Sleeps
Yellow House Guesthouse
Bui Vien St.
Pam Ngu Lao, D1
Saigon
It is the first in the list of places to sleep in Lonely Planet. I was so glad that the staff is very helpful and willing to help. I booked through a combination of phone call, e-mail and YM and got my pseudo-reservation within minutes which I used as proof of booking required by the immigration officer in NAIA 2. Through the online receptionist, I secured a “confirmation of the booking of Mr. Xxx Xxxxxx at Yellow House Hotel for a week paid via credit card number xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-5467”. Isn’t that neat?
Now, the hotel is another story by itself. It was so hard to find because the “Yellow House” signage is barely a few square feet compared with the giant signage’s of its neighbors. It was on my third time along Bui Vien that I finally saw it. LP has their building number but in Bui Vien, house numbers are erratic.
Their email address and telephone number listed in LP are both active: 836-8830 (go figure the country code and area code!), yellowhousehotel@yahoo.com.
I stayed on a $12 per night room on the second floor which is actually on the fourth floor. There’s no elevator! There’s free internet on old computers in the lobby. Breakfast is also included but the next day I had to leave early since I’m heading to Siem Reap. Too early, that the door is still locked and the staffs are still sleeping in the lobby.
There’s hot and cold water. They have this old model of water heater which appeared like a tank the size of a small TV. Water pressure was good even though it was on the fourth level. The aircon’s remote was broken, but its auto setting was fine with me. The TV is old, but works fine. To turn it on, you have to press power and then channel.
The $12 room that I got was for two, so if you have a companion it’s just $6. They also have dorm-type rooms on lower floors for $5.
The hotel and its facilities and equipments are relatively old, but for low price of $5/9/12 and for their helpfulness, I would stay there if given a chance again.
Thai Nhi Mini Hotel
40/4 Bui Vien St.
Pham Ngu Lao
I was led here by one of those hotel agents in blue that roam around Pam Ngu Lao. She’s very helpful; I bet she receives commission for her work.
This hotel is on a small street connecting Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien. Their facilities were better than that of Yellow House but the bed’s cushion were hard, I felt like a prisoner. Everything is working except their refrigerator which did not contain anything. If you want to buy water, you need to go to their reception area.
They keep their guests’ passport and only release them after you check out. At least you’re assured that you’ll never lose your passport.
At night when you arrive late, you had to wake the owner up using the door bell. They lock the gate, but it was OK since they just sleep on the reception area.
Popular Guesthouse
Siem Reap
This was recommended by a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cambodia in his blog and also by LP. It’s near the Old Market, Bar Street and the Night Market of Siem Reap. I stayed here during the night I arrived in a $12 room on the top floor. It is bigger and better than the one I stayed in in Saigon. On my second and third day I transferred to a cheaper fan room ($6) because I don’t want to climb the stairs anymore as the room is on the top floor.
Bassac Guesthouse
Phnom Penh
I was forced by the tuktuk driver into checking in with this hotel. I arrived in Phnom Penh just after midnight. There were few people in the streets at that time. I was supposed to stay in Capitol Hotel which I called before I left Popular. But the tuktuk driver insisted that I stay in Bassac and that it was better and all.
Checking in here started all the disasters I encountered when I stayed here. First, there were no other available rooms with windows. Only one room with window and fan was empty in the top floor which was four stairs away. At least the window opens, but the fan wouldn’t move that I have to move the bed. The fan was also noisy and the room was dirty!
Lesson learned: In mainland Southeast Asia, don’t believe referrals of persons you don’t know. Drivers would refer any hotel they want you to stay in because of the strong commission culture here. They could make your stay miserable in exchange for $1!