SOCA Hotel Lao Cai

The double room had a beautiful view, the pathway was clear, it was close to the border gate, and there was a rooftop cafe for relaxing and enjoying the scenery. The room was clean and smelled nice, and the front desk was staffed 24/7.

If you choose a river view room, you can see the border between Vietnam and China and the immigration office from your room. I requested a non-smoking room, but the room in front of the smoking area smelled strongly of cigarettes, so I informed the front desk and they changed my room. The first floor and rooftop of the building are cafes, and the view from the rooftop was also very nice.

It's newer than the surrounding buildings, so it stands out easily. It's about a 20-minute walk from the Chinese border, but if you have large luggage, it's convenient to take a taxi. The hotel doesn't offer currency exchange, but there's an ATM nearby. The riverside restaurants open at night, making it a convenient place to eat. There's also a cafe on the second floor. The staff don't speak English, so it can be a bit inconvenient for foreigners. The room was very clean and comfortable. The shower pressure was a little weak. The toilet and shower are separate, but they're in the same space, so the floor gets wet. My room was on the fifth floor, and the view from the balcony was great. I could see the river and the Chinese border. The free Wi-Fi was pretty fast.