With only one hostel stay under my belt (in Rome), I headed to Vietnam for a four-week trip. Here I noticed almost immediately that as a backpacker, a good hostel is responsible for a large part of your experience of a destination. Therefore, I created this mini guide for you to assist in your search for the ideal hostel. It includes a list of the hostels I stayed at while on this itinerary, along with my impressions.
Contents
- Hà Giang: Hong Hao Hostel
- Cat Ba: Secret Garden
- Ninh Binh: Banana Tree
- Hue: Amy 2 Hostel
- Hoi An: Backhome Hostel & Bar
- Da Lat: Tigon Hostel
- Mui Ne: iHome Backpackers Resort
- Saigon: City Backpackers
Hà Giang: Hong Hao Hostel
You will spend a maximum of two nights in Hà Giang, the starting point of the famous Hà Giang Loop. The night before setting out on the route on two wheels and, possibly, the night of the return trip. I stayed at the Hong Hao Hostel, and I heartily recommend it! I paid about €5.00 for a bed plus breakfast and slept in a room with six beds.
Breakfast was satisfactory, particularly if you've had your fill of traditional dishes like noodle soup (phó) for a while. The room was quite large, the bed was comfortable, and there were lockers for the backpacks.
The key advantage: rent your scooter here!
Additionally, the hostel offers scooter and motorcycle rentals and, if required, can assist in making reservations for a guided tour of the Hà Giang Loop. I rented a Honda Wave for about €7.50 per day, and the hostel also offered insurance for an additional €4 per day. It's a good thing too because the scooter had minor damage from my slide. Although it wasn't my intention, it's nice to not have to worry about handling the damage if it does happen unexpectedly.
Finally, you can meet people who are starting the loop with you or you can meet people who have finished the loop and can give you useful advice.
Cat Ba: Secret Garden Hostel
I had mixed emotions when I left the island at the time, in part because of my hostel stay. After reading numerous reviews online and in Facebook groups, I made a reservation. My trip was from December 28 to January 1, which may not have been the best time. Therefore, take this review with a grain of salt since it might actually be much better when it's busier.
Here, I paid about €5.00 for a bed in a room with eight beds. I only had 3 roommates, and only one more on the final night because it was so quiet. Additionally, there were hardly any other travelers, making the situation rather dull. However, there is plenty of space to mingle around the campfire or in the beanbag corner, even when it is crowded. When we wanted to play pool for a while, we went a little further and around the corner for €2.00 an hour because the pool table runs pretty crookedly there (50,000 Vietnamese Dong).
There are many breakfast options nearby, so it's okay that this hostel didn't include it in the price of our stay. I once had breakfast, but it wasn't particularly memorable. A "decent" breakfast is worth a little bit more to me. They made a side claim a family dinner, but when I asked, they said it wasn't available. In addition, the beds weren't as comfortable as I've experienced in other hostels. Mattresses that are fairly firm, yet also include a small shelf for storing items.
Conclusion
Because it wasn't crowded when I was there, I have a hard time recommending this hostel. You won't have any problems there if it is busier and they are holding a family dinner, for instance. so you can m ake new friends and have a great time. As such, you might think about staying at the Buffalo Hostel. At least over there it was much busier at the same time, as I attended the New Year's Party there.
Ninh Binh: Banana Tree Hostel
My favorite of them all! You must stay at the Banana Tree Hostel while visiting Tam Coc, Ninh Binh. The "big" street with all the restaurants and shops is only 50 meters away from where you are staying by the lake. In the indoor area of the hostel, where music is played all day, there is a lovely atmosphere. It's helpful to know that the music stops at 00:00 if you like to go to bed a little earlier.
Breakfast was not included in my stay. The hostel has a restaurant where guests can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can get fantastic loaded fries or a pizza here, especially if you are sick of Vietnamese food. Although the prices are slightly higher than if you were to eat dinner downtown, I overheard other travellers saying that the food was excellent.
Social vibe: 10/10!
There is a pool, ping pong table, pool table, and many places to socialize (including a campfire). There is a really lovely atmosphere with the music. There is plenty of space to meet people at this popular hostel because there are many other travelers there.
I stayed in a room with six beds and the bed was fine. You sometimes have to wait or go outside where there is another toilet with a shower because there was a bathroom in the room. I paid €7.50 for this room, which is slightly above average in Vietnam, but the facilities and location made it well worth it!
