Hanoi City Backpackers Hostel in Hanoi

Booked to stay in a private room in this hostel. When we arrived, we were advised that the private rooms are located in a different hotel called The Lavender Old Quarter Hotel. We were transferred there by motorbike. When we arrived in our room on the third floor, there was a strong smell of damp and we could feel the moisture in the air. We sat down on the bed, and it felt like the sheets were damp. We went to reception to ask for these to be changed, which they were. The new sheets felt warm as they were being put on the bed. After about 10 minutes however, the sheets began to feel damp again. The bathroom had lots of damp patches on the ceiling and there was a small cockroach on the foot towel/bath mat which we killed We tried opening a window, but we had only a small internal window which did not provide much ventilation. We went out for the evening and when we returned, there was a large dying cockroach beside the bed. The room was extremely stuffy and damp feeling. Overall, the cleanliness of the room was extremely poor, there was damp patches on the ceiling of the room and bathroom and the curtains had dark patches of mould. The air conditioner was extremely dusty and the walls also appeared to have mould and dirt on them. At this stage, we decided to check out of the hotel immediately. When we went to reception to inform them we would be leaving, the staff were very nice and refunded us for our stay, but they did not enquire about what the issues were, which told me they have had similar issues before.

This place did the job but I would not stay here again. To get to your room you must climb up about 8 flights of stairs and there’s no lift. Not much of a hostel vibe as there isn’t really a communal area, just 2 bench seats in the reception area. I stayed in a 4 bed dorm, they are double beds and reasonably comfortable. The bathroom had no shower curtain - any time someone has a shower the whole floor is wet. Door to the bathroom is frosted glass and you can see someone’s silhouette while showering. Shower gel is provided. We stayed a few nights and the bin for our toilet paper was not changed. The power points in the room are difficult to use and half falling off the wall. In the storage cupboards in our room, one was full of linen in a garbage bag, and another was full of crap that a previous backpacker had left behind. Free breakfast is ok. We booked an airport transfer when leaving vietnam at 5am and paid for it beforehand. Mid way through our ride we confirmed with the driver (it was a taxi they had organised as our transfer) that we had already paid. Driver pulled over and stopped the car - he had not been told this from the hostel. Had to call the hostel to sort it out - very frustrating as this delayed us going to the airport and it was also quite scary. Don’t bother booking tours through the hostel - they will show you pics of a nice fancy bus as part of the tour and then conventionally you get booked on a different bus. Staff at the hostel constantly calling and texting unnecessarily. Aside from all that, it is in good location.