Hoa Binh Hotel

Breakfast was phenomenal, and the free meal made this place tremendous value for money. The rooms were air-conditioned and cleaned regularly, and the food in general was great. Staff were always helpful and could cheer you up after a bad day or night. As a solo traveler, I found the other guests easygoing, and we shared beers in the evenings. My only issue was getting back very late when I’d gone far from the hostel, since there weren’t many car taxis around. I’ve stayed and worked at some of the best five-star hotels in the UK, and the staff here are just as good, without the bravado. I’d recommend it to families and drinkers alike for the quality and value.

The breakfast was okay and free, and the location is central, but the stay was still the worst hostel experience we’ve had in Vietnam after two and a half weeks of travel. We’ve had much better for a similar price. The dorm smelled moldy, the bathroom wasn’t clean, and the beds were uncomfortable. One had a clear dip in the middle. The room was cramped, with people sleeping head to head, and our backpacks wouldn’t fit in the lockers. Cleaning staff also kept pressuring us to leave before checkout time.

The staff were friendly, and there’s a nice cold pool by reception for cooling off. We had a private double room, which was pleasant, though nearly all the electrical sockets were broken. Breakfast was okay, but I thought it was overrated. We also felt the staff were overcharging for bus tickets. We booked through a travel agency for half the price; staff warned us about that agency, but our trip was actually very pleasant. Overall, just an okay stay, neither great nor terrible.

The location beside the old town was excellent, and I’d highly recommend Hoa Binh Hostel. We booked a four-bed dorm with separate beds rather than bunks, plus its own bathroom. It was clean and cleaned daily, with lockers big enough for backpacks. Towels were included and could be changed each day for free. The lounge had plenty of seats and tables, and the service was great and in English. Breakfast was a great buffet with pancakes, eggs, noodles, soup, coffee, and juice. It cost 60k for people staying elsewhere. They also run activities on some days of the week.