Tabalo Hostel Hanoi

The advertised roof terrace and tabalo cafe were nowhere to be found in the hostel. The sheets didn't seem fresh either, and a propaganda speaker was right outside. The place was pretty dirty. The shower door didn't lock, there was no trash bin in the bathroom, and nothing like paper towels to dry your hands.

The Wi-Fi kept disappearing or failing during my stay. What upset me most, though, was getting no help when I was clearly struggling. Around 5:00 AM I had a severe leg cramp and could barely walk, but had to carry my belongings down four flights of stairs. Staff saw me and, when I politely asked for help, turned away and kept resting. After asking several times, I requested help taking my backpack outside. They said they couldn't help with the larger bag. They took my small hand luggage outside and left it by the door while I was still in pain. There's also a laundry and textile shop on the ground floor, so this isn't a full-service hostel, but I still expected basic kindness in that situation. As a solo traveler, I don't expect special treatment, just basic compassion. Being ignored while dealing with pain and heavy luggage was extremely disappointing. Between the staff attitude and Wi-Fi problems, I won't come back or recommend this place to other travelers. It felt like a very inhuman place.

The old-town feel here is strong, and Tabalo feels quite local. I stayed last month and really liked it. Things were cheap, and having laundry service was handy. Mike, Jun, Tony, Bob, and Cuong were all cheerful and friendly. I'd love to come back.

I arrived early today, before check-in, and the staff wouldn't give me the Wi-Fi until check-in time. That says a lot about how helpful they are. Find another hostel.