8h - Hostel

The Japanese-speaking managers are a big part of what makes this place stand out, and I even made Japanese friends during my stay. The hostel has a welcoming feel, especially for Japanese travelers, and I’ll definitely stay here again when I return to Saigon. I arrived late, but check-in was smooth. Tucked down an alley, the hostel is peaceful, and I had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a hostel. The cozy lobby works well for working or chatting with other guests and the friendly staff. There’s also a rooftop area for relaxing and talking with fellow solo travelers. Between 10 am and 2 pm, there’s necessary cleaning and the place is opened up for fresh air. That all felt normal and added to a pleasant stay.

The staff were very friendly, but the hostel itself was extremely dirty. The toilets smelled of pee all the time, and it seemed to me that they hadn’t been cleaned properly in weeks. My bed had lots of short curly hairs on it, the sheets were very dirty, and there were no towels. The women-only showers had curtains that didn’t close fully, so people coming in or out could see you. At one point the showers smelled like pee too, even though there are no toilets in that area. A guy threw up in the women’s showers, and after I told the staff, nothing was done. The mess wasn’t cleaned up.

My stay was all positive. The rooms were spacious, and everything was very clean and orderly. It’s a great balance of comfort and affordable pricing, with incredibly friendly, helpful staff who were always ready to answer questions. I highly recommend it.

The location is nice, tucked into an alley right by the main attraction, and it’s cheap. The hostel is too small, with just two toilets on the ground floor and not much privacy. The sink has no mirror, and the rooftop is smaller than it looks in the picture. I thought it would be similar to the 8f they have in Japan, but it was the total opposite. I was supposed to stay three nights, but checked out after just one.