Lonely Planet Review
The old dame of the neighbourhood, this is a venerable and well-maintained hotel in the heart of backpacker territory. Calm but low on charm, the Viengtai is resolutely popular with a growing class of independent travellers in search of an extra drop of comfort. The rooms have all the 'proper hotel' amenities, and there's a large pool with deck chairs.
The cool, marbled lobby fills day in, day out with a jumble of backpacks and roller bags indicative of the mixed clientele. The rooms' blue and cream decor with floral touches is conservative, verging on bland. The furnishings are fine but dated and somewhat faded while some of the mattresses are a tad squishy. When you've seen a lot of hotel bathrooms in Bangkok those at the Viengtai have a kind of groundhog day effect: clean enough, nondescript and barely equipped. The deluxe rooms are a step up - they are newer and have a lighter feel (and a larger TV). Overall, the hotel remains a good mid-range option: comfortable, professionally run and blessedly soundproof. It's a good choice if you have kids in tow, or are looking to bump up to Mid-range facilities without ditching the Khao San hood.
Review by author
Annabel Hart