HCMC hotel/guest house

[Spaniel]

I'm thinking of making a trip to HCMC in late July and now searching for a inexpensive hotel/guest house.    I have been to HCMC several times but the last time was in March 2014.     Can anyone recommend a place in the "backpacker" area for around $20 per night?    Also will be going up to Nha Trang and maybe Dalat   so would appreciate suggestions for places there too.     Thanks in advance.

[siam2007]

performing a search on agoda and apply filters (for example for price, location) at these places seems to be a good idea. The reviews there are usually very helpful, even if you do not actually intend to book via agoda.

On my last trip to HCMC I spent the first night at a cheapo guesthouse in the tourist area of Pham Ngu Lao, though I did not like it much (and particularly not their attitude to openly display all the collected passports on their desk so everyone could browse through it), so I moved to a more expensive hotel in this area after my return from Vung Tau (which was a lot more pleasant as expected and not sleazy at all). Same procedure could be done regarding Nha Trang and Dalat.

Not been to Nha Trang since more than ten years and never to Dalat, but in Da Nang you can get a proper AC room for less than 15$ in the low season. Competition is high, occupancy low

[asanee]

In that area-the Khao Sarn of HCMC, are dozens+dozens more of guesthss/HTLs etc. Prices from 5US$/NIght (but thats dorm), 10 US will buy you a decent room in a small guesthse-most of these do not take any bookings and are not on sites (that take up to 30% cut infee), the further away from market/airport-busstop, the cheaper it gets. Useless to recomm. some place. What siam above tells is not regular in all places. Pay direct to also have your passpt back immediately. IF they quote US$ and you dont have that, also ask the used US/VND-rate!!

For a little more upmarket-try old centre east of Ben Tanh market and use the agoda/booking etc sites-but most of these present themselves as designer/YUPpee/upmarket places and charge more.

[Spaniel]

Thanks for the replies and info.     I have a number of hotels in mind from lists supplied by Agoda etc.     What I was hoping to get is a recommendation from someone who has recently stayed in District 1.

[rak sa_ngop]

I certainly wouldn't book one on-line for more than 2 nights. This allows you enough time to take a look around and find another one which does not have a building site next door or a breakfast buffet that gets cleaned out by Chinese tour parties!