D&D Eco Sapa — Hotel in Muong Hoa Commune

View: Overlooking verdant mountainsides and terraced rice fields, there's little left to be desired here.

Host: Always with a warm and massive grin, Duc is fantastic at making guests feel at home. A shrewd businessman too, encapsulating the opportunistic capitalism of Sapa

Room: Spacious and tastefully decorated, I got so comfortable that I spent an extra night here, enjoying my free bungalow upgrade (since my original room was booked for the next day) Furnishings and cleanliness are of the standard of a good resort hotel rather than a homestay.

Services: D&D does everything, from trekking tours (500k onwards) to laundry (50k/kg), motorbike rental (130k/day) to taxis (200k to town) at reasonable rates, taking the stress out of planning. They even have a literal menu of services to pick from

Food: Complimentary breakfast is served at their in-house restaurant, consisting of a main, a drink and a fruit.

Dogs: Woof

Vibe: D&D is more of a boutique hotel than a homestay. For those seeking a truly authentic experience, save a buck and find a real homestay with real locals. But D&D hits the sweet spot of blending a pseudo-authentic feel with the comfort and luxury that many tourists are accustomed to

Road: Situated along a major road, there's go getting away from traffic noise. Just the price of convenience. Significant sections of the road are unpaved/rocky so expect a very bumpy and dusty ride if you plan to ride a motorbike from Sapa town.

Location: 40 minutes away by taxi/motorbike from Sapa town, which means incurring taxi fares (200k/way) and a long daily commute. Most attractions (Fansipan, Tram Ton Pass etc.) are the other direction from Sapa. Flip side is that D&D Eco Sapa is isolated from the overdevelopment and congestion plaguing Sapa town.

Noise: As of Mar 2023, there are ongoing pool renovations, which can be a nuisance for those planning to just chill in the daytime.

Insects: Nitpicking here but insect bites while lounging outdoors...

Overall 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Everything about this place is amazing! Duc and his team made sure we had a great time, and you can really tell how much they care about the place and people, open to sharing their culture with us. There are also several (friendly) dogs who will greet you when u arrive, although this was definitely a bonus for us :)

Rooms 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The rooms were clean and beautifully furnished, beds comfy and warm (electric blanket and mosquitoes nets provided as well). Anywhere you look out the windows you will see a beautiful view. The bathrooms were newly renovated and clean. There is plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating where you can enjoy their deliciously prepared meals! (Very reasonably priced and lots of vegetarian options too)

Service 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Duc, his family and the rest of the staff were so accommodating and kind, always smiling. Even though duc is the only staff who can speak almost fluent English, the other staff still try their best to understand and help us! Thank you all :)

Location 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Only potential fault of this place is it's outside of town by ~25minutes (200k taxi ride which staff will help arrange) but the surroundings are well worth it in the middle of nature and away from tourists. Just 5min down the road you will find locals selling handmade blankets, trinkets etc. and food. You can go on hikes yourself from the homestay but we went on a tour with a Hmong local through the villages/fields and highly recommend it.

Overall definitely the highlight of our trip, can't wait to come...

I absolutely loooved the homestay—it was probably one of my favorite parts of the Sapa trip. When we arrived, we were greeted by the cutest puppies and dogs at the entrance, and they were always hanging around in the common area. 🥰🥰They were so lovable and endearing, it really added to the charm of the place.

The common area was also great for dinner. It was super cozy, and the home-cooked food was delicious. The hospitality was amazing too. We also used the driver provided by the homestay to get around Sapa, and it was really convenient. It’s only about a 20-minute drive from the city, and it’s definitely worth it for the peacefulness and the views.

We loved our room as well. As a group of four, we booked a private bungalow with our own bathroom. The only downside was that the hot water ran out after one person showered, and the rest of us had to deal with cold water. 🥲🥲 Even though it wasn’t winter, it was still pretty uncomfortable. That said, the room itself was adorable with its wooden interiors, and we loved how cozy it felt. Plus, the views from the homestay were absolutely stunning. It was so peaceful, and we got to enjoy the beautiful scenery all to ourselves.

Overall, I had an amazing time and would definitely come back if I ever visit Sapa again. I can’t wait to see those happy...