathedral (the Pink Church).

The bus stops are not well kept or updated. The sign at the bus stop shows Route 2 to DH Viet Han (Vietnam – Korea University). Someone who is unfamiliar with the bus system wouldn’t know that this goes to Hoi An. At least the sign shows that Bus 1 is cancelled.

[Bus routes on Tran Phu Street, Da Nang.]

The bus goes via the inland route, so you can’t use this bus to travel along the coastal route.

At about the halfway mark the bus stops at the Tran Dai Nghia Tran Hung Dao Bus Station. This station is next to the Vietnam – Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (represented on some bus maps as DH Viet Han).

[Bus at Tran Dai Nghia Tran Hung Dao Bus Station.]

The Vietnam – Korea University was on the border of Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province, so the bus station served as an interchange for buses. The provinces of Vietnam were merged on the 1st of July 2025, and Quang Nam Province was merged into Da Nang. This Google screenshot shows the old boundary near the bus stop.

[Tran Dai Nghia Tran Hung Dao Bus Station near the Da Nang-Quang Nam border.]

Da Nang Bus 2 bus used to stop here, and you had to change to another bus for Hoi An. The buses are subsidised by the city, so there was the complication of travelling into a different province.

The good news is that you no longer need to change buses, but the signs and maps have not been updated to reflect this.

There is a route map inside the bus that shows the two lines:

[Route 2] BX Trung Tam – Dai Hoc Viet Han
[Route LK-02] Dai Hoc Viet Han – Cua Dai Hoi An

The front of the bus shows the number LK-02, so don’t worry if the bus stop only shows Line 2.

The other confusing part of this trip is that there isn’t a proper bus stop for Hoi An. The bus stops at 187 Ly Thuong Kiet, in front of Emm Hotel Hoi An. This is near the intersection of Hai Ba Trung, which is one of the main roads leading into the old town area.

The bus driver clearly indicated that this was the stop for Hoi An. I asked the driver where to get the return bus, and he pointed to across the road.

[Bus stop at 187 Ly Thuong Kiet, in front of Emm Hotel Hoi An.]

Buses are not allowed into the old city area, so this stop is as close as the bus is allowed to go.

Some guides are showing that the bus stops at Nguyen Tat Thanh Hoi An Bus Station, but that station is closed. The current drop-off point is the most convenient place to walk to the old town.

Bus LK-02 continues along the road to Cua Dai Beach and the Cua Dai Inland Waterway Terminal Parking Lot.

Bus from Hoi An to Da Nang

On the return journey I waited in front of Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa (326 Ly Thuong Kiet), which is opposite where I was dropped off. There is also no bus stop here, but I had noticed on the bus to Hoi An that the driver was picking up passengers that weren’t waiting at bus stops.

The bus follows the same road on the way back, including a short break at the DH Viet Han bus station.

The bus stops Le Van Hien Street, just before turning onto Tien Son Bridge to go into the city area. This is the closest the bus gets to the beach area. The bus driver let me know this was the beach stop.

The bus follows the same route in the city area, but it goes along Bach Dang along the riverfront instead of Tran Phu. This will bring you back the the middle of the city at the Han Market.

[Bus LK02 on Bach Dang Road, Da Nang.]

Tickets

Another confusing aspect of this trip is that two tickets are issued (for Route 2 and Route LK-02), even though the route is operated by the same private company. This is a hangover of the bus routes being subsidised by the city.

Tickets are sold by the driver. I paid cash, and I saw another passenger pay by QR code (no credit card tapping).

Updates

Now that Quang Nam Province has been merged with Da Nang City, that means that Hoi An is now part of Da Nang. This should mean that the public bus services of Da Nang and Hoi An will be merged into a single body, so there should only be the need for one ticket.

The tickets and the bus number may change with the merger, so if it has changed since this post has been published, let me know.

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How Da Nang has overtaken Chiang Mai and Canggu to become the digital nomad capital of Southeast Asia.

