Cheap Hotel in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam: Duc Vuong Hotel

Duc Vuong Hotel is a 2 –star hotel located along the vibrant Bui Vien street in District 1. Compared with other hotels in the area, Duc Voung Hotel is tucked on the edges of the quiet part of the street. Hence, this hotel is ideal for a taste of a Vietnamese night life yet also a place of rest. For discounts and other perks, book directly at Duc Vuong Hotel instead on hotel booking sites.

Duc Vuong Hotel facade

Photo Credit: http://www.ducvuonghotels.com/wp-content/plugins/flash-album-gallery/facebook.php?i=1&f=default_old&h=320

On my first night in the hotel, I stayed in a Junior Suite worth VD840,000 or around USD 40.  I only paid the half day fee since I arrived at the hotel past midnight. The next two days of my stay in the hotel was spent in their Bed and Breakfast rooms which cost about USD 11 per person. If you don’t have anyone to share your room with, you have to pay for 2 people. Both rooms are clean and have the same amenities- hot and cold shower, toiletries, towels, cable TV and WiFi access. The only difference is the size of the room. The Junior Suite is bigger. But then again, who needs a bigger room when you’ll only spend the night in your room.

bed at junior suite room

The beds of both rooms are of the same size. The linens and towels are changed everyday including the toiletries. They also provide free coffee for two. There’s also water dispenser on every floors so you can refill your bottles before going around the city. Comfortable sofas are also scattered on every floor should you want to hang out with other guests. The best place to drink coffee (since I am a coffee lover) is on their rooftop garden. It’s a small patch of land overlooking District 1. It’s soothingly relaxing esp. at night when you just want to look at the bright lights but not necessarily take part on it.

computer area

 Photo Credit: http://www.hotels.com/ho394831/duc-vuong-hotel-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/

Aside from the usual hotel amenities, Duc Vuong also has several computers on the ground floor for guests who need to browse the internet. They also have a buffet restaurant that provides free breakfast for all their guests and free dinner for guests in selected rooms. Tropic Tours, one of the cheapest tour packages you can avail in Vietnam, has an office on the basement area of Duc Vuong. Airport transfers are also available but for a cheaper cost, there’s no need to avail them.

reception

Photo Credit: http://realtravel.com/h-86166-ho_chi_minh_city_hotel-redsun_hotel

Lastly but most importantly, Duc Vuong has a very friendly and helpful staff. They were ready to answer all my queries including things to buy for pasalubong. Every time, we return to the hotel, the staff would ask how we were and would cater to our needs whether we give them tips or not.

Credit card is accepted but they don’t change money. If you want to change dollars to dong near the area, there’s Albatross Travel and Tours , a few blocks away from Duc Vuong. They also provide cheap tour services.

The only thing that may stop you from booking in this place is maybe the knowledge that there are other cheaper accommodations around the area. 

Hotel in Quezon City: Maya Residence Inn

Maya Residence Inn is a newly-built hotel around Teacher’s Village in Quezon City. It mainly caters to those who have some personal business to attend to around the area.  Located at Matino St., just a few steps away from Kalayaan Avenue, Maya Residence Inn is an accessible yet quiet place to stay.

Matino St., Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City

Courtesy of a close friend, I was able to stay at Maya Residence Inn in one of their standard rooms. It costs about P1800 plus a food voucher worth P200 per night. Since it’s a new place, the room smells and looks new too! The room is designed in brown muted tones with an air of simple elegance. It actually feels like a real bedroom in the house- cozy and clean. Space is just enough to move around- not spacious but not cramped either.

Maya Residence Inn's Standard Room

comfy bed with an abstract painting headboard

The standard room has a double bed with a firm mattress. A medium-sized closet with a few hangers is also available at the room. There are two high-backed chairs with a low table. A 24-inch LCD TV is also hanging on the wall across the bed.

sitting place :)

spacious bathroom

The washroom is quite big than the usual. It has hot and cold water and has free toiletries and towels.

Food is available on the ground floor. Maya Residence Inn has an in-house café and a restaurant- M restaurant. Food is of average price and taste.

Service is great and prompt. The reservations agent replies within 24 hours through email.

Maya Residence Inn is near from Trinoma Mall and SM North. It’s also near UP, Katipunan, East Avenue, QC Circle and the Timog Strip. So if planning for a trip around QC area, give Maya Residence Inn a try for an affordable yet restful stay.

Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati: Terribly Luxurious

Location: Dusit Thani Makati is along EDSA just beside SM Makati and near Ayala MRT. It's beside malls and just in the center of about everything. 

Dusit at night
Photo Credit: localyte.com

Thanks to my sister who works at Dusit Thani Hotel Makati, I was able to spend my birthday in their Grand Room. Modesty aside, it is the hotel's third most expensive and expansive room. It is worth a whooping P22,000 a night good for 2 people!

my generous sister posing at Dusit's receiving area

The bathroom that we had was bigger than this but i wasn't  able to take a picture but this is somewhat similar.
Photo Credit: tripadvisor.com.my

The room is about 60 square meters- larger than most studio type condo units. The washroom alone can contain a small kitchen and dining area. It has a tub, a shower area, and  a lengthy wash area. Across the washroom is another washroom minus the tub and bath area. (which I really didn't understand why there's two wash rooms for a room that's good for two). Expectedly, toiletries are available for free including soft fulffy white towels! The only thing missing is a bidet. For some reason, Dusit does not have bidets while hotels with lesser stars have them.

my sisters on the couch at the receiving area

There's also a receiving area with a comfortable couch and a view of the city. During the night, there were 4 people who slept on the carpeted four without being cramped. Added to this, the couch was able to contain 2 people during the night with still some space left. I hope you can imagine how spacious the place is.

my brother and his girlfriend pretending to pose for a stolen shot

The most comfortable part is, of course, the sleeping area. The grand room has two single beds although they also offer a grand room with a queen-sized bed. Actually, even the beds are called single, they're double in size. The sleeping area is more spacious than the receiving area. You can actually dance on the space fronting the bed. Even though it's fronting EDSA and near the MRT, the rooms are sound-proofed with double glass windows.

Other amenities of the room would be the mini bar with goods five times of their prices! There's a mini ref and a water heater. By the way, the only free item in their bar are the coffee, sugar and creamer which really tastes good.

pool area

The hotel has a restaurant offering buffet food. Dinner is offered for about P2000 while breakfast is about P1000. They have a pool which only allows 2 guests per room so we didn't try it anymore. They have valet and shuttle services too.

So I guess, if you;'re really that rich and can spare some cash, it would be nice to spend a night or two in this hotel. As for me, a middle-class worker, I'm just lucky to have a sister connected to the hotel but otherwise, I wouldn't spend my hard-earned money on this hotel. I mean, seriously, there are other hotels which are less pricey with the same luxury. In fairness to Dusit, they really pride themselves of being a luxury hotel that caters mostly to businessmen.