Mali Namphu
Flashpacker favourite
What we say: 
The wide, open entrance is an attractive introduction to this popular guesthouse in the centre of Vientiane. Rooms above the lobby are the most affordable, but the real gems are in the back building and wrap around a beautifully manicured courtyard. All rooms are decorated in a simple but tasteful way and have air-con, hot shower, satellite TV, and clean en suite bathrooms with hot shower. WiFi is free for guests, though it only reaches the rooms in the back building. The on-site restaurant, Mangolicious, serves tasty Lao cuisine all day in the garden courtyard. Our only complaint about Mali Namphu is how quickly its prices are rising, with the budget travellers whose glowing reviews contributed to its popularity now priced out of staying here.
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Contact details:
109 Pangkham Rd. T: (021) 21 5093, (021) 26 3297 F: (021) 26 3298Email them at: malinamp@laotel.com
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What we were quoted
| Type of room | Low season | High season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe- Double | 30 USD | 35 USD | |
| Standard - Single | 19 USD | 22 USD | |
| Triple air-con private b'room | 40 USD | 45 USD | |
| Standard - Double | 25 USD | 29 USD | Upto $33 depending on building |
Added to Travelfish on: 5th July, 2004
Last visited or updated on: 5th February, 2011
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Onward travel
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Sri Chiang Mai (Thailand)
Nong Khai (Thailand)
Udon Thani (Thailand)
Phou Khao Khouay National Park
Ban Chiang (Thailand)
Vang Vieng
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The above are all within 200km of Vientiane.
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Read Mali Namphu reviews
Rated 4 out of 5
Based on 45 ratings and 45 reviews
Too dear now
This is too dear now. I would suggest the Suphophone guesthouse, where the rooms are nicer and the price is cheaper.
Mali Namphu reviewed by Rufus (Total reviews: 1) on
Happy with this place
We moved to the Mali Namphu after 1 night in the Lani Guesthouse. We were pleased with the change as well - the room was large and clean and quiet. The room was on an upper floor and looked over the courtyard and was likely quieter than ground floor courtyard rooms and those overlooking the street. A/C was decent enough and the breakfasts were also pretty good - particularly having a choice of dishes. From memory it was relatively well priced - certainly cheaper than the Lani - and I'd stay here again.
Mali Namphu reviewed by daflj (Total reviews: 4) on
Prices Are Up
My husband and I just stayed the night and it was a nice place to stay with good atmosphere, a/c rooms that were plenty cool, and very central location. Prices have gone up, however, and rooms ranged from $24 to $39/night (depending on how many floors up you were, size of bed, and whether free WiFi reached your room). Definitely not as good-value as we'd hoped.
Mali Namphu reviewed by JavaJunkie (Total reviews: 2) on
OK
well situated in a busy commercial road. Behind a narrow entrance, ther is a lovely garden where the breakfast is served. The rooms are small, but ok, and well furnisched. The price is ok for Vientiane.
Mali Namphu reviewed by paulsuzanne (Total reviews: 15) on
Nice but overpriced and bedbugs
I've stayed at Mali Namphu many times since it opened, usually 2-3 times a year. Nice place, quiet considering its central location, and usually very helpful staff. The room price has gone up significantly the past couple years - $14, $18, $22, and now $24 for my usual room. The last visit in September 2009 I encountered bedbugs and woke up itching like mad so I'm looking for a different place next time and until I can be assured the bedbug situation has been sorted out.