Renting a scooter or bike is also an option; I paid €4,80 per day for a scooter.
Hue: Amy 2 Hostel
Had a fantastic stay at this hostel, which gets high marks in part because of its ideal location in the heart of the city. Within 15 minutes of leaving the hostel, you can reach the Citadel in the heart of the imperial city. I would also give a 10 for the owner's service because she genuinely cares about making you feel welcome.
We were given a city map when we arrived, which we looked over together. She also gave us restaurant recommendations and made reservations for the DMZ Tour. A tour that made a significant impression on me and is recommended for anyone interested in learning more about the nation's history.
Breakfast and accomodation
Breakfast was included in the room rate of €4.50. The sandwiches are fine, but I wouldn't select the cheese versions (only if you are a fan of cheddar cheese on a sandwich). The four-bed dorm with a bathroom was fine. Not very special, but you shouldn't expect that either for such a price. Breakfast is served in the same location where socializing takes place in the evening. There aren't any additional extras, like a pool table.
Here, I also rented a scooter for just €3.20 for half a day as I only needed it to go to the Abandoned Waterpark. Overall, given the value for the money and the fact that you typically won't be in Hue for very long, this hostel is definitely recommended.
Hoi An: Backhome Ho(s)tel & Bar
Although the name says hotel, Booking.com classifies it as a hostel. Very confusing. Anyhow, for convenience's sake, we'll call it a hostel since there are also dorms here.
The ideal location!
It was too cold and rainy for me to relax by the beach because I was traveling in the winter. I initially discovered some excellent hostels by the beach, but it was better to find accommodations downtown because of their location. For instance, it was only a quick 15-minute stroll to the well-known Bánh Mi eatery, which Anthony Bourdain named the best in the world for the Vietnamese sandwich. Only a 10-minute walk separates you from the historic city center—perfect!
Best breakfast at a hostel to date!
What best describes Backhome's breakfast is that it is extensive and exceptionally delicious. Fried rice, pancakes, vegetables, baguette, fried egg, fruit, and a beverage. What more could one ask for? The €6.40 per night price includes breakfast (bed in an 8-bed room). Given that the costs in the area are higher than average by Vietnamese standards, this is a great deal by Hoi An standards.
Facilities
The hostel has a restaurant and social area downstairs. When I was there, there were more than enough guests, making it simple to make new friends. Although the hostel offers cooking classes, I wouldn't suggest them after my positive experience with Bay Mau Eco Cooking.
Fiets huren voor € 1,20 per dag
For €1.20 per day, you can rent a bike.
Since some areas of the historic city center are inaccessible to scooters, biking is the best way to explore it the Dutch way. You already have one for a daily cost of €1.20. For me this hostel was an absolute must because of their breakfast as well as its facilities and location!
Da Lat: Tigon Hostel
A hostel with a strong sense of warmth and family. I am pleased to suggest the Tigon hostel for your stay in Da Lat. You can also enjoy a lovely view of the mountains from the balcony and the upstairs rooms.
More than affordable!
I only paid 180,000 Vietnamese Dong, or about 3.60 per night, for my two nights in a 12-bed room with breakfast. The price/quality was more than reasonable despite the slightly lacking facilities.
Social environment
There is a warm family ambience, which creates a cozy atmosphere. There was more than enough space to interact with other travelers thanks to a pool table and a balcony. During my visit, a beer pong and pool competition was held in the evening. You could decide to take the shuttle downtown afterward (at 22:00).
We were driven approximately six minutes from the hostel by the shuttle to the Maze Bar. What a comfort! We were picked up at 00:00 and taken to another hostel for an after party. You can take a cab back for about €2.50 if you don't want that. I'm not sure if this is always the case or if the shuttle also makes trips back to the hostel at night.
Facilities
There are rooms downstairs, on the first floor, and on the second floor. The benefit of having bathrooms on their floor is available downstairs. For that, everyone from the first and second floors had to walk down to the ground floor. It would have been nice to have a toilet/sink on our floor as well, though this is not something I would immediately consider a drawback. The bed was excellent, but there was no bedside table for small items.
