Where to stay in Vietnam?

Ma May Street, in the Hoan Kiem Old Quarter, 2.2 km from the town centre. A hostel on the street of tube houses and bars, for those who want the lake on foot and street food at the door.

Ngo Quyen Street, in the French Quarter of Hoan Kiem, 2.3 km from the town centre, near the Opera House. For those who want the colonial avenues rather than the bustle of the Old Quarter, ten minutes' walk away.

Opened in 1901, Graham Greene wrote here: a wartime bomb shelter was rediscovered under the courtyard in 2011.

Le Phung Hieu Street, in Hoan Kiem, 2.4 km from the town centre, next to the Opera House. For those who want the French Quarter, its cafés and the lake on foot, in a highly theatrical setting.

Interiors by Bill Bensley on an opera theme, a few steps from the Hanoi Opera House, inaugurated in 1911.

Hang Trong Street, in the Old Quarter, 1.7 km from the town centre, on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake. For those who want a walk round the lake at dawn and Ngoc Son temple a stone's throw away, without a taxi.

A high-end two-day cruise in the bay, with a cabin on the water. For those who want the karst peaks, the floating villages and kayaking with the comfort of a hotel on the move.

Vo Nguyen Giap Avenue, in Bai Chay, on a private island linked by boat. For those who want a resort night with bay views before the cruise.

Vo Nguyen Giap Avenue, in Ha Quang Dong, 5.9 km from the town centre, on the beach. For those who come for the sea and peace, and take a taxi to the old town for the lanterns.

On Ha My beach, halfway between Hoi An and Da Nang: allow twenty minutes by taxi to the old town.

In an alley off Bui Vien, in the Ben Thanh quarter, 1.2 km from the town centre. A hostel in the backpacker district, for those who want bars at the door and the Cu Chi tunnels as a day trip.

Bui Vien is the street of backpackers and bars: noisy until late, so choose it for the atmosphere, not for early nights.

Thu Khoa Huan Street, in the Ben Thanh quarter, 500 m from the town centre, next to the market. A simple hotel for those who want Ben Thanh market as soon as it opens and District 1 on foot.

On Nguyen Hue Boulevard, in the Saigon quarter, 500 m from the town centre. For those who want the pedestrian promenade beneath their windows and the Opera House, the market and the river on foot.

It occupies the upper floors of the Times Square tower, on the pedestrian Nguyen Hue Boulevard: the very ornate Italian decor is love it or hate it.

Hai Ba Trung Street, in the Saigon quarter, 300 m from the town centre, on Opera House square. For those who want District 1 on foot, from the cathedral to Dong Khoi Street, in a discreet palace hotel.