Vietnam forum

Posted from within Vietnam.

Actually, I dropped in at both the Dreams Hotels. The 'older' one has apparently been renovated, and their rooms start at $20. After checking out many of the hotels listed in LP, I decided to stay at the Hotel Chau Au Europa - a stone's throw from the central roundabout by the lake, the local bus station, and a 5-10 min walk to the Central Market & Sing Cafe (for open-bus bookings). The rooms are large and clean ($12+), bathrooms come not only with hot water, but an actual shower stall and other goodies like a packaged shampoo bottle and soap, hotel stationery and a pad of paper on which you fill out your breakfast preferences - it's included in the room price and it's ready at the time you indicate! Internet is free, though slow at times. The family that runs the place is really friendly & helpful: they sorted out my visa extension within a couple of hours; the husband speaks French and the wife, English. Worth a visit.