The Best Hostels to Book in Vietnam

Located in the centre of Da Nang, known for its lively street food scene, Seahorse Hostel & Bar is just a minute from vendors at the lively Hàn Market. The colourful dorms feature shared bathrooms and roomy bunk beds with privacy curtains. Meet people at the plant-filled cafe on the ground floor or at the bar that overlooks the Hàn River. They regularly hold events such as live music, open mics and free cooking classes throughout the week.

The family atmosphere at Hoi An Lovely will make guests feel right at home. Located within a short distance of Hoi An’s atmospheric lantern-draped Old Town, the spacious shared dorm rooms have regular-sized beds and no bunks, maximising your comfort. The cosy common area features a huge dining table, where guests and staff gather for the free family-style dinners that happen three times a week, where Vietnamese specialties are served on the house.

More poshtel than hostel, the Dorm is a zen-like place to escape the busy city streets of District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. Located on the third and fourth floors of a colonial-era building, the Dorm features a large open-concept common area, kitted out with mid-century chairs, butter-soft leather benches and a kitchen area. The actual dorms are in keeping with the quality-over-quantity ambiance, with just a few wooden bunk beds to a room. On top of that, the rooftop terrace with linen-draped daybeds, festoon lights and tropical foliage is a great place to hang out at the end of the day.

Meander is a boutique hostel in Ho Chi Minh’s District 1. With style and substance, their sleek, Scandinavian-like interiors focus on minimalism and functionality with a hint of playfulness. There’s a modern co-working space, and the upper floor also features a slide – why not? – to get downstairs. The dorms are airy, clean and full of natural light and have bonsai trees that lend a welcome touch of nature.

Service is paramount at this hostel in Vietnam. Located in the Old Quarter, the property features a shared lounge, where guests gather for the free breakfast with both Eastern and Western options available. The dorms have large lockers, a personal fan, light and a curtain for privacy. All rooms have a balcony with city views. Best of all, the hostel is at the centre of Hanoi action, surrounded by bars, restaurants and coffee shops.

Located just a few steps from the Ngo Dong River and Tam Coc Pier, the Banana Tree Hostel offers a hint of the seaside in landlocked Ninh Binh – an area lauded for its limestone cliffs and rural scenery. The main feature of the hostel is the pool, which is surrounded by thatched-roof sitting areas, tropical greenery and a bar to mingle. Rooms are simple but cater every traveller’s needs, with pod-style dorms, private doubles, female-only and family options available.

Injecting contemporary cool into the world of Vietnam hostels, this place doubles up as a hip hangout. Colourful and vibrant, Nexy shows off hand-painted murals, a rooftop terrace with views of the lake and lots of areas to socialise. It’s great for the solo traveller, with a games room, TV lounge with bean bags, library with free computers, and a bar. There are private rooms and lots of modern dorms, too – plus it’s located just 300m (1,000ft) from Ngoc Son Temple, in the middle of all the capital’s action.