Homestays in Vietnam
Looking for a unique and authentic way to experience Vietnam? Consider a homestay apartment in Vietnam! This type of accommodation allows tourists to live with or without a local family in their home. Vietnam is a beautiful country with a rich history, and staying in a local’s home place can give you a unique perspective of the country and its people. Homestay in Vietnam is a unique opportunity to get to know the locals and learn about their culture firsthand.
There are a variety of homestays in Vietnam that offer a great way to experience the country. The hosts are the best part as they are very helpful, and will make sure you have everything you need. They also guide you about the local area and things to do. The homestays in Vietnam are usually clean and comfortable. You will feel like home. Each homestay I stayed in had a unique interior with cozy vibes and comfort. They are the most affordable option, making it an ideal choice for travelers on a budget.
My experience was nothing less than fun, I only had about 12 days to explore on my own but was determined to experience a homestay tour in Vietnam.
Every homestay I picked for stay had an idyllic yet cozy vibe, with beautiful minimal interiors and furniture. Each homestay apartment had amenities like kitchen, washing area, private bathroom, bedroom, living area and more. The best thing about homestay is that tourists and hosts could exchange knowledge, even when language is a barrier. Majority of locals find it difficult to speak or understand English, but still they give their 100% in helping you with your query.
Here are few reason to opt for Homestay in Vietnam
1. Host
An enriched homestay in Vietnam experience is all about the people you’ll meet. From your homestay host to the rest of your flatmates, the Vietnamese are soft-spoken, hardworking hosts who focus, first and foremost, on making you feel welcome. Your homestay host longs for you to chat, explore, immerse yourselves in local cuisine, and enjoy the stay. The hosts also offer to take guests on an outing around town or help out with suggestions.
You are always welcomed by their smiling face and warm embrace. One of the best things about staying with a Vietnamese family is that you get to see a side of the country that most tourists never get to experience.
2. Unique Accommodation
Homestay in Vietnam provides a unique alternative to traditional accommodation options such as hotels and hostels. These homestays are sure to give you a lifetime experience as compared to the regular hotel room with bed and bath. Most of the homestay apartment rooms I opted for had minimal interior design, fully equipped bedroom, en-suit bathroom or bathtubs, kitchenette, living space with TV, study area with basic furniture and equipment.
If you visit the rural part of Vietnam near the mountains or countryside then these places often offer wooden lodges or longhouses that provide a unique and authentic experience for visitors. These large, communal homes are built in rural areas and are home to anywhere from a dozen to several hundred people. They are typically surrounded by rice paddies and other lush landscapes and offer a glimpse into traditional Vietnamese culture and way of life.
Homestay apartments have become common in major cities of Vietnam like Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh. You can get to experience the hustle and bustle of city life firsthand and explore sidewalk culture.
3. Personal Tour
Besides checking out the town, you may ask your host about the best attractions and day trips in the area. Your host not only knows all the best locations in the area, but they can help you plan your trip so you can go there at the best times, too. Potentially your host can supply you with a bicycle and a map, or they can arrange for a smiling parked (or boated) to provide you with a tailored cruise.
All my hosts helped me with renting the bikes at the bargain rate, helping me book local tours, directing us with the money exchange places and more. Infact our host in Hanoi, Wecozy, dropped us at the bus stop personally while we were on board to catch our next flight to Danang.
4. On Budget
For a very affordable price, you can have a homestay in Vietnam and explore the city with a budget travel plan. This is a great way to save money on accommodation and unnecessary expenses while also getting to know the Vietnamese people and culture. There are many homestay apartments available across Vietnam, so you can find one that fits your budget and travel schedule. Most homestay apartments will not include breakfast or other meals, but if you wish to opt for make sure to ask about this when arranging your stay. For as little as $10-15 per night, you can have a room.
5. Connect with the locals
Staying in a homestay is a completely different experience all together. Either you stay in a sharing or in a private room you are bound to meet other travelers and local people. This itself makes you feel like home among strangers and those stranger now become your travel buddies.
It is a great way to interact with like minded people, share thoughts and views on topics. Exchange cultural thinking with other people can gain a better perspective about things around. Met many people around and got an opportunity to connect with travellers all around the world.
