On first glance the rooms are OK, they are generally quite clean and we were happy enough with hot water in the shower. Beds are quite hard. There was a reverse-cycle air-conditioner/heater in our room which we were happy to see, according to the brochure, these are only available in the first class rooms. So generally, at first, the hotel... More

We moved here after 1 hellish night at another Bac Ha hotel (search under my username for the review). The Sao Mai was twice as expensive but we were desperate for hot water and a softer bed so we went for it. A plus point was that the guy at reception spoke better English than anyone else in town but... More

The reason to go to Bac Ha is to attend the Sunday market. Sao Mai Hotel is probably the only semi-decent convenient place to stay. However,Rooms are quite shabby. Dinner is marginally edible. Wireless internet didn't work. Their computer was old and barely functional. If you go to the Bac Ha market, I suggest you stay in Sapa and go... More

Okay---this is a pretty basic hotel but my room was clean, the staff was perfectly nice and the food of okay quality. That all said, what makes this place so great is that it's a 4 minute walk to the Bac Ha market which is a weekly affair frequented by the Flower Hmong. Was the room hot? Yes. Did the... More

Had a confirmed booking via email for a first class (new wing) room at this hotel booked several weeks before traveling. It had seemed strange that at the time of booking they were not concerned about taking a deposit. I now know why, because the hotel was packed with tour buses on arrival and they obviously take the view of... More

I suppose our room was clean, but old furniture, even though we were in the new wing. Reception dark, scruffy and dining room poor. breakfast was dreadful and a glimpse of the kitchen from the stairs to our room did not fillus with confidence. Flasks and cups were left out for more than 24 hours in a second dining room.... More

If I was to stay at the Sao Mai hotel again I would make damn sure I got a room in the new wing. I took at peek at the old rooms, and while the rooms themselves are okay, though very outdated, the bathroom was shocking. (The bathroom is pretty much how I judge a hotel room). We did get... More

On arrival instead of being shown to the "new wing" which we believed we were staying in we were ushered to the 3rd floor of the "old wing". Shown to room 304, but had to be moved from that one because there was a water leak down one internal wall which was causing a dripping sound in the room. Try... More

Stayed here on a cold January weekend visit to the wonderful Saturday and Sunday markets. The hotel itself is a mixture of older and newer sections none of which rise above the 2 star level. Our 5th floor walkup (no lift was to be found) was unheated and bereft of hot water. Construction was crude with the wind circulating freely... More