20 minute walk to the center or a taxi. Had laundry done and wasn’t folded very well at all especially for the price.

Nice quiet location away from the busy area. Comfortable rooms and friendly staff. Relaxing stay.

Stayed in April 2024

Wider variety of breakfast would be nice. Especially if you stay longer that few nights.

The first our hotel in Vietnam where room photos on booking.com met the reality :). Room cleaned every day, friendly staff, very quiet location. Sure you need a taxi to get to the city center, but thats worth to pay of having quiet sleep in the mornings.

Stayed in April 2024

The laundry came back all wrinkled-up…which was a bit disappointing since it was pretty expensive compared to other hotels.

Everything’s was really nice! Beautiful room and view, looks exactly like on the pictures. Nice breakfast. We had a really good time

Stayed in April 2024

The bed was a little hard

Great hosts, very nice family that goes out of their way to make you comfortable and happy. A great value for the money.

Stayed in April 2024

We loved our stay at Dung Lai 173 Hotel. The staff went out of their way to make sure we had a great stay and everything we needed. It was a little out of town so we were able to avoid the tourist crowds, and only a 10 minute walk if we wanted to eat or do other activities. Highly recommend this hotel if you're looking for somewhere a little quieter, and with very friendly service!

Stayed in April 2024

If anything at all it is a little walk into town but nothing that bothered us. Good restaurants 10 minutes walk.

Spotlessly clean and we liked the location and view from our room was amazing. The walk around the area to the port was nice.

Stayed in March 2024

Breakfast could be more diverse. But it was good.

Room was very good, with beautiful views and small balcony. The owner and his family were super kind and not pushy at all with bookings of activities as I could read in other reviews.

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing really

Great view over the bay! The room was very spacious and got cleaned/tidied every day. Nothing too fancy but had everything you need. During TET it was very quiet and the staff was super friendly and helped us wherever needed. It is not right “in town”. We rented a motorbike so it was only a few mins away but maybe if you walk it’s a bit further. The hotel has a little dog which is the cutest thing ever! She’s very cuddly and playful, we loved her. Very good value for money and would totally recommend when staying in Cat Ba.

Stayed in February 2024

Very friendly Boy. Not much Englisch, but No Problem with Google translater. Very good room, good breakfast, super view. Thank you.

Stayed in January 2024

We stayed over the Christmas period. It is a lovely family run hotel. The family went above and beyond to make sure our stay was as pleasant as possible, they gave us an extra heater, rented us a scooter for cheap, did our laundry (40,000vnd/kg + 30,000 for drying), and gave us lots of advice and tips about activities and food around the island. We’d definitely recommend and stay there again!

Stayed in December 2023

Limited selection for breakfast if staying a few days. Lower and rear rooms don’t have bay view. 20 minute walk to main town, which we enjoyed, but might not be for everyone.

Nice large room with great views over the bay. Peaceful location, friendly and helpful staff. Very good breakfast. Good WiFi.

Stayed in January 2024

Hotel is clean and comfortable. I just took some beach photos in front of hotel. The ideal place to see sun rise

Stayed in December 2023

We had a fantastic stay at Dung Lai 173. The hotel is run by exceptionally friendly, kind and accommodating people - they helped us with absolutely everything we needed which made our time in Cat Ba such a good experience. They even helped me with a minor medical issue and went as far as taking me on their scooter to help me with the process - they really went above and beyond! Our bedroom was fantastic and amazing value! Very spacious and extremely comfortable - we slept excellently every night! The view of the sea from our bed was absolutely gorgeous!!! The room is immaculately clean. The breakfast was great - delicious pancakes with fresh fruit! The hotel is about 10-15 minute walk from the centre of town (which wasn't a problem at all for us). It's less than 2 minute walk from the port which was very convenient when for our boat tour. The hotel organised the boat tour for us at a very good price. Laundry service was great value and super quick service. The detergent also smelled really nice!!! The hotel organised scooter rental for us too - they did absolutely everything to make our stay brilliant!

Stayed in December 2023

Transport to the main town area can be booked via the desk. We found that Grab was not great and that taxi drivers dont turn up unless you have a local phone number (which we did not). In the end we got bike rides.

Location is very near the port - where you can catch a boat ride to see the bay. Friendly people and very helpful.

Stayed in October 2023

Nice new hotel with fantastic view. The staff is very friendly and the hotel is impeccable. It is away from te main drag but provides a good opportunity to explore the town walking. There is a bit of a hill to arrive at the main center but it is a lovely walk with views.

Stayed in October 2023

The hotel is very clean. The view from the room is fantastic. The bathroom has no separation between shower and toilet so when you shower often the entire bathroom area including toilet is wet. Just close the toilet seat. Something we could live. Location wise it is ok, not directly at the hustle bustle of the city center, but sufficiently close enough. However, it still requires a bit of walk, perhaps 10-15 min. When it is dark or with small children, a taxi ride is better. The hotel owners don’t speak English, but we managed to communicate efficiently with Google Translate. He helped us with various planning and organization, book trips and bus rides back to Hanoi. Everything worked efficiently. The breakfast was monotonous, only 2 options: egg and pancake. But fresh fruits were always part of that. For a family-run small scale hotel, I really think they are doing the best and for the price level, this is quite sufficient.

