Smile Hotel

Smile Hotel in Nha Trang left me with rather mixed feelings. On one hand, it offers excellent value for money, making it a great option for budget-conscious travelers. On the other, there are several small details that, if improved, could make the experience much better. The location is a strong point. Although it’s not directly on a main road, everything is still within easy walking distance. When Kelia arrived earlier, the lobby was crowded with guests checking in and out or just chilling at their lobby, so things felt a little chaotic. I arrived at 2:00 PM, the official check-in time, and had to wait a short while because they were fixing our air conditioner. While the delay wasn’t ideal, I appreciated that they wanted everything working properly before handing over the room. We booked the top-floor Suite, and it was impressively spacious with beautiful views of Nha Trang. It even comes with a mini kitchenette, complete with a microwave and electric hob, making it suitable for longer stays. There were plenty of power sockets around the bed and even a dedicated makeup table. For the price, it’s honestly hard to complain too much. The swimming pool is on the 16th floor, though the final level is only accessible by stairs. Our booking didn’t include breakfast, but it’s available at a reasonable price. Staff service was mixed—some were warm and welcoming, while others were more reserved. Right beside the hotel is NK Nails, which offers one of the best-value massages we’ve experienced in Nha Trang. It’s well worth a visit. There are, however, a few improvements I’d love to see. The kitchenette only has one usable power socket located high above the hob, making it inconvenient for appliances like an electric kettle. The hotel only provides two very small bottles of drinking water; two standard 500ml bottles would be much more practical. Our suite came with only two pillows, whereas many hotels now provide four. There was also no facial tissue in the room. The bathroom also needs some attention. The glass design looks modern, but the curtain is too short to fully close, reducing privacy. The shower hose is extremely short, and there isn’t a wall holder, so one hand always has to hold the showerhead while showering. A longer hose and simple wall mount would make a huge difference. There was also an unused water outlet that constantly dripped, leaving the toilet area floor wet throughout our stay. Another small concern was the room door. There was no secondary security lock or door latch on the inside, which made us feel a little less secure, especially at night. While we didn’t encounter any safety issues during our stay, having an additional lock would certainly provide guests with greater peace of mind and an added sense of security. The room can also be a little noisy, although that’s understandable given how lively Nha Trang is. One unfortunate incident happened when my girlfriend unexpectedly got her period during the night, leaving two small spots on the bedsheet. It was completely accidental. The hotel later left two letters on our bed requesting a cleaning fee of around 50,000 VND. The amount itself was perfectly reasonable, and we were more than happy to pay it. However, both letters were written only in Vietnamese and Russian, so I had no idea what they were about until Kelia helped translate them for me. The communication also felt a little impersonal, as receiving letters on the bed came across more like a warning than a conversation. A friendly explanation at the front desk, together with an English version of the notice, would have created a much warmer experience. Sometimes, a little understanding and personal communication go a long way in creating loyal guests. Overall, Smile Hotel is still a hotel I’d recommend, especially if you’re looking for a spacious room at a very reasonable price in Nha Trang. It already has many strengths, and with a few thoughtful improvements to the facilities and guest experience, I believe it has the potential to become one of the city’s best value-for-money hotels.

Very pleased with the room and the staff. Quiet place to relax and very nice location for exploring the area.

Stayed 5 nights the last 3 in the Premier room, cleaned as required, comfortable bed, good Internet for my TV stick, helpful staff, also laundry service.

Good location, competitive pricing and sufficiently comfortable rooms. Service was pretty good overall. Downsides: 1. Was woken up multiple times by either neighbors or chatty housekeeping teams. 2. After requesting a simple phone call to ask in Vietnamese about busses for my departure, they refused and sent me to a travel guide nearby, who had little interest in helping and sent me to a bus office 3km away, which did not help aside from giving me the phone number that the receptionist could have given me. Instead of a 2 min courtesy phone call, this took 2 hours.