Tomodachi House

There’s a 24-hour cafe and late-night restaurants right outside, and the location is excellent. The airport car service was great too, with a much cleaner, nicer car than the one I got from a more expensive hotel on arrival. The hostel itself was one of the best I’ve stayed in. It was extremely clean, with friendly staff, tasty breakfast and lots of choices, and nice hot showers. For whatever reason, it doesn’t seem to draw the party crowd, which suited me. I’d make this my first choice in Hanoi.

The food tasted fresh and authentic to me, and I have Vietnamese heritage. There are lots of restaurants nearby, though I’d suggest heading around the corner for more local street food instead of sticking to the tourist spots. The rooms were airy, comfortable, and clean, with big windows and air-con if you need it. Privacy curtains add a little extra separation. The beds have a bedside light, charging port, and USB charger, plus a stand with a fresh flower, toiletries, and a towel. Staff were helpful, knowledgeable, and professional. The services felt in line with what you’d get at a hotel. Simply the best hostel in Hanoi.

I was there for five nights, starting in a double room for two days before being upgraded to the sky villa. The villa was very nice, except bugs were all over the wall and some were on the bed. The long-haired girl at reception was especially helpful, and the service was good. The food was good too, though it seemed overpriced after I found another hotel near the lake for 17 pounds a night. People seemed nice and I had a good experience, but the place could look less broken. The Japanese toilet wasn’t working properly, and one of the drawers was broken.

They also include free bicycles with the homestay. I’d use them to get around this busy town, since they cut the trip to the city centre in half. For a two- or three-day Hanoi stay, this is an amazing hostel. The beds were comfy, the water was hot, and the staff were friendly. Breakfast was amazing too, especially the omelet. It had everything I needed, and I highly recommend it.