Mali Namphu reviewed by Captain_Bob (Total reviews: 1) on
Nice, quiet, clean and convenient
I stayed at the Mali Namphu mid December 2008 while getting able a Thai tourist visa. I found the place to be of good value and very convenient. Stayed 2 nights. Room was clean and door was lockable / latchable securely. The desk staff arranged for a night sleeper train and cross border transport which went off without a hitch. The price was about 250 baht more than if I had done this all by myself, but the convenience was great and I had a confirmed reservation on the train the next day. The cross border transport was a truck to a bus to the border and then another truck to the train station. Transport and immigration clearance took about 2 hours total. Next time I would do it myself and I saw people who couldn't speak Thai / Lao doing it this way. I WOULD GLADLY STAY WITH THEM AGAIN
Mali Namphu reviewed by Katmanpu (Total reviews: 2) on
Pricey but nice
My husband and I stayed at Mali Namphu for 2 nights while in Vientiane - the hotel was very clean with attentive staff and a lovely breakfast included in the price, especially as the courtyard setting for breakfast is delightful. However, the price was rather high ($24/night) considering the other options in Vientiane, especially if you can find another hotel with a pool which Mali Namphu lacks. Also, it's worth mentioning that there were quite a lot of mosquitoes in the room though the staff was kind enough to put a coil outside our room in the evening upon request.
Mali Namphu reviewed by sasandtim (Total reviews: 15) on
Dirty sheets
Cancelled our booking, even though we stated we'd be late. Sheets were not cleaned, as late in the evening they would not change them. Price for a single twin is $23 per night. Plenty of better and/or cheaper rooms in the city.
Mali Namphu reviewed by bedu (Total reviews: 13) on
Not bad, but not good either
I had read good reports on this hotel and perhaps my expectations were too high to start with. Yes, the location is good, courtyard is nice (nice Xmas tree) etc. But we had problems with the service and the staff. Firstly, our booking was lost, as well as confirmation and reconfirmation. Fortunately they had a spare room to give us. It was on the third floor, no lift, facing the street. It was a large room but very noisy at night time. The bedding and sheets were shocking. The sheets were grey and nearly worn out, and the towels were so thin that they were useless for their purpose. Secondly, the cleaning lady had left her master key in our door for a whole day! Luckily there had been only honest tourists around that day as all our belongings were there to be taken. IMHO there are better alternatives for the same price range and we will not return to this hotel next time.
Mali Namphu reviewed by Ramblergirl (Total reviews: 8) on
Mosquito central
I would have to say I was disappointed. Yes, the location was great, staff are friendly, nice courtyard and free breakfast is much appreciated. Clean beds, clean room and hot water. However, we had a veritable platoon of mosquitoes in our bathroom every morning (we killed about 10-15 in the space of 15 minutes) and had to resort to burning a mosquito coil every night. This cost it in terms of cleanliness. For USD24, I did not expect having to kill mosquitoes by the dozen.
Mali Namphu reviewed by dragonnite (Total reviews: 6) on
**** Namphu
Well, it was not a bad place at first and we were desperate since there was not much else available. The courtyard was lovely and the staff friendly and helpful. The room on the other hand was sort of daggy with stained walls and creepy looking mattresses with spotty sheets. For around 25 US I found this a bit steep. The morning brought the **** Namphu. I woke up with angry red welts on my arms, back and neck. A victim of bed bugs! And they are itching like mad with blisters! We have since changed guest houses. MN has a BB problem and the owner will probably do nothing about it, being cheap. Be warned!
Mali Namphu reviewed by queenbeenowak (Total reviews: 1) on
Central location
Mali Namphu is a clean and central hotel, 5 minutes' walk from the river and close to a number of other sites with lots of restaurants and facilities close by. The hotel has a great courtyard for eating and reading and serves a free [but small] breakfast. The rooms were clean and tidy and adequate for what we needed. You'll need to book early if you're after a downstairs room that opens onto the courtyard.
Mali Namphu reviewed by bennyandchelle (Total reviews: 5) on
Excellent value for money
Immaculate, great location right by the fountain, brilliant staff, overall a top-class hotel on a small budget. We spent our 1st night in Vientiane in a marginally cheaper place but it was on the outskirts of town and was nowhere near as nice as this place. The cost of a tuk tuk to get into the centre makes Mali Namphu an even better budget choice in comparison. I will def be staying here again.
Mali Namphu reviewed by kl82 (Total reviews: 6) on
Great choice
Stayed here for four nights. Location is perfect. Clean room, hot shower, good AC, pleasant staff. Lamp bulb was out in my room and was replaced same day I mentioned it. They suggested I park my rented motorbike inside the lobby at night to avoid theft. Would return for sure.
