Huy-Homestay — Hotel in Quảng Bình Province

Stayed 5 days in total. Host changed prices for our booked room, lied about dishes being vegetarian and the scooters and bikes are questionable. View is amazing though.

The pictures and prices on booking are not the same as the actual prices for the rooms. On booking the room was shown as a bungalow with big windows, blanket and view on the rice field for 160,000 VND. When we arrived we were put into a room with one small window and bricklayer walls painted in neon pink and blue with a blanket cover instead of a blanket. Was a little cold at night. The window was covered by a wooden window blind that has to be kept closed if you want the mosquitoes, wasps and heat out so the only choice is an unpleasant ceiling light that is too bright to be cozy and too dark to not feel like you're in a cave. He then offers you to move into one of the bungalows (which are the rooms with the nice pictures from booking) but depending on the season or the view they cost between 250-500VND (It is all the same room amenities). If you arrive in the evening and don't want to spend the time searching for another accommodation you don't really have the choice if you want a pleasant room. After spending a few nights there we thought it was strange, checked again on booking and confirmed that what we originally booked was the bungalow and not the bricklayer room. After addressing the concerns to Huy, he became very upset immediately and I had to spend one hour arguing with him. He wouldn't even let me finish any sentences and accused me of just wanting money even though I told him that this is not a matter of us not paying him (which we fully did) but instead a matter of honesty and respect. He wouldn't accept the arguments and still promotes the bungalows for the false price of 160k on booking.com.

Inside our bungalow the sink was leaking and because it is outside of the bathroom the floor in the room was constantly wet. The bathroom itself was flooded after every shower which is kind of usual in Vietnam but this time the drain was not even in the shower but behind the toilet so the water just stayed there for hours without draining. A few nights no one else was there and other travellers said they also got mixed vibes from Huy or left because they were disappointed by the rooms.

Second thing was that we told him about being vegetarian and he kept giving us dishes with meat inside like a noodle soup with red beef balls. I reminded him about being vegetarian and he said it was a mushroom. Obviously not as it was strongly tasting like sausage and we even had the pieces of hard fat that you get in meat in it. Same with "egg" bao buns that contained pork. When I addressed the matter in our discussion he admitted and apologized at least. Most of the breakfast which he provides was not self cooked like many say. It was take out or instant noodles with fried egg. Breakfast only starts at 8:30, rather late if you want to do much during the day or get to the caves/hikes before the masses and the heat. We booked a 2day Van cave, dark cave, e-cave trekking and climbing tour over the homestay and that morning he gave us breakfast earlier before being picked up, which was nice. The tour was amazing, however, I got food poisoning on the second day which was not as amazing. Apart from that, still highly recommend the tour.

Lastly the situation with the bicycles and scooters. Bicycles cost 50k/day, highest we've seen but maybe that's Phong Nha prices. However, they are very old, flat and half broken. One of them gives you a shock through the arm with every turn of the wheel so after riding for a few minutes your arms are completely numb. Fine if the bikes are provided just like this but not if you pay for it and expect to get somewhere. It's not like you have any other choice of bikes. There are three scooters but they are pretty old and have their special traits. When another group of travellers rented two to go to paradise cave one stopped working on the way. Rental is also not for 24h but per day.

Relieved to leave this behind,...

We arrived at Huy’s homestay and were greeted by a lovely lady who was incredibly smiley and welcoming. She kindly brought us two bottles of water, noticing that we were suffering from the heat and travel. Despite not speaking English, she did her best to communicate with us, which we really appreciated.

We waited about ten minutes for Huy to return home with his family. In the meantime, we took in the gorgeous scenery such a beautiful place! When Hue arrived, he welcomed us warmly. He was incredibly friendly and helpful. We’d made a mistake with our booking, which he sorted out for us with no trouble at all.

We decided to upgrade to the bungalow, as my teen is terrified of bugs 😆 (she was doing the experience for me!). Unfortunately, we didn’t last the night, some bugs got in, which is totally expected in a rural area. Still, Huy was so kind and understanding. He even refunded us part of the payment, which he didn’t have to do, and arranged for his friend to drive us to a city hotel when we couldn’t get a Grab.

We’ve never met such a kind and accommodating person. Thank you, Huy, for putting up with our mishaps and going above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. If you love nature, don’t hesitate to book this homestay. It’s absolutely beautiful and gives you an authentic taste of...

Can't recommend you more to come to Huy's homestay! Huy is the nicest person I've ever met. He helps you find a suitable tour for your needs, he cooks fresh breakfast for you (even if it's 11am), and he can help you book your next drive. He can also cook your dinner. The place is 2.5 km from the center, there are bicycles (for free) and motorbikes for renting, and he will help you if you don't know how to ride. The rooms are clean but basic, it's enough for people who love simplicity, and the price is more than fair. The view is amazing, and the garden and house are beautiful. When I'll come back to Vietnam, I will...