My wife Brenda and I are from Bunbury, Western Australia and have just returned from a fabulous 2 week trip to North Vietnam thanks mainly to Sunshine 1 hotel manager Mr Manh Hung who had arranged a full itinerary for us via email, prior to our arrival in Hanoi. He was recommended to us by a friend of mine and we're glad he did. My friend Eric warned me about the Sunshine1.... "don't expect the Hilton Paul, it's basic but very clean". Of course we were expecting a bit of a dump but were pleasantly surprised on entering our 3rd floor with balcony room 302, to find it to be very clean and spacious, a flat screen cable TV, a computer with free internet connection, bar fridge, ensuite with shower/bath, 2 beds (Q & D), and great air conditioning...... all for US$25 per night! It was better than the Perth City hotel room we stayed in before catching our flight! Ok, the mattresses were a bit firm but that did not prevent a good nights sleep, plus, as Brenda said, "it's good for your back!". Noise wasn't too bad either, considering the Hotel is smack bang in the middle of all the action of the 'Old Quarter'. The staff were very helpful and attentive and nothing was too much for them. Of course we didn't stay at the hotel all the time as Mr Manh Hung had pre-arranged trips for us to Halong Bay (3 day cruise) Sapa Mountains / Bacha Markets (3days) and a number of excellent day trips too, all of which truly made our holiday a memorable one. To us, the whole inclusive package of hotel accommodation, all trips, (including overnight sleeper train journey to Lao Chai), entry fees, many delicious meals, tour guides, comfortable transport and airport transfers, was made possible by Sunshine1 Hotel manager Mr Manh Hung & Sunshine Travel. We didn't have to worry about a thing....everything ran so smoothly.
What did this cost you ask? $700 each! Incredible value for those like us that have long since been a backpacker, and NO I am not being paid to write this cos if I was, I wouldn't have mentioned about the firmish mattresses.. now would I !
Value for money all round.
Happy travels
Paul & Brenda Hassell
E: hassgoog@gmail.com
Mr Manh Hung contact email: sunshine1@hanoisunshinehotel.com

Our first night in Vietnam, didn't bargain, should have done that. Paid $30 for the first night, $25 for the second. Really nice breakfast in hotel just next door. Bathroom was old, but clean. We got 2 complimentary bottles of water a day and fruit.

I stayed for 2 nights. rooms was large, clean, felt safe, location perfect. I would recommend this place if you are not looking for luxury but location with friendly staff. Breakfast is just ordinary but the breakfast room is not with any ambience so just go sit somewhere at a street cafe to take in the scenes. airport pickup all fine.

Moved to this place from the Sunshine Palace a few doors down. Had a look at the room before checking in and all was ok. Returned in the evening to find there was a problem with the hot water i.e. there wasn't any. Not even enough to have a shower let alone a bath.
After complaining, they denied there was an issue before finally offering me another room which was grottier and noisier. I said I wasn't very happy at which point the guy on the reception became astonishingly rude and aggresive. He said he wasn't going to talk to me and wanted to speak to my friend?! I asked what he meant. He reiterated he wasn't going to talk to me anymore and wanted to talk to my friend. Which amazed me as I wasn't rude just simply requesting a different room.

When I told him I was travelling alone he told me to get out and find another hotel. He was really quite aggressive and kept telling me to get out!

I would've quite happily done so just to avoid the confrontation except it was10.15pm and I had a tour that was collecting me from the hotel at 7.30am the following morning and I had no way of letting the company know my new location. Plus a woman on her own traipsing around the alleys of the old quarter with bags at that time of night is not an ideal scenario.!

Still shocked at the reaction. Had been living in Vietnam for 6 months prior to this and never encountered anything like it. Couldn't wait to leave. Avoid at all costs, especially if travelling alone.