Hotels in Ninh Binh

Khachsan Hoa Lu (Tran Hung Dao St.; tel. 030/387-1217) has rooms from $25 and is in the north end of Ninh Binh along Hwy. 1. Some budget tours may book you here, but it's mostly a businessmen's hotel -- and a rather gritty one, at that. Thanh Thuy's Guesthouse (at 128 Le Hong Phong St.; tel. 030/387-1811) is a bare-bones operation off the main road, but rooms start at $10 and they have a helpful tour desk with reasonable rates. Queen Mini Hotel (21 Hoang Hoa Tham St.; tel. 030/387-1874; fax 030/387-3005) is a basic but popular backpacker haunt outside the train station entrance. Rooms, which are a bit tattered, go from $5 to $15. The hotel offers good basic tour services -- the staff will help you hire a guide and rent a motorbike or car -- and a little restaurant with good one-dish meals.