Another reason why people choose a homestay in Vietnam is to enjoy the convenience of home-cooked meals. Most homestays include breakfast and dinner, but some also offer lunch. Meals are typically cooked by the host family, so guests can enjoy authentic Vietnamese food.
As I had opted to homestay apartments, I didn’t have the meal options, but the host was very suggestive with good cafes and restaurants to try local authentic dishes.
How to Look For a Homestay in Vietnam?
Finding a homestay can be tricky, but it’s definitely worth the extra effort. Here are a few tips on how to look for a reputable and safe homestay in Vietnam:
Use online resources: There are plenty of websites that offer listings of homestays in Vietnam. Do your research and read reviews from other travelers before making a decision.
Social Media: Most of the homestay apartments will not have an online presence you can find them on Instagram and Facebook. Majorly on Facebook, if you find the name you can easily find them and browse the details.
You can also check out from Airbnb and booking.com they have a wide variety of homestay apartments or rooms to choose from.
Ask around: Word of mouth is always a good way to find trustworthy information about anything, including homestays. Ask friends or family who have traveled to Vietnam if they know of any reputable homestays in the area you’re interested in visiting.
Area: Some homestays in Vietnam are located in rural areas, while others are located in more urban areas. Choose the type of accommodation that best suits your needs and budget. Make sure to look out for options which are in the city center and have access to the majority of sights around you.
What to Expect from Homestay in Vietnam?
Be prepared for some mind-blowing accommodation for your homestay in Vietnam and be flexible about what you’re expecting. One thing to keep in mind is that homestays are not always luxurious depending on your budget.
Your Vietnamese hosts will likely want to teach you about their culture and customs. They may also expect you to participate in traditional activities, such as cooking or cleaning.
Your hosts will probably speak limited English, so be prepared to use your basic Vietnamese language skills or bring a translator. Use the google translator app, it works wonders. https://translate.google.com/
My Homestay Experience in Vietnam
WeCozy Homestay Apartment in Hanoi
We started our Vietnam trip northbound, so our first destination was Hanoi, the world’s most ancient capitals where streets with colonial buildings, ancient pagodas, and unique museums stand proud.
While looking for the stay, I came across Wecozy on Instagram, yes not airbnb nor booking.com but Instagram. Looking at their feed, it instantly felt this is the right option to book and stay in Hanoi. Weczoy had a wide range of homestay apartments to pick from. From studio to one bedroom to two bedroom and also duplex apartments you name it they it all. Located in the railway old quarters with close proximity to major sightseeing like train street, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son, Old Quarter, Hanoi Opera House,Temple of Literature and more. Some of the best cafes and restaurants are located right beneath the apartment, so your breakfast and dinner are always sorted.
WeCozy apartments are clean and well-maintained, comfortable and perfect minimal furniture and the host is friendly and hospitable. We opted for a one bedroom apartment which was perfect for the two of us. The room was fully-equipped with 1 queen-sized bed room, living area with flat TV and a comfy sofa, fully-equipped kitchenette with fridge, microwave, utensils and stove top, en-suite bathroom with a bathtub, washing machine and dining area or you can also call it a workstation. Perfect for every individual or family or friends for a small and long-term stay. The rooms are fully-air conditioned, with other amenities like fast Wi-fi, hair dryer, iron board and more.
You will have 24 hours access to the building, during check-in the host will help you with a keycard that will allow you to get inside the building and another set off for your apartment. They have a fully functioned elevator that will take you till the top floor. Apart from this they also have a common shared kitchen with cooking essential tools and a laundry area where you can interact with your other fellow travelers.
A big shout out to our Wecozy Host, they helped us a lot in many ways. On the first day when we were struggling with a sim card and money exchange our host helped us with the direction and best place to get the money exchanged. Even though language was a barrier, still that wont stop your host to help you with. They’ll be more than happy to help you get settled in and show you around town. Our host also helped us get the best tour package for halong bay transportation. After talking to a lot of travel agents, we got the best deal via him, and that was like god in disguise. As mentioned earlier too, our host was so sweet he dropped us at the bus stop personally.
