Can anyone recommend a hotel or guest house in Hanoi for a medium to longer term stay? Cheap (or cheapish), quiet, convenient, and reasonable for someone who will working and not touristing. Thanks for any advice.

If you are already in Hanoi, pop around to Ms Ha's, 10-bis Ha Hoi (a stone's throw from the Cambodian Embassy) and she if she has an empty room. Phone number is 942-1188. Ms. Ha's was pleasant, clean & cheap in 09/02. db

Just left Hanoi. There are loads of guesthouses in the Old Quarter. Be choosy though. Don't go to Viet Anh, on Ma May ($12-15 night so not exactly budget anyway). This hotel has great rooms but intimidating, hassling and lying staff. They seem to have plenty of touts working for them, grabbing people off trains buses etc. Also heard a few stories of people returning to hotels in hanoi to find theyre bags are backed and theyre told to leave (because the hotel have been offered a better deal ie by the appearance of a group). we stayed at Bamboo Hotel on Hang Bac, Old Quarter - not cheap $12-16 but had character and friendly staff. Load of guesthouses on Hang Bac and neighbouring alleys. have fun!