Giving the exponential rate of inflation in both prices and cost of living in Hanoi over the past year or so, I seriously doubt you're going to be find any hotel rooms with private bathroom, tv, fan and fridge near to downtown for US $8-$12.

However, if you can give up the tv and fridge, these people have rooms with private bath, hot water, ac-heat and internet right in the middle of the Old Quarter for US $8 a night.

http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/en/venue/show/2017/Vega-Travel

Vega Travel

Alright, thanks for the recommendation. I know there are a few out there, as we stayed in Central Stars Hotel this summer and managed to snag a room with the above mentioned amenities for $12.

The room was decent, but the bed was excruciatingly painful. So we're hoping there might be a few other options available.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Last year, I booked 1 room with TV, fan, fridge and private bathroom for my relatives at a hotel on Hang Ga street for 150vnd/night(~$10). I don't remember exactly the add but it is located somewhere in the middle of this street. 1 more thing, i don't ensure whether the rent was increased or not!

For a tenner you can get a reasonable room with a TV with dodgy reception, en suite, AC, fan and even natural light and a print of the Mona Lisa if you ask for a room at the back, at the following locale

http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/en/venue/show/575/Minh-Toan-Hotel

Pity it's in the old quarter. I don't think there's a fridge either.

After walking around town for about a week looking for the best low priced hotel outside of the old quarter I could find I just checked into one I'm really happy with.

It's on 25 Chau Long near Truch Bach lake, it's called chach san trung tien. They don't speak much english but the rooms are very nice and they even dragged an ethernet cable up to my room for me.

if you end up here send me a message and we'll have lunch or something.

Is "chach san trung tien" listed on this site? I can't seem to find it...

He means Khach San ("Hotel"), and it is listed:

http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/en/venue/show/651/Trung-Tien-Hotel

Any ideas for guesthouses outside the Old Quarter? Something in the neighborhood of the Temple of Literature would be ideal.

Granteralus, did you manage to find a decent and cheap guesthouse with monthly rates in the end? Will be arriving soon and any lead would be greatly appreciated.

I never found one with monthly rates, but I've heard they exist. Anyhow, at $10-12/night, I can't complain. We ended up staying at the Prince 79 Hotel. Review here:

http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/en/venue/show/636/Prince-79-Hotel

That's in the very heart of the Old Quarter. If you've already got a job lined up, I'd focus on finding something near it to make the transition a little easier for you. Traffic here can be... frustrating.

I know a really nice long term hotel near the Botanical Gardens not but 1km from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

The hotel is called the Huong Giang Hotel. Located on Ngoc Ha street.
Address: So 39 ngo 172 Pho Ngoc Ha

I stayed there for 2 months. The rate is 310 a month plus electric and water. It is serviced daily and is really quiet just off the main road.
Phone number is 04830325 they speak limited English, but they understand western thinking.

Ohhh and almost forgot something important when I was there Laundry was FREE!!!! (done daily)