It is possible to rent a scooter, which will cost you about €6 per day (150,000 Vietnamese Dong). You can choose between an omelet or a sandwich with scrambled eggs for breakfast. You can eat lunch or dinner for a reasonable price as well, but I would choose to visit the night market as I just love night markets.
Mūi Né: iHome Backpackers Resort
The iHome Backpackers Resort is the ideal place to stay for your trip to the seaside town of Mūi Né because it is located on the beach. Realizing in advance that it is a party hostel is always a good idea. This hostel has the worst facilities when compared to the others, but the atmosphere, setting, and food more than make up for it!
I paid €5.00 per night to sleep in a dorm with 12 other people. You do have to turn in your passport when you check in, something I personally find to be dreadful. Although I had asked for permission to make a copy and keep it, my request was denied.
Since you sleep in a "open bungalow hut" without any sound insulation, it is quite noisy in the dorms. It can be occasionally puzzling with the electrical outlets because you sleep in an insect net to protect yourself from insects, especially mosquitoes. Since I am quite tall, I was worried that while I slept, the phone and batteries on the charger would fall off the bed. Even a small shelf would have been preferable. Additionally, there are tiny lockers for valuables, but they appeared to be pretty rusted.
Social vibe: 10/10!
More than enough room is available to meet other travelers. They have a pool, a short stretch of beach where you can relax, and a number of gaming options. Ranging from table tennis to pool. Free beer is available during happy hour from 6 to 7 p.m. After that, the music starts, and people start partying until around 2 a.m. Although it's not ideal if you want to wake up early to see the sunrise, you can easily sleep through the noise if you have good earplugs.
There are many Western and Vietnamese dishes available at the restaurant. Personally, I enjoyed the pancakes and smoothie. Prices are reasonable and comparable to those at nearby restaurants.
Additionally, you can reserve a tour of the sand dunes from the hostel and rent a scooter for 150,000 Vietnamese Dong (€ 6) per day. Overall, highly recommended because you can overlook the pretty poor facilities when you consider the atmosphere and location!
Saigon: City Backpackers Hostel
Het City Backpackers Hostel is voor mij vooral een aanrader vanwege de locatie. In het drukke Saigon is het heel fijn om een beetje 'weggestopt' te zitten van de drukke straten. Dit hostel ligt in een zijstraat nabij een drukke rotonde in District 1, perfect! Alle voorzieningen en diverse bezienswaardigheden op loopafstand. Voor een bed in een 12-persoonskamer betaalde ik ongeveer € 8,00 per nacht. Iets duurder dan gemiddeld in Vietnam, maar in Saigon zelf is alles gemiddeld genomen wat prijziger.
Het bed in de 12-persoonskamers was prima, alleen kraakte het behoorlijk en maakte het dus best wat geluid. De bovenste bedden hebben geen gordijn. Er zijn 2 badkamers (1 voor 6 personen), wat prima is als je een beetje goed kan timen met de rest. Ontbijt heb ik niet gehad aangezien er veel keuze is in Saigon zelf. Beneden is een kleine ruimte om te zitten, meer dan dat is er verder niet.
Bus ticket to Cambodia
They also sell bus tickets to Cambodia, but the cost is about €6.00 more here than it was with the bus company we ultimately chose (Danh Danh).
The value for money is more than adequate for me because of the location. There are many choices, so feel free to consider another one in District 1 if you have heard good stories about it.
Sapa: Homestay
Without a homestay, my trip to Vietnam would not have been complete. My personal experience has led me to the conclusion that staying the night with a Vietnamese family is an absolute must when visiting Vietnam. You'll discover more about the people's traditions and daily customs. genuinely enhancing your life.
Sapa - Hmong House
I personally stayed with a Hmong family at Hmong House in the Ta Van village. Numerous trekking tours end in the village of Ta Van, which has several homestays. I paid 250,000 Vietnamese Dong for a 30-minute cab ride to the center, which is about 8 kilometers from Sapa. Although the roads can occasionally be a little bumpy, I didn't find it to be too bad.
The owner has about 2 rooms in their main house and a number of detached bungalows. It is possible to eat meals with the family, and I highly recommend it. We had dinner with them twice, and both times it was absolutely delicious!
Do you go to Sapa at the appropriate time of year? Then, with any luck, your bungalow or bedroom will have lovely views!
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