Mali Namphu reviewed by mhejnar (Total reviews: 2) on
Mali is a clear winner!
If you want a room get to the Mali early... it's almost always full - and for good reason. Very clean room, small, color TV with cable, hot water shower, great b'fast included, great location, just half a block north of the water fountain. This morning's breakfast was an omelet, coffee, four pieces of French bread with butter and jam, and four pieces of pineapple. Menu changes every morning. Talked with a restaurant/bar owner nearby and he says the Mali is, by far, the best guest house in Vientiane. Although they don't have online reservations I made reservations via TravelFish's email link. They check their mail several times a day. Mali Guest House is great deal.
Mali Namphu reviewed by somchy (Total reviews: 1) on
Wonderful
We stayed here for one night and were amazed at how friendly and helpful the staff were. Rooms are well-maintained and clean. They asked no questions nor asked for any fee when we kept some of our luggage there while we spent the rest of our trip in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng. I just hope that they have more choices for breakfast in the future.
Mali Namphu reviewed by mysticsangria (Total reviews: 4) on
Great value, Great place, Great staff
We loved Mali Namphu. It was clean and the staff was very helpful. Their courtyard was a delightful place to have breakfast. Their location is excellent –- close to Wat Sisakat, Talat Sao and the riverside food vendors. It would be perfect accommodation if they replaced their old spring mattresses. But all in all it is a great place to stay and we will definitely stay there again.
Mali Namphu reviewed by shumium (Total reviews: 4) on
Ideal spot
Took my parents up to Vientiane for a change from Thailand. We stayed at Mali Namphu and had a great experience. Everything worked as we wanted, and the second day there, they held a baci ceremony (for Lao New Year) to which we were all invited, followed by free booze and BBQ all afternoon. Who can argue with that? I'm sure the noise from the stereo and people soaking each other with water wasn't appreciated by some party-poopers, but we were having a brilliant time. Overall, a fine choice to stay here, and at $18 a night for a double, it was perfectly adequate for my needs.
Mali Namphu reviewed by gromily (Total reviews: 3) on
Would go back for sure
Thought it was great value and the service was more like a hotel. Professional and helpful staff, comfy bed, nice breakfast, great location. I understand some rooms do not have windows, so make sure you request one if you are so inclined.
Mali Namphu reviewed by celianz (Total reviews: 11) on
Nice place, bad experience
I stayed here with my girlfriend in March 08. For some reason, at 3.15AM someone decided to try and open our door. Luckily we had the safety latch done up, as neither of us were dressed at the time. I jumped to the door and slammed it, put on pants. I then opened the door, and the person was standing a few metres down the hall. I asked him what he wanted. He said he thought the room was empty and walked away. (We had the lights on, which can only be possible with the key in the gadget next to the door, so this was obvious b*llsh*t.) A few minutes later I went downstairs and asked the desk guy what was going on, he just kept saying 'no problem' and refused to look at me! After checkout I asked to speak to the manager. No apology was offered. He didn't seem particularly surprised either. I was told that 'they thought we had checked out' but it was 'someone else.' Bathroom smelled bad too. However for the price, if you don't mind the possibility of midnight intrusions, it's not a bad deal.
Mali Namphu reviewed by iancpotter (Total reviews: 2) on
Super location & lovely rooms
We first stayed here back in January 2002 while it was still being built and have been returning every year since. The rooms are lovely but don't have a fridge, though you can use the guesthouse fridge at the foyer. The staff are very polite and are now more informative than back in 2002. Mali Namphu's location is great and only a 10-minute walk to the River Mekong and if you want a romantic dinner you only have to walk 2 minutes to French and Italian resturants. But if you want to see the world go by while eating a tasty French roll with tuna and salad all for the price of 60p (UK) just turn right out of the guesthouse, walk to the crossroad (one-minute walk) and turn right, then you will see the pavement snack bar. The Lao owner speaks English and French so you will gain a lot of Lao knowledge facts from him. It is advisable to pre-book well in advance. Have a good journey.