If you need any help you can always contact your host, they are always ready to help you. Once you get your local sim activated you can add the host number and get in touch with them via call or on whatsapp.
Well, the good news is they are soon coming up with two more locations in Hanoi, with tastefully curated interiors and more cozy living spaces.
Website: https://wecozy.com/
Location: 20 Tong Duy Tan, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Starting Price: INR 2000/- per night for a One-Bedroom Apartment
Amenities: Fully furnished kitchen, tastefully curated interiors with beds, couches, desks, large flat-screen TV, and seating.
Check In: after 2:00 PM – Check Out: before 12:00 AM
Ratings: 5/5
Holo Fairy Serviced Homestay in Ho Chi Minh
Finding a budget-friendly homestay apartment in Saigon, Ho Chi Minh can be difficult. During the travel plan I struggled to get something that fits by budget as I had 3 nights to spend in the city. After going through airbnb and booking.com endless time, I came across Holo Fairy Homestay serviced apartments and got in touch with them on Facebook. They were very responsive with all my queries. To my luck there was one apartment available during my stay period, without much thought I booked it.
I got a HoLo Private Room Near Ben Thanh Market, a Cozy and vintage design style studio apartment on the 3rd floor located right in the center of the city in District 1. The studio room had a contemporary style with basic furniture like table chair, sofa, cabinet and cute staircase accessing the floor bed on top. It also had a stove top, with basic kitchen utensils, water heater, and refrigerator. The private bathroom was equipped with a geyser, shampoo/shower gel, hair dryer, towels, and napkins. They also had a Shared large balcony with a city view and Laundry area with a dryer for Washing your clothes on the 4th floor.
This fully air-conditioned studio apartment had free High speed Internet so it was very convenient to get some office work done during our stay. The best part about this apartment was the location as it had easy access to 24/7 mini marts, cafes, restaurants and other sightseeings.
This is a wonderful option if you are looking for a quiet and comfortable place to stay. The entire building leaving the first floor is occupied with Holo Rooms, though they do not have an elevator, they do have a provision of an automatic trolley for luggage to shift to your room. This makes it easy for travelers to shift luggage from the ground floor to the 3rd or 4th floor.
Our host was very friendly and helpful. We had some issue with our air-conditioner, within 5 minutes we had someone helping us with the room temperature. I was in touch with the host via facebook chat, and they were really quick with all their responses. They even helped me to store the luggage after check-out as I had a late night flight to catch.
Other locations of Holo Houses in Ho Chi Minh are below:
Other HoLo Fairy Houses are also smartly located in the city center where all the needs for travelers are met. If you check out the other Holo Houses location they will have great access to some of the best sights. Our HoLo Ben Thanh Saigon stay was located at a walking distance to the famous Ben Thanh Market, Bui Vien Walking Street, Saigon Center Tower and more.
HoLo Fairy House Saigon
Location: 29/11 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
HoLo Opera Saigon
Location: 44 Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
HoLo Alex House Saigon
Location: L7&L13, 343 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
HoLo BaTo Saigon
Location: 43 Nguyen Van Giai, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Website: https://holofairyhouses.com/
Location: 191 Nguyen Thai Binh, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Starting Price: INR 2760/- per night
Amenities: Air conditioning room, flat-screen TV with cable channels, bed linen, private bathroom, hairdryer, fridge, kettle, wardrobe, laundry area, and shared large balcony with city view.
Check In: after 2:00 PM – Check Out: before 12:00 AM
Ratings: 5/5
You can also check out their other homestay options in Hanoi:
Address: 16 Pham Huy Thong, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Address: 91C Hang Ma, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Address: Suoi Cai, Hop Nhat Ward, Ba Vi District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Bare Homestay in Danang
Stumbled upon this homestay from Airbnb and after browsing the same property on booking.com I got a great deal for a 3 night stay in this homestay apartment. Being at a Genius Level 2 on booking.com I got an additional 10% off on our stay. Stayed at this luxurious apartment for 3 nights at just 5000 Rs. What else do you need when you save some on your stay?