Da Nang is a city on the central coast of Vietnam. The city is between the coast and the mountains, with a river running through the middle. There is also a bay where the main port is, separated from the tourist coast by a spectacular peninsula. Its geographic variety is ridiculous.

[The ridiculous geographical variety of Danang (view the map).]

As a frequent visitor to Da Nang over the last decade, I have been observing the city grow in stature as an important regional hub and tourism destination. I remarked on my visit in 2017 that Da Nang was a city on the rise.

Da Nang has also been growing in popularity as a digital nomad destination. I would say that as of 2025, Da Nang is now the digital nomad hub of Southeast Asia.

This article explains the rise of Da Nang as a digital nomad destination.

Digital nomad hubs in Southeast Asia

I compiled a digital nomad history which tracks the rise of digital nomadism. Chiang Mai emerged as a digital nomad hub in 2010, and the Nimman area in Chiang Mai became the world’s first digital nomad neighbourhood.

During the 2010s Bali emerged as the next digital nomad hotspot in Southeast Asia. While Bali has been popular with expats for years, online expat entrepreneurs started working remotely on the island long before Work From Anywhere went mainstream. In the latter half of the 2010s, Canggu emerged as the favoured area of digital nomads in Bali.

I wrote about my visit to Canggu in 2017, which had already become a neighbourhood that was distinct from the short-term holiday makers of the Kuta-Legian-Seminyak area. In my subsequent visits to Canggu it was apparent that Canggu had become the digital nomad hotspot of Southeast Asia.

I have now seen a similar trajectory of digital nomadism in Da Nang that Canggu experienced. Every time I return to Da Nang I notice more nomads there. I returned to Da Nang in March and April of 2025, and something had changed since my visit in 2024. There had been a distinct vibe shift, and something felt different. Cafes that were usually empty were now full, international restaurants were booming, and there were more foreigners than ever walking around the streets.

Part of this was due to a tourism boom. Vietnam had just broken a record for the highest international visitor arrivals for a single quarter. I was travelling along the coast of Vietnam during this quarter – stopping at Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, and Nha Trang – and I saw more tourists than perhaps any time in my Vietnam travels.

I hardly saw any nomads in the other coastal cities, so the amount of nomads in Da Nang was noticeable. By coincidence, I happened to arrive in Da Nang during the Vietnam Nomad Fest.

I usually spend about 1 month a year in Da Nang. Having also been to Chiang Mai and Canggu in the last year, I would say that Da Nang is now the digital nomad capital of Southeast Asia.

The rise of Da Nang

Da Nang has emerged as an important financial and transport hub for the country. Situated halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the city is ideally situated for companies that who want to be in the middle of Vietnam.

The government is planning to establish Da Nang as an international financial centre (along with HCMC), which will help elevate Da Nang as a global city.

The city has also become a tourism powerhouse in the last decade. On my first visit in 2005, I got the bus from Hoi An to Hue. The bus stopped in Da Nang, but it wasn’t a major stop on the north-south route at that point. Now people stay in Da Nang and take day trips to Hoi An instead.

Da Nang has become a popular tourist destination for East Asia tourists (especially South Koreans). Da Nang is one of the closest tropical beaches to China and South Korea, so it has that geographical advantage going for it. The viral sensation of the Golden Bridge (the bridge held by giant hands in the mountains) also put Da Nang on the tourist map.

While I have noticed the rise of South Korean and Chinese tourists, I thought it was only a matter of time until Da Nang became known as a digital nomad destination.

My An – the nomad neighbourhood of Da Nang

The digital nomad area in Da Nang is in My An Ward on the Da Nang beach front. This is home to the famous My Khe Beach, which is part of the 27 km coastline that goes all the way to Hoi An. The long and sandy beach reminds me of the Gold Coast in Australia, though on social media it has been dubbed as The Miami of Vietnam.

