The Hanoi Elegance Diamond is an upscale boutique hotel that sits on a side street just off of Hoan Kiem Lake. It is a quiet spot, with easy access to the restaurants, bars, shops, and sights of the Old Quarter in five minutes on foot. The hotel's 34 stylish rooms are decorated with handsome wallpaper accent walls, wood floors, and plush velvet cushions, and come with modern amenities like free laptops, DVD players, and flat-screen TVs. The hotel has a small spa, as well as a rooftop restaurant and bar with excellent views of the lake and Hanoi (plus an outstanding free breakfast). Prices here are comparable to nearby Old Quarter properties like the Tirant Hotel, yet the Elegance Diamond offers larger and nicer rooms, though it lacks the Tirant's pool.

Hoi An Holiday Villa is a tiny value boutique offering a five-minute drive from the center of Hoi An. Its 10 rooms are large and airy, with big windows, comfortable beds, and amenities including air-conditioning, electric kettles, free Wi-Fi, minibars, and flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are clean and have rain showers, but the water boilers are tiny, resulting in limited hot water. The a la carte breakfast is free and varied, and tasty, inexpensive Vietnamese cuisine is served for lunch and dinner in a lovely open pavilion made entirely of wood. The outdoor pool is a good size and pleasant, and offers a handful of loungers, umbrellas, and self-service towels. Although the hotel is not centrally located for walking, guests can borrow bicycles to ride into town or go to the beach. Muca Hoi An Boutique Resort is another value option worth considering. 

The mid-range Golden Sun Villa Hotel is the nicest of all the Golden Sun properties in Hanoi. Located just a few blocks from Hoan Kiem Lake on the edge of the historic Old Quarter, the 29-room hotel is surrounded by restaurants and shops and is close to most Hanoi sights. Rooms here are far larger than other similar boutique hotels, and have eye-catching woodwork plus modern comforts like flat-screen TV's, minibars, and rainfall showers. The hotel has a small restaurant that serves only free breakfast, plus a travel desk in the lobby for arranging tours. The price-point is about the same as the other Golden Suns, but it's a far better value, and an excellent small boutique choice when compared to the best of Old Quarter stays in its category. 

The mid-range Hanoi Emerald Waters Hotel & Spa is a boutique hotel located just two blocks from the Hoan Kiem Lake. The bustling Old Quarter is a nine-minute walk away, and there are several nearby restaurants, bars, and shops. The 50 guest rooms are elegant and come with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi -- suites have private balconies with city views. A hot buffet breakfast is included in all room rates and there's a restaurant and bar for other meals and drinks throughout the day. The hotel has an on-site spa, but no pool or fitness center. The Silk Path Hotel is a good alternative for a fitness center, meeting facilities, and live music on the weekends.

The 34-room Lantana Boutique Hotel Hoi An is a lovely, upscale property a block from the Ancient Town. Rooms are cheerful and stylish, with painted floor tiles, local art on walls, free Wi-Fi, and great bathrooms with rain showers. Most have balconies, and many have views of the river, but a few are a tad compact. The restaurant serves a free, varied breakfast buffet, as well as excellent local cuisine for lunch and dinner, while the lantern-lit bar -- complete with riverside seating -- is an appealing spot for a drink in the evening. The pool is pleasant and spacious, but it is covered and the deck doesn’t get much sun. Rates at the Lantana are competitive, but travelers on a tighter budget may want to consider the Royal Riverside Hoi An Hotel, which is just a couple of blocks farther away from the center. 

The two-and-a-half pearl Pham Gia Boutique is a cute family-owned bed-and-breakfast located a 10-minute walk from the city center. The nine rooms are spacious, clean, and light, with big windows opening to small balconies, and free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, minibars, electric kettles, and great walk-in rain showers. A tasty homemade breakfast is included in all rates, but the property lacks a full restaurant (one will be added in late 2017) and no other meals are available on-site. This tiny boutique is simple overall, but its location, cleanliness, and low rates make it a good pick for travelers on a budget. The Golden Bell Homestay is even cheaper and offers free bikes, but it's closer to the beach than the city center. 

Opened in 2013, the 445-guest room JW Marriott Hanoi is one of the newer luxury hotels in Hanoi and aimed squarely at business travelers. The hotel is situated in an ultra-modern glass building located outside on the campus of the National Convention Center. Guest rooms and suites are spacious and light-filled; they have chic, contemporary decor and modern amenities like 42-inch flat-screens, DVD players, and iPod docks -- but in-room Wi-Fi incurs a fee. On-site features do not disappoint, and include three restaurants, an indoor lap pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and a spa. Guests in Executive Rooms and Suites enjoy free breakfast, snacks, and drinks in the Executive Lounge. InterContinental Hanoi Westlake is a comparable five-pearl alternative with similar amenities, including an outdoor pool and kids' pool. 

The 10-room Riverside Oasis Villa is a cute value boutique, located a 20-minute bike ride from the city center. There's little on-site other than a small, pleasant pool and a tiny restaurant that serves free a la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The hotel’s rooms are spotless and well-maintained; all have flat-screen TVs, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning. They feature small balconies with pool, garden, or river views. The villa is a quick drive from the city center, and guests can borrow bikes free of charge. The Riverside Oasis doesn't offer shuttle service to the beach or Hoi An, which is unusual for the area. Those looking to explore the Ancient Town on foot may want to consider the Hai Au Hotel, which is within walking distance of the main sights in Hoi An. 

