Hanoi EcoStay 2 Hostel

The staff were super friendly and always smiling. On my second day they even gave me a big glass of beer for free, which I loved. The room was nice and cool, though for some reason there was no light in my space. It was still okay for me, and the bathroom was really clean. At first my friend and I were confused by the hostel’s map location and walked around for about 20 minutes before finding it in a narrow alley. Before we arrived, they recommended a pickup service for 330 VND. One suggestion for backpackers trying to save money: it’d be really helpful if they offered water refills.

The place was very dirty, especially the beds, which had hairs and no duvet covers. The washrooms were filthy too. In the morning, five people were sleeping in the reception area, so I couldn’t sit there comfortably. They looked passed out from drinking, and I don’t think they were even guests. If they were, why weren’t they in their rooms? Also, the room I’d booked several days ahead was apparently fully booked. That’s not professional.

For the price, this hostel is absolutely worth it. It’s clean and comfortable, and the location is great. The staff are the nicest you could ask for. They helped with every little thing I needed, and even with bigger things they weren’t obliged to help me with.

I paid in advance, but chose to leave without staying, even though I got no refund. That’s how bad the place and interaction felt. I don’t know which was worse, the room or the service. The rooms smelled awful and felt unpleasantly warm despite it being the cool season and the assurance that there was air-conditioning. On 24 November 2025 at 0900, the male staff member who dealt with me was extremely rude. I asked him to check whether an upgrade was available and explained that my booked room was warm and smelly. He looked unwelcoming, said he wasn’t willing to check, and told me to ask someone else later. When I said his service was bad and he seemed rude, he replied, “It is ok,” as if he didn’t care. I believe I was respectful. I didn’t raise my voice or make unreasonable complaints, and my Airbnb guest reviews are positive. Most of my hotel bookings have been positive too, but this became the worst experience of my life. I checked Hanoi EcoStay’s past reviews afterward and saw a long history of complaints, so it seems I’m not the only one with problems there. Please look through the older reviews before booking and don’t make the same mistake. You could consider Awesome Hostel, a couple of streets away, where the service level is way above Hanoi EcoStay 2 hostel. I suspect there are many fake positive reviews covering up the negative history. It’s hard to understand how anyone could give three stars for that service and place, and I’m shocked to see five-star reviews with brief positive comments. Avoid this place at all costs, whatever the price.