Vietnam is an affordable travel destination, and the cost of living in Da Nang is considerably less than in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

[15,000 VND (0.58 USD) beer is somehow cheaper than a coconut.]

The appeal of Da Nang is that it is a city with a propoer beach. Even though the beachfront is lined with towers, there are still beach bars on the beach.

My An is now filled with restaurants and bars.

A sure sign that digital nomads have arrived is when there is more than one Mexican restaurant in the neighbourhood.

[Possibly the best name for a Mexican restaurant in Vietnam (Crazy Westerner).]

Coworking cafes have also proliferated in the area.

A few blocks inland of the beach you will find regular Vietnamese restaurants with local food prices.

There is of course more to Da nang than My An, and I break down the areas in my guide on where to stay in Da Nang.

How gridded streets created a vibrant beach neighbourhood

One of the amazing things about Da Nang is that the beach side of the city was relatively undeveloped 25 years ago. The beach area was military land, which was a legacy from the war.

One of the areas in My An is the An Thuong Tourist Streets. It’s not a great name, but it’s a good case study for how to develop a neighbourhood.

In 2000 this area was mostly undeveloped. The streets were gridded out, and then houses, hotels, and businesses filled in the blocks. I wrote an article about how the An Thuong streets became a vibrant beach neighbourhood. I looked at the old Google satellite view of this area, which goes back to 2000. I made a timelapse showing how the gridded-out streets went from nothing to almost built out

[Timelapse of the An Thuong area from 2002 to 2024.]

Gridding out an area and letting people build whatever they want (apart from noisy heavy industry etc) is a great way to build a neighbourhood.

[A bar in the An Thuong area.]

A walkable beachfront

Another advantage that Da Nang has is that it has a walkable beachfront that goes uninterrupted for miles. The more I travel around Southeast Asia, the more I come back to appreciate that Da Nang has a beachfront promenade. This is the biggest advantage that Da Nang has over Canggu.

I love walking on the beach and feeling the water lapping on my feet, but sometimes I just want a long walk next to the beach with my shoes on.

A central airport

[City of Da Nang viewed from the international terminal of Da Nang International Airport.]

One of the great features of Da Nang is that the airport is in the city centre. The airport is 3.8 km from Han Market (the central point of the city area) and takes about 13 minutes by taxi. The My An beach area is 6.3 km from the airport and takes about 15 minutes.

Da Nang Airport compares favourably with Chiang Mai Airport, which is also close to the city centre. The distance from Chiang Mai Airport to Tha Phae Gate (the arbitrary central point of the Old City) is 5.5 km and takes about 12 minutes by taxi.

There used to be an AirAsia flight from Da Nang to Chiang Mai, and getting to and from these airports was less complicated than flying from SGN to BKK. Unfortunately, this flight is not operating at the moment.

By comparison, it takes about 1 hr 15 min to travel the 21.3 km from the Central Parking area in Canggu to Denpasar International Airport.

Da Nang Airport isn’t as international as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but the amount of international options has improved greatly over the last decade. Emirates has finally arrived, and my prediction is that there will eventually be direct flights from Australia.

Future high-speed railway

Da Nang is currently served by the old North-South railway. It’s a great railway experience as a visitor, but it’s not useful for frequent travel. This will change if the proposed high-speed railway goes ahead. The new railway is proposed to have a top speed of 350 km/h, and the journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City will take about 5 and a half hours. That means that Da Nang will be within 2 and a half hours by train to anywhere in coastal Vietnam. If it goes ahead, it will make Da Nang even more appealing as a base.

The downsides of Da Nang

It’s not all sipping coconuts on a sunny day on the beach in Da Nang. One of the peculiar things about the central coast region of Vietnam is that it gets cold (by Vietnam standards at least). The Da Nang rainy season is around October to February, and in the last few years the typhoon season has become more intense.

[A rainy windswept January day in Da Nang.]