Mali Namphu reviewed by globetrotter (Total reviews: 3) on
Clean, friendly & location
Mali Namphu is a nice place to stay: price-wise, clean, location, staff and service. I only stayed for a night, but breakfast is included and the staff are very friendly and helpful. The place has a pleasant courtyard and is well located, close to cafes, shops and restaurants. Highly recommend it!
Mali Namphu reviewed by fersum (Total reviews: 4) on
Good location
Did not stay but looked around. Very convenient location next to the fountain. Garden looks nice and clean. Quoted me USD17/night.
Mali Namphu reviewed by Dr_Kob (Total reviews: 3) on
More plus points
A bit of an oasis and very quiet. What makes this place is the garden which all the rooms overlook. The staff are very friendly and efficient but the housekeeping isn't to a great standard. We stayed for two weeks in a standard room (for a few nights) then upgraded to a deluxe (means bigger). The rooms are just OK for the money and really need a paint job. The food here is very good in the evening if you fancy a quiet night in. Location is excellent.
Mali Namphu reviewed by pho93 (Total reviews: 1) on
Every thing you need
Glad to have stayed here, everything about the place is very pleasing and friendly. In the best location as it is nice and quiet inside and once you go out the front you are right in the best part of town. Staff, conditions, cleanliness etc were way above the norm. Glad to have been directed to here.
Mali Namphu reviewed by muzzaf (Total reviews: 3) on
Great deal!
Wonderful little place, especially for $16! Very friendly, spotlessly clean, conveniently located, and above all absolutely quiet! In which other Asian capital can you find a hotel that's not surrounded by the roar of buses and motorbikes all day and night even if you pay much more? The courtyard is nice but very hot from mid-morning. Breakfast is modest but that doesn't matter as there are so many wonderful food options near the hotel, including right across the street and around the corner (go right on Samsenthai). A brilliant little hotel, and much more than just a guesthouse. And thanks to Travelfish for being so informative on this place and much else about Vientiane!
Mali Namphu reviewed by bruthiaux (Total reviews: 3) on
Well worth the extra cost
Friendly and accommodating staff. The free breakfasts were nice. My only complaint was my room attracted a lot of bugs but that was easily fixed. Good value for money.
Mali Namphu reviewed by stef_thomp (Total reviews: 6) on
Hard To Beat!
This is one of those gems we sometimes find when travelling! It's hard to find negatives as it's convenient, friendly, quiet, clean and economical. Built around a lush and relaxing courtyard. Far better value than anything we found in LP.
Mali Namphu reviewed by rext (Total reviews: 2) on
A great bet!
For only $16 a night you get all the luxury that you need. We felt as if we were in a four-star hotel. Breakfast was nice (and free) and the staff was super-friendly. Absolutely something to recommend!
Mali Namphu reviewed by hessie82 (Total reviews: 6) on
Good Place
The courtyard was nice, room was quite basic and small but very clean (lots of mozzies when we arrived but staff quickly sprayed the room for us). Great location. Didn't quite live up to the hype but it was nice.
Mali Namphu reviewed by messej01 (Total reviews: 10) on
lmdang
Lovely place, great location & friendly staff. Simple, yummy breakfasts. Fantastic value. Only negative was that plumbing in our room was a little blocked. Very minor issue & did not detract from enjoying our stay at Mali Namphu
Mali Namphu reviewed by lmdang (Total reviews: 3) on
Pretty good
Not much to say, it was nice and clean, good basic room, good shower. Would stay there again.
Mali Namphu reviewed by sideflip1 (Total reviews: 9) on
Same same
I concur with others' comments: clean & good value. This is indeed a good guesthouse. After a dusty dirty month in North Laos, hot showers, working toilets, air-con and clean sheets were gifts from the gods.
Mali Namphu reviewed by rayc101 (Total reviews: 5) on
Very nice
This place was a good find. Fairly cheap, great location in the centre of town and great service. There is a lovely courtyard to relax in and breakfast was included for us. Also good cable TV.