Located on the opposite block of Korean Han River, this place falls on Tran Phu street, in a small narrow alley with an entire building dedicated to homestay apartments. The building has a total of four apartments from ground to 3rd floor, with vibrant colors and modern details. Bare Han nurtures positive emotions with four different tones in four rooms. While living in Bare, maybe,you will find it difficult to leave the place on your last day.
The rooms are fully equipped with a queen size bed, comfortable linens, work station, en-suite bathroom, kitchen stove with utensils and microwave, and common laundry area on 4th floor. The interior of the room is so Pinterest inspired, you will wish to have your own room designed the same way. The bathroom had a unique glass door with curtains to get some privacy. They also have a small sitting area with table and Flat screen TV for some entertainment. The wi-fi speed is decent, you can easily check your mails or get some work done.
I had booked Bare Two, an apartment on the second floor of Bare Han. Inside Bare Two, you will find ample space enough for you to feel comfortable throughout your stay. Everything at Bare is what you have in your room, and exquisitely arranged to make you feel familiar. It could be a painting by the side of a plant pot, desk or kitchen area to prepare a hot meal. The Bare Two room interior concept was the dominant green color, along with the fresh lemon yellow sitting area, a right place for you to recharge with positive emotions after a hectic day.
The host of this apartment was equally friendly and helpful, she helped us with the prices for different tours and got us a great bargain price for bike rent. She even waited and showed us how to use the washing machine and dryer. We checked-in very late at night, so the host had shared a guide to self check-in which was so easy to understand and hustle free. The building also had a mini elevator for luggage only.
Website: https://letsbare.today
Location: 169/14 Đường Trần Phú, Hải Châu I, Hải Châu, Da Nang, Vietnam
Starting Price: INR 2615/- per night
Amenities: Air-conditioned and feature a flat-screen TV, a living room with a sofa, a dining area, and a private bathroom with a shower, slippers, and a hairdryer. A well-equipped kitchen with a microwave, a fridge, and a stovetop are also featured, as well as a kettle.
Ratings: 4.7/5
Tropical Home Villa in Hoi An
Hoi An is a beautiful ancient town in Vietnam with rich culture and tradition embedded into it. The place didn’t make us regret the decision to stay for 1 night. Looking for a stay option in Hoi An which was a last minute decision, I came across this Tropical Home Villa Homestay which is a charming villa nestled in a quiet and scenic corner of town, just a few minutes’ walk from the lively riverfront. This home is perfect for travelers looking for a unique and comfortable lodging experience.
This stay was a combination of a modern hotel room with a touch of homestay feel to it, that is why they called themselves as Home villa. They have a wide range of room options to pick from superior, standard or deluxe rooms with view or suite rooms. I had booked a Suite with Pool View which had an amazing queen size bed with comfortable linen, seating area, small cupboard, en-suite bathroom with a bathtub, a minibar and electric tea pot are also offered.
The host is very kind and also helped us with storing the luggage and also got us the room before the check-in time.
Popular points of interest near Tropical Home Villa include Hoi An Historic Museum, Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An Market, Coconut Village, Assembly Hall of the Hainan and Quan Cong Temple.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/Tropicalhomevilla/about/?ref=page_internal
Location: 97/1 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Cam Nam, Hoi An, Vietnam
Starting Price: INR 2787/- per night
Amenities: Family suite, Twin room, parquet floors, Air-conditioned room and feature a flat-screen TV, comfortable sitting area and bedding, mini bar, barbeque grill, attached bathroom with free toiletries, outdoor swimming pool, Wifi.
Ratings: 4.4/5
FAQs
What are homestays in Vietnam?
During homestays, local families of the country offer accommodation in their houses to the tourists just like hotels.
Is a homestay cheaper than a hotel?
Yes. It’s often much cheaper than staying in a hotel.
Is homestay a good idea?
- Yes. A homestay is a good option for travelers to Vietnam, as it allows them to get a feel for the culture and meet some local people. While it can be a great way to experience the country’s authenticity.
What do homestays offer?
Homestays offer basic accommodation and basic services such as meals and laundry. It can also be an economical way to travel.
