Best Hostels in Hanoi: Old Quarter Picks by Traveller Type

Featured image: Jorge Cancela, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick answer: where to stay in a Hanoi hostel

Old Quarter is the default base for Hanoi hostels. Streets such as Ma May, Hang Bac, Ta Hien and Hang Be hold many backpacker beds. Hoan Kiem Lake and the night market are within walking distance of that area. High Five lists both as a few steps away. Our one-line picks follow.

• Want a quiet night before a tour? Bong Hanoi Hostel, at 2 Thanh Ha.
• Want a central, no-frills bed with breakfast? Hanoi High Five Hostel, at 10 Hang Tre.
• Want tours and a lively corner? Hanoi Buffalo Hostel, next to the Beer Hoi corner.

How to choose a Hanoi hostel

Work through these seven points before you compare prices. Each one removes hostels from your list quickly.

• Social or quiet: pub hostels and chill hostels sleep very differently, so decide which you are.
• Street: the Beer Hoi corner is described by Buffalo as the busiest part of downtown. Expect late noise nearby.
• Tour desk: ask whether staff book Ha Giang Loop, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh trips.
• Arrival: look at early luggage storage, 24-hour reception and your transfer plan.
• Hidden costs: breakfast, towels, lockers, card fees and deposits all change the real price.
• Room type: dorm or private, female-only dorm, bed curtains, lockers and air conditioning.
• Reviews: read recent comments and the cleanliness and atmosphere sub-scores before the headline number.

Hanoi hostels compared

We compare the three Old Quarter hostels where we have solid listing detail. Prices are left out on purpose, because nightly rates move with dates and booking site. Other names that appear on booking lists include Mad Monkey Hanoi, The One Hostel & Rooftop Pool, River Hideaway Hostel, Hanoi Oldtown Nomad Hostel & Pub, Lake View Backpackers Hostel Rooftop Bar and The Drift Backpackers Hostel. Read each one's own page for rules before you choose.

Best for: social, quiet, and tour-base stays

Bong describes itself as a chill hostel and says plainly that it is not for partying. It sits about 0.8 km from the centre. Recent guests praise the staff and Ha Giang Loop organising. One guest called it best for the night before leaving for Ha Giang, and found it not very social. We'd choose it for the pre-tour night and skip it if you want to meet people.

• Social: Buffalo's position beside the Beer Hoi corner suggests a livelier evening. Pack earplugs.
• Quiet: Bong is our pick. High Five suits light-socialising budget travellers, as one guest put it, though cleanliness reviews are mixed.
• Tour-base: Buffalo lists Ha Long Bay, Ha Giang Loop, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau and Phong Nha trips. Bong's staff also organise the loop.

Which neighbourhood: Old Quarter vs French Quarter vs West Lake

Old Quarter wins for walkability and hostel choice. High Five sits about 0.4 km from the centre, with Hoan Kiem Lake, the night market and Long Bien Bridge close. The trade-off is noise and motorbike traffic on every street. French Quarter brings colonial architecture and the Opera House, with a calmer, more upscale feel. West Lake is quieter, with cafés and an expat crowd, but has fewer hostels. If you'd rather have a private room, see our Old Quarter hotel picks. Our French Quarter hotel guide covers the calmer alternative.

Getting there and getting around

From Noi Bai, minibus and Grab are the usual ways into the Old Quarter. Airport operator information covers terminals and services. Bong says airport, train station and bus station are all easy to reach from its door. High Five says the same for the airport and railway station. For very early or late flights, our airport hotel guide may suit you better. Inside the Old Quarter you will walk, and motorbikes come from every direction. Use Grab for longer hops. Cyclo rides are for sightseeing, so agree the price before you sit down. Broader trip planning is on Vietnam's national tourism site.

Booking tips and fine print

Prices and hours checked November 2026, from each hostel's own listing. Rules differ by property, so never assume one hostel's terms apply to another. Bong lists check-in from 14:00 and check-out at 11:00, with early luggage storage. It asks for a deposit of 500k or your passport for the room card and towel. It adds 3% if you pay by card, and cancellation is 3 days before arrival. High Five lists check-in from 13:00 and check-out by 12:00. Its terms are contradictory on cards, with the house rules saying cards are not accepted while the terms mention a service fee, so ask before you arrive. It cancels free 1 day before arrival.

• Mistake to avoid: booking the party-adjacent street when you need sleep.
• Mistake to avoid: trusting the headline score. Cleanliness and atmosphere can score far lower.
• Mistake to avoid: paying a card surcharge without noticing.
• Also ask about guest registration. Bong does not allow unregistered guests beyond the lobby.

Booking tours from your hostel (Ha Giang, Ha Long, Ninh Binh)

Hostels with a tour desk make logistics easy, and staff can arrange the bus or bike pickup. We'd still compare two or three operators on price, group size and itinerary first. Ask what is included, who guides the trip and where you sleep. Buffalo lists Ha Giang Loop options of 3 days 2 nights and 4 days 3 nights. It also lists a 1-day Ha Long Bay trip. A hostel that suits the night before departure matters, because tour pickups often start early. Bong's lobby gets crowded with people leaving for tours, as one guest noted.

When a hostel isn't the right fit

Skip hostels if you are travelling as a couple, sleep lightly or have children. Dorm bunks, shared bathrooms and street noise rarely suit those trips. Start with our main Hanoi accommodation guide to compare areas. Then look at boutique hotels in Hanoi for quiet rooms with a private bathroom.