Mali Namphu reviewed by riki_nt (Total reviews: 9) on
Boutique guesthouse?
This was just the most charming little place. US$14 for a lovely little room with air-con, TV, en suite and breakfast in the beautiful courtyard. What a pleasant surprise.
Mali Namphu reviewed by aemilys (Total reviews: 4) on
Nice place
Mali Numphu has nice bedrooms and is a well located hotel.
Mali Namphu reviewed by anne (Total reviews: 6) on
I'd stay here again
The other positive comments on this hotel sum it up nicely. This is by far the best place I've ever stayed in Vientiane. We paid $17 for a large, clean, stylish room with king bed, cable TV and hot water bath. The breakfast was a bit funky, with one traditional (like pancakes) and one not-so-traditional (like tuna sandwich) on offer each morning. Great location just north of the fountain. Accepts credit cards (adding a 4% service charge). Great value.
Mali Namphu reviewed by exacto (Total reviews: 34) on
$16, but worth every penny
We stayed in one of the $16 double air-con rooms. The rooms were clean and the private hot water bathrooms spotless with actual hot showers! The guesthouse was pretty, quiet and the staff are so lovely and incredibly helpful. We planned to stay four days, but we're still here and the staff have happily juggled their rooms around so that we could stay longer without having to change rooms too many times, in fact we only changed room once and they put us in a bigger room for the same money! All rooms have TV and reasonably quiet, very effective air con. The rooms surround a beautiful courtyard, perfect for a late night drink and breakfast is included in the price.
Mali Namphu reviewed by mrandmrsburke (Total reviews: 25) on
Very, very nice
While you might not want to spend the $15 it is very worth it. A truly great spot to stay while in Vientiane! Loved it!
Mali Namphu reviewed by mollyandjason (Total reviews: 14) on
Nice hotel
I echo what everybody else has said. This is a nice hotel with a relaxing garden. It is centrally located. The banging of doors by other guests can be noisy but the mosquito coils outside the rooms is a nice touch. Breakfast in the garden is also nice (but not substantial).
Mali Namphu reviewed by pythagnz (Total reviews: 12) on
Great little spot!
Great service & super friendly staff, great location, rooms are spotless and you can't beat it for the price. As all the rooms are around the internal courtyard it adds to a feeling of safety. The communal corridors lend themselves to meeting other travellers. One of the friendliest places that we have stayed at.
Mali Namphu reviewed by downundergal (Total reviews: 4) on
Nice rooms, with decoration and clean bathroom
We looked at several guesthouses, but eventually Mail Namphu was the best one. Nice decoration, clean white sheets and a clean bathroom. A good choice if you're looking for a relaxing place to stay in Vientiane.
Mali Namphu reviewed by noledam (Total reviews: 4) on
Good place, but ...
The Mali Namphu is certainly a nice place, especially the courtyard to sit in. But the rooms are rather small and cramped, especially if there are two of you sharing. Also, in winter when it's too cool to need the air-con, you can't really open the window as there's no mosquito screen and it gives directly onto the public corridor.
Mali Namphu reviewed by coop069 (Total reviews: 1) on
Clean and inexpensive
I agree with Millionario that Mali Namphu is a great value for Vientiane. The rooms are clean and well-maintained. The attractive, landscaped interior courtyard provides some relief from the street life. The only drawback was that the front desk staff have little information about restaurants, shops, and attractions. I will certainly return to this guesthouse.
Mali Namphu reviewed by Pinklao (Total reviews: 3) on
A great place
Considering the price, the Mali Namphu is really great value. The beds are excellent and everything is brand new (ahhh, silent air-con...), considering that the hotel's position is extremely central. I was really amazed by the excellent quality/price ratio. I also bought a VIP night bus ticket for Pakse then (US$15) and wasn't disappointed. Only drawback: the hotel hasn't got a restaurant (didn't see any breakfasts) but there are some good spots in the nearby streets to have traditional Lao breakfast or food.
Mali Namphu reviewed by millionario (Total reviews: 15) on