The best hostels in Hanoi can be a little tricky to come upon considering there are loads of hostels to choose from. Besides, you wouldn’t want to end up in the sub-par hostel when you could have the better option!
Backpacking Vietnam can be quite a challenge, and the last thing you need is to stay somewhere that you don’t feel comfortable with. Consequently, I feel that it’s important to discuss the best hostels in Hanoi to give you a few recommendations on where to stay.
Hostels are a fantastic way for travellers to socialise while sticking to a budget. Moreover, these are usually the cheapest forms of accommodation and are great for anyone pinching pennies.
Throughout the post, I go into depth on the best hostels in Hanoi and include some tips for hostel etiquette, where to book these dorms and the pros and cons of hostels. I hope you find it insightful!
The 5 Best Hostels in Hanoi
- Hanoi Central Backpackers Hostel
The Hanoi central backpackers hostel is a great place to stay for a few nights in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Moreover, this hostel offers the optimal location for exploring the old town of Hanoi.
Not to mention, there is a nice verandah with views over Hanoi and a fantastic social space to enjoy a Vietnamese beer after a day of exploring.
There are loads of activities put on daily including a vibrant nightly party that goes until 11 PM. After the hostel party, get yourself sorted and head out onto Beer street to continue the festivities and get a further dose of Vietnamese culture.
Key features:
-Assistance with booking tours
-Free breakfast
-Large social space
Dorm rooms from: $9 AUD per night
- Nexy Hostel
One of my favourite hostels and one of the best in Hanoi is Nexy Hostel. Firstly, these rooms are fitted with comfy beds, sturdy ladders and curtains for privacy. Each room is airconditioned and the building has multiple levels with lots of social space.
Secondly, you can hang out in the foyer area to make use of the free wi-fi, or head to the rooftop deck area for an afternoon drink while watching the sunset over Hanoi.
Finally, the staff at the desk are extremely helpful in booking activities including trips to Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa, Ninh Binh and Ha Giang.
Key features:
-Rooftop hang-out area
-Free wi-fi
-Personal lockers under each bed
Dorm rooms from: $10 AUD per night
- Hanoi Buffalo Hostel
The Hanoi Buffalo hostel offers a slightly more luxurious feel with one of the only hostels in Hanoi offering a pool. Not to mention, it’s closeby to the city centre and in the optimal location for doing plenty of exploring.
Moreover, each bed has its own locker, powerpoint, reading light and mini cabinet to lock up valuables. This is a crucial security feature when backpacking with valuables such as laptops and camera gear.
Finally, head out into the common area for a dip in the pool or enjoy a drink by the pool with the onsite bar facilities while you make some new friends!
Key features:
-Free breakfast and free beer
-Pub crawl every night
-Free walking tours
Dorm rooms from: $9 AUD per night
- Luxury Backpackers
The name goes as saying, this is definitely one of the nicest hostels in Hanoi, but it of course comes at a price. However, if you’re down to splash a little more cash, this is a great place to enjoy for a couple of nights.
Moreover, this fantastic and luxurious hostel is only a 5-minute walk from Hoan Kiem lake and is perfectly situated in the Old Quarter.
Finally, after a day of exploring, look no further than to enjoy a tasty meal and drink from the onsite bar and restaurant. This will save you from wandering the streets at night to look for dinner, another great safety hack, especially for solo female travellers.
Key features:
-Large comfy beds
-Modern rooms are well kept
-Restaurant and bar on site
Dorm rooms from: $15 AUD per night
- Hanoi City Backpackers Hostel
Last but not least, another fantastic hostel to consider is the Hanoi city backpackers hostel. Moreover, this hostel has a great social space, and offers friendly Western and Vietnamese staff.
Staff are extremely helpful in booking tours, renting scooters or bikes and getting you to and from the airport. This is the kind of service that makes a hostel so worth the stay!
Finally, beds are tidy and well presented and lockers are included to secure your valuables.
Key features:
-Western and Vietnamese staff
-Airport transfers
-Bike, car and scooter rentals
Dorm rooms from: $17 AUD per night
Where to Book Hostels Online
There are a couple of different sites that I typically recommend for booking accommodation. Moreover, this is great for booking hostels, hotels, homestays, and private rooms. For that reason, this is great in case you would like multiple options!
I found the best hostels in Hanoi by using Agoda and Hostel World. Not to mention, these two websites both have their own apps making them the perfect addition to your phone while travelling.
I found both of these sites fantastic to use all throughout South East Asia as they have plenty of properties on offer and sometimes offer discounts. Be sure to download both of these apps and sign up before heading to Vietnam.
Read more: Vegetarian Food in Vietnam: How to Eat Vegetarian in Vietnam
Hostel Etiquette
Now, let’s briefly chat about some hostel etiquette in case you haven’t stayed in a hostel before. Besides, this ensures that everyone has a nice stay and is comfortable in the room. A little goes a long way when living in hostels and some people live like this for months, sometimes even years on end!
With that being said, follow a few of my tips to ensure you are being as respectful as possible to your fellow dorm roommates!
- The dorm room is always a space to be quiet, no matter the time of day. Some people may be feeling ill, have an early flight the next day, have a long day of hiking, or be feeling homesick! You never know what other people are going through, so give them the peace they need and keep noise to a minimum.
- Keep your stuff off the floor! No one wants to trip over your bag of clothes.
- Never hang belongings on ladders. You don’t want your neighbour above to come falling down in the middle of the night, so keep them safe and hang your towel or clothes elsewhere.
- Listen to music through earphones or headphones.
- Keep smelly shoes outside of the room; This is one way to truly annoy fellow roommates with stinky shoes!
The Pros and Cons of Hostel Life
There are loads of pros and cons to hostel life. And, life in hostels can tend to get tiresome if you aren’t in a room that you enjoy. Nonetheless, it’s usually worth it for living on a budget and getting the chance to make loads of new friends.
However, be sure to keep some of the following pros and cons of hostel life in mind if you haven’t stayed in this type of accommodation before:
Pros:
-Meet lots of other travellers, typically young backpackers
-Accommodation is usually the cheapest
-Social space to hang out and relax
Cons:
-Less private space
-Every hostel is different, this includes activities, social space and privacy
-People tend to be loud in the room
-Possibility to wait for showers or toilets
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, these are some of the best hostels in Hanoi and some of my favourite hostels in the country. I truly believe that life in this type of accommodation is fantastic and it is easily my favourite way to travel.
I love the low price while having the ability to make new friends. Not to mention, I’ve met some of my best travel friends in dorm rooms!
Finally, be sure to keep some of the hostel etiquette tips in mind to ensure everyone has an enjoyable stay. And, make use of Agoda and Hostel World during your time in South East Asia; They are definitely the best for finding accommodation!
Read more:
Mua Cave, Hang Mua: The Best Viewpoint in Ninh Binh, Vietnam
10 Best Things to Do in Da Lat, Vietnam
