ACCOMMODATIONS

Danang port brings in business – and sailors; walking-and-talking sailor-capped ones – and prices in hotels are a bit higher than you’re average central Vietnamese town. There are a
few places to look: in central Danang town (with many choices off and on the riverside Bach Dang St, or across the river on Tran Hung Dao St – a longish walk over Han Bridge), or on the beaches just east.

Best Hotel FURAMA RESORT, several kilometers south on the beachfront
Best Cheap Hotel MIMOSA, riverfront Danang views for US$18

Hotels are listed by preference under In Town and Beach Hotels, below.

In Town

MIMOSA HOTEL
Across the river from Danang’s center, the happy 35-room Mimosa is a good choice. Rooms are simple, sticking to the dependable budget-level template: tile floors, fairly clunky wood armchairs, a neon-y landscape picture on the wall, ‘Nice Dreams’ blankets on the beds and views looking over the twinkling lights of Danang. There’s free WiFi and a nice, colorful lobby. The free breakfast is served in the top-floor restaurant.
Tel 0511-931-901; [email protected]; 13 Tran Hung Dao St; one-/two-bed rooms US$18/22

Y VAN HOTEL
Another mini-hotel on the other side of the river, the super-clean Y Van has just a bit more style than the nearby Mimosa, despite the gold curtains. It’s good value, though staff seemed a bit more into their own agendas when I passed by.
Tel 0511-936-155; www.yvanhotel.com, [email protected]; 21 Tran Hung Dao St; one-/two-bed rooms US$20/35

PRINCE HOTEL
A run-of-the-mill mini-hotel in the center, the Prince has 17 clean, very air-conditioned rooms with a lobby computer to check email. Back rooms are US$15, and rooms with balcony and two beds are US$20. The hotel’s planning on adding rooms in fall 2007, so some rooms will be closed briefly. No breakfast.
Tel 0511-817-929; [email protected]; 60 Tran Phu St, half a block south of Le Duan St; rooms US$15-20

BAMBOO GREEN RIVERSIDE HOTEL
It’s on the river, and often full, but the higher-priced, 32-room Bamboo Green isn’t really a bump in quality over the other choices unless you want to be in the center and have that river view. Free breakfast.
Tel 0511-832-591; www.vitours.com.vn; 68 Bach Dang St; rooms from US$35
Book Bamboo Green online

No!
SAIGONTOURANE HOTEL
This Saigontourist stop looks older than its 2002 birthday – maybe its planned renovation will help. The 82 rooms have carpet and ancient-looking radios next to the beds. Not much character for the price.
Tel 0511-821-021; www.saigontourane.com.vn, [email protected]; 5 Dong Da St; rooms from US$40

Beach Hotels

There are a number of hotels along My Khe Beach (2km east of Danang) and China Beach, just south. Only the Furama is situated on the beach itself.

FURAMA RESORT
A pioneer when it opened, the 199-room China Beach hotel still feels as fresh and stylish a decade on. In from the Cham-style lobby, the hotel sits on its own patch of wide beachfront, with two pools – the kids will like the ‘rock’-edged pool with waterfalls and bridge. The welcoming wood-floor rooms have traditional-style throws on bed and wood-shutter doors opening to a balcony. There’s tennis and conference rooms and free WiFi in the tropical lounge with wicker sofas. It’s a bit pricey though – the VICTORIA (30 minutes south, near Hoi An) is a tad nicer for a few more dollars.
Tel 0511847-888; www.furamavietnam.com; 68 Ho Xuan Houng St; rooms from US$165 (via website)
Book Furama online

TOURANE HOTEL
This half-hearted French-colonial hotel, near the access road to Danang, is of the best in the strip of hotels across the road from My Khe beach. It’s a functional place, with tiled rooms that get the job done – though I’d stick with the cheapest ones (the US$50 deluxe rooms are the cheapest with sea views). There’s a pool, tennis court and a free breakfast buffet.
Tel 0511-932-666; www.datraco.com.vn, [email protected]; My Khe Beach; rooms US$25-70
Book Tourane Hotel online

BLUE SEA HOTEL
A block back from the My Khe beach road, this budget hotel is a bit overpriced for what you get – you can probably negotiate them down a bit though.
Tel 0511-942-426; Nguyen Van Thoai St; rooms US$20