Stayed at Renaisssance a few years back. Walking distance to a ton of shopping areas and eateries. Entirely depends on how Western you want your meal vs. local Vietnamese - all options are available and quite economical.

Get the Vietnamese coffee wherever you go.

At airport, you get off the plane and walk to the immigration booth and show your passport with visa and you are done. Should be a quick process whereas folks requiring VOA must wait for inspection/stamping of their visa.