Stayed in August 2023

Was a little hard at times to communicate with owners as they had little english but they did the best they could

Fantastic view walking distance to town and cheap to hire motorbike from reception so quiet and peaceful at night.Room was meticulously cleaned every day

Stayed in September 2023

The beds were a little on the hard side, as is common in Asia.

The view from the room on the 6th floor is just beautiful and the hotel is a few minutes walk from the jetty. It doesn't take long to walk the km to the shops and restaurants of Cat Ba. The owners are super helpful and arranged our boat trip and bus to Hanoi.

Stayed in August 2023

Communication can be a little difficult but be patient and they will help take care of all you need! It is a walk from town. We love walking so wasn’t a problem but just a heads up if don’t ride motorbikes.

This a beautiful hotel with a kind staff! My girlfriend and I stayed here and had an incredible time. The ocean view rooms have incredible views (especially floor five and six). The staff was so nice!!! They helped us early check in and when a typhoon was coming, they helped us check out a night early.

Stayed in July 2023

Nothing

Nice rooms, quiet location, but still walking distance to the port Great advice on tours, transfer to airport Very nicely cooked for us when it rained heavily and we didn't want to go out

Stayed in June 2023

Located in a superbly convenient area, far away from the bustling city noise yet just minutes away from the port that leads to the stunning Lang Ha Bay, Dung Lai Hotel 173 exceeded my expectations in many ways. The moment I stepped into the hotel, I was greeted by the warmest smiles and impeccable cleanliness that radiated throughout the property. The hotel is relatively new, and it is evident that the owners take great pride in maintaining it to the highest standards. The rooms were exceptionally clean, and it was evident that meticulous attention was given to every detail. I appreciated the comfortable beds and the overall peaceful ambiance, which allowed for a restful night's sleep after a day of exploring the surrounding area. What truly sets Dung Lai Hotel 173 apart is the incredibly friendly and hospitable staff. The family who runs the hotel is simply delightful and made me feel like an honored guest throughout my stay. They were always available to assist with any queries or provide recommendations on local attractions and dining options. Their genuine warmth and attentiveness added an extra touch of charm to my overall experience. While I must admit that I paid a slightly higher rate due to the peak season, I firmly believe that at regular prices, Dung Lai Hotel 173 offers exceptional value for money. The level of service, cleanliness, and comfort provided is well worth the investment. I genuinely enjoyed my stay and would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a peaceful and comfortable retreat. In conclusion, Dung Lai Hotel 173 impressed me with its prime location, spotlessly clean rooms, and the amiable service from the lovely family who runs it. Whether you're seeking a tranquil escape or planning to explore the nearby Lang Ha Bay, this hotel is an excellent choice. Even at normal rates, it offers exceptional quality at a reasonable price. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and would gladly return for another delightful stay.

Stayed in May 2023

Communication is a bit tricky. Bathroom has no shower curtain.

Very nice and friendly owners, even though it's a hotel, it felt like a homestay. Family always was around and checked if everything is ok. Super comfortable beds, quiet air conditioning and in general not noisy. Only few meters to the dock where the tours start. Helpful receptionist (Tour booking, scooter rental, ...) even though there's some language barrier. We got the possibility to take a shower in a free room in the afternoon after check out before taking the Bus.

Stayed in April 2023

If you're struggling to find a great place to stay in Cát Bà, take a tip from a fellow traveler who stumbled upon a gem of a hotel after a chance encounter. While chatting with a friendly Canadian named Luke over breakfast at a homestay in Phong Nha, he recommended the Dung Lai hotel, run by a warm and welcoming family, and located away from the busiest areas of the island. The hotel's location is a standout feature, only a 5-minute walk from the town center yet tucked away in a quieter area, allowing for a more relaxing stay. The rooms are spacious, spotlessly clean, and well-appointed, with everything you need for a comfortable stay. The warm and gracious hospitality of the family who runs the hotel truly sets it apart. Don't forget to indulge in their breakfast, which features some of the best pancakes around. In short, take it from Luke and this reviewer - the Dung Lai hotel is a gem, and you might find yourself extending your stay, just like we did.

Stayed in March 2023

nothing really - would have preferred not to have the building work further along road which was noisy but not their fault! It was fine with windows shut!

We chose this as it was located 2 minutes walk from the harbour where our Lan Ha bay cruise left from. So it was excellent for that. It was a walk to get to the majority of restaurants but I liked that it was quieter than the busier main Cat Ba town. They were very friendly and helpful and the breakfast while not included was only 40 dong pp. So very reasonable! View from the room was lovely - ask for floor 5 or 6!

Stayed in March 2023