The 107-room Essence Hoi An Hotel & Spa is a four-pearl property located a 10-minute walk from restaurants, shops, and attractions in the Ancient Town. Rooms are elegant with classic decor that incorporates local touches. Free Wi-Fi, well-stocked minibars, and sleek bathrooms are standard. Most rooms have a balcony, and a few have spacious terraces with loungers and hot tubs. The focus here is on relaxation; there's a cute spa tucked away in the gardens, two beautiful pools with whirlpools and drink service, and lovely, lush grounds with lots of shaded areas and loungers. Food is tasty and reasonably priced (by upscale hotel standards), and an excellent breakfast buffet is included in all room rates. There are two kiddy pools and a number of Family Rooms, but those traveling with children may want to consider the Hoi An Historic Hotel, which has a kids’ club. 

The three-and-a-half-pearl Hoi An Chic Hotel is a charming boutique located amid rice paddies between the city center and Cua Dai Beach. Its 17 rooms are spacious, airy, and stylish, with lots of natural wood and bamboo accents, local touches such as wood carvings, and great indoor/outdoor bathrooms with soaking tubs and rainfall showers. Each room has a private patio or balcony -- overlooking the paddies or garden -- and free Wi-Fi is generally fast. A small but tasty free breakfast buffet is served in the restaurant, while other meals offer an array of Vietnamese and international options. The rooftop pool is pretty, but some lounger cushions need replacing. Free shuttle service is available to the city center, but the location may be too secluded for some. The Little Hoian Boutique Hotel & Spa is closer to the Ancient Town.

The 30-room Little Hoian is an upper-middle-range boutique located a block from the action in Ancient Town. Charming and well-equipped rooms have free Wi-Fi, minibars, and rainfall showers, plus a stylish design that offers a modern take on traditional Vietnamese decor. Some, though, may get noise from both the street and the hallways, and a few rooms overlook a construction site. A free, varied breakfast buffet is served daily in the restaurant, which also offers an all-day dining menu of local and international cuisine. The outdoor pool is more suitable for a quick dip or a couple of laps than for sunbathing, as it is covered and the deck gets no sun. Families may want to compare rates at the Hoi An Historic Hotel, which has a bigger outdoor pool and is also in the city center. 

The 49-room La Residencia is a charming, upscale boutique with a central location an easy walk from the Ancient Town. Large rooms have an elegant mix of Portuguese colonial and traditional Vietnamese decor, clean bathrooms with rain showers, and solid amenities such as free Wi-Fi, well-stocked minibars, and big flat-screen TVs. All rooms have balconies, but some overlook a small interior courtyard that can make them dark. An array of massages and salon services are available at the spa, which features four rooms -- including one for couples -- and a sauna. The pool is big enough for laps and is heated in the winter, but it is covered and doesn’t get any sun. In this price range, the Hoi An Historic Hotel has a bigger outdoor pool and is also centrally located. 

With a beautiful stretch of beach, excellent cuisine, and a gorgeous infinity pool overlooking the sea, the 121-room Salinda Resort is one of the most luxurious hotels in this part of Phu Quoc. Rooms are large and airy, with upscale decor and amenities, free Wi-Fi, and great bathrooms with rain showers. The spa, complete with a wide array of signature massages and treatments, is one of the best around, and the fitness center is equipped with a range of well-maintained cardio and strength-training equipment. Although the hotel's focus on relaxation makes it popular with couples, the Salinda also offers plenty of options for families, including a cute kids’ club, a kiddy pool, and babysitting services. In this price range, the gorgeous Chen Sea Resort & Spa Phu Quoc offers a more intimate but similarly luxurious stay. 

The three-and-a-half-pearl Hadana Boutique Hotel is located between the My Khe Beach and Da Nang's city center -- less than a 15-minute walk to both. The 54 rooms are modern and well-equipped with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi -- all feature ocean or Han River views. Located on the 11th floor, the Son Tra Rooftop Restaurant and Sky Bar is one of the hotel's highlights, serving both Vietnamese and Western cuisine with panoramic city views. There's also a lobby bar on the ground floor next to the outdoor swimming pool. Freebies include a buffet breakfast and loaner bicycles. The small spa offers a range of body treatments, including massages. This is a truly lovely hotel, but for cheaper rates and a closer beach location, travelers can consider Sofia Boutique Hotel.

The upper-middle-range Hanoi Tirant Hotel is one of the larger properties in Hanoi's Old Quarter. While most hotels in this area have no facilities, the upscale Hanoi Tirant has a small rooftop swimming pool, a tiny gym, and even a stylish rooftop bar and restaurant with the best views in the entire neighborhood. The 80 modern rooms here have wooden floors and furniture, and all rooms come with computers, flat-screen TVs, and decorative glass-wall bathrooms. Located right in the heart of the Old Quarter, the hotel is as convenient as it gets for restaurants, bars, shops, and tourist sights. The Tirant is definitely a cut above most of the surrounding competition, although it's also priced slightly above the rest. The rooms are not better than some others in the area (like the Calypso Grand), but the extra facilities are worth it.