Another problem is that the Da Nang beachfront is still a work in progress, so there is always a construction site somewhere.

I like that the beach area is gridded out and walkable, but there is an oversupply of small hotels and condotels. There is not enough stock of normal apartment towers.

One of the abandoned projects in Da Nang is the Times Square twin towers. This was built as condotels, but now the developer is looking to turn the project into apartments. The problem is that the structure is built with smaller rooms, so I am not sure how they will go about converting this.

There are some new apartment projects along the riverside that are under construction, so these projects may herald a new era of accommodation stock for Da Nang. I think that more nomads will move elsewhere in Da Nang when the My An area becomes too nomaddy.

I have a list of Da Nang construction projects at Future Southeast Asia. If you like reading about transport and urban development issues, you should also subscribe to the Future Southeast Asia newsletter.

Future Da Nang

I’m a regular visitor to Da Nang, and I still think about basing myself there (if I wasn’t such a nomad). I said in my 2018 post that Da Nang would be a good place to retire, and that still holds true.

I will report back on Da Nang in the future, and I will also be covering the prospects of Nha Trang compared to Da Nang.

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Bandung is the capital city of West Java province in Indonesia, and about 150 km southeast of Jakarta. I was in Bandung after riding the Jakarta Bandung High-Speed Railway. The new train (known as Whoosh) is the fastest train in Southeast Asia, with a top speed of 350 km/h.

I’ve been to Bandung before, but it’s good to revisit a place to see how its changed, and to see how you have changed as a traveller.

These are notes from my visit in April 2024.

Whoosh (the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway)

[Whoosh at Padalarang (Bandung).]

The train from Jakarta to Bandung takes 30 minutes, though you lose time going from Central Jakarta to the high-speed station. The good news is that there are railways connecting the high-speed stations to the centre of Jakarta and Bandung. Padalarang (the Bandung high-speed station) is connected to the old Bundung Station by a shuttle train.

Here is my review of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway.

Paris Van Java

Bandung isn’t on the list of cities known as the Paris of the East, but it became known as Paris Van Java for its colonial-era architecture. There is a great collection of historic buildings in the old city area.

Some of the colonial-era buildings are distinctly Dutch in style and unlike the English and French colonial styles in the region.

Bandung became a hotspot for Art Deco architecture.

[Grand Hotel Preanger]

The Grand Hotel Preanger and Hotel Savoy Homann are two iconic Art Deco hotels in Bandung that would rank among the famous hotels of Southeast Asia.

[Hotel Savoy Homann Bandung.]

Like other cities in Indonesia, most of the old shophouses have disappeared. There are some remnants of old Bandung in the market area near the train station.

There are some random old buildings that are still holding on as the city grows around it.

Legacy of the Bandung Conference

The Bandung Conference was a conference of Asian and African nations held in 1955 in Bandung. This was a time when decolonization was underway, with many of the represented nations being newly independent.

The city has marked this historic event by naming the main east-west thoroughfare as Jalan Asia Afrika.

The road features bollards with the nations of Asia and Afrika.

[Palestone on Jalan Asia Afrika.]

There is a monument to the nations of Asia and Africa on Jalan Asia-Africa.

On Jalan Asia Afrika is the Asia-Africa Conference Museum.

Jalan Braga

The most interesting street for shopping and restaurants is Jalan Braga.

There are some great restaurants on this street, and well as some popular street venders.

The main problem with Jalan Braga is it’s a narrow road and it can get jammed with traffic. To be fair, is a problem all over Bandung.

I stayed near the train station, but in hindsight I would have stay near Jalan Braga to be near more cafes and restaurants.

Onward train travel

Indonesia is planning to extend the high-speed railway to Surabaya. Even if this does happen, Bandung is an interesting place to stop while travelling around Java.

Bandung is also a good starting point for the train trip to Yogyakarta. The train from Bandung to Yogyakarta is one of the most scenic routes in Southeast Asia.

[Bandung Station.]

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