Hanoi offers plenty of budget stays, but not all Hanoi hostels deliver a stay worth remembering. You’ll find the top 10 hostels in Hanoi below, grouped by travel style and atmosphere to help you choose with confidence.
Best Areas To Stay In Hanoi For Hostel Travelers
Your experience of the trip in Hanoi depends on the neighborhood you are living in. Hostels in Hanoi are not just a place to sleep; they spice up your experience. Some neighborhoods will suit you depending on how you travel and how long the trip is.
Old Quarter
The majority of tourists will begin here. It is the busy hub of the city where you can find an innumerable number of hostels offering traditional dorms, and sleep on party rooftops. There are numerous shops, cafes, and street food vendors adorning the streets. This would also be suitable when one has a limited time to spend, like 3 days in Hanoi, yet needs to stay within action. It’s often the first stop on many a Vietnam tour.
Tay Ho (West Lake)
Tay Ho is really calm and a part of nature, with its well-known lake just a couple of kilometers away from the city center. Hostels in this area are also relatively less noisy, and have larger, more spacious rooms with fewer people in each dorm, with the option of long stay and remote working stations. It is great to enjoy Hanoi in softer light, but with plenty of good cafes and bars nearby.
French Quarter and Ba Dinh
This is a slow-paced neighborhood. It has a great number of leafy streets, colonial villas, and museums. There are fewer hostels, which tend to be more personal and isolated. It is a fine option when you like exploring the culture and calm evenings without going along the tourist tracks.
Top 10 Best Hostels In Hanoi For A Memorable Stay
There are all kinds of hostels in Hanoi: quiet courtyards or rooftop bars. The most comfortable, buzzing, and strategically located hostels in Hanoi are listed below.
Cheers Hostel & Tours (2 ★★ | 9.6/10)
Located at the end of a small alley in Hanoi Old Quarter, this place seems to be calm compared to a noisy city. There is a tree-shaded small courtyard that helps to rest, and the rooms are clean and comfortable. A bed in dorm rooms costs roughly one night 94,000 VND, which includes a privacy curtain, AC, fan, charging points, reading lamp, and a locker. The vibe is leaning towards both silence and sociability.
Prices do not always remain the only things that are remembered. Here, the staff do not stop at the process of checking in; they also help to arrange tours such as Ha Long Bay or Ha Giang Loop and visa assistance. Numerous quiet corners can be used to read or meet new friends, a rare vibe among hostels in Hanoi. It is an amiable and recreational environment where one could be social or peaceful.
Old Quarter View Hanoi Hostel (3 ★★★ | 9.4/10)
The house is perfectly placed in the vibrant street among coffee shops and ancient rooftops, yet once you get into it, you are surprised by the silence. The dorm beds cost around 157,000 VND to 250,000 VND and feature thick curtains and air conditioning, and there are lockers. There are clean bathrooms and bathrooms with showers and bidets, and there are also small bedrooms with two separate beds and a balcony. One can take their time and breathe in space.
The attractive place is close to Hoan Kiem Lake, and many more people visit there and end up spending more time there than planned. The warm front desk is not aggressive. There is a vegetarian café and lounge where there is free beer every day during happy hour. The lobby is a place where walking tours usually begin. It turns out to be a good place to stay by oneself, as a couple, or to seek some sort of calm stroll, 25 minutes to the lake.
Lakeview Backpackers Hostel & Rooftop Bar (3 ★★★ | 9.4/10)
Stepping onto the rooftop, there are the old roofs, narrow alleys of Hanoi, and a green dot of Hoan Kiem Lake in the distance. This very view gives the hostel its name and gives it an atmosphere of life. Soft music is being played, but it could never have drowned out the gentle chatter. With guests always coming and going, a lively yet laid-back feel emanates.
Dorm rooms are simple and cozy, with wooden beds, curtains for privacy, warm lighting, and lockers for each guest. Dormitory beds usually cost approximately 239,000 VND; private accommodations with more space frequently have a small balcony attached. Breakfast is served buffet-style and offers a blend of Asian and Western dishes. Booking offices, buses, airport transfers, or same-day tours could be arranged by the front desk staff.
Hanoi Central Backpackers Hostel (2 ★★ | 9.3/10)
The moment you enter, you look at the warm wooden bar where people love spending hours. There are frequent pub crawls, live music gigs, and open-air chill-out zones that ensure meeting people is a breeze. There are dorm beds (approximately 120,000 VND), complete with a curtain, reading lights, fans, and air conditioning. They also have both private rooms, so that one can enjoy a little more privacy.
Even in a vibrant environment, one will never be disturbed by sleep. Bathrooms have been washed and the staff remain discreetly in order well into the midnight. Free breakfast and the drinks of the evening enrich your stay. They can also organize bike hires for trekking trips at their tour desk. The place is ideal for people who love Hanoi nightlife but still want restful sleep. A great pick among cheap hostels in Hanoi with solid value.
Hanoi Buffalo Hostel (2 ★★ | 9.2/10)
Hanoi Buffalo is a 5-minute walk outside of the night market, in the alley literally behind an active road. There’s a swimming pool in the courtyard, with palm trees around it and enough shade for an afternoon nap. The communal space is airy and informal, with low music, where people can talk to each other without the need to shout.
The rooms in this area are simple and clean. They have ACs, fans, and personal lockers. The rates of shared rooms begin at a fraction above 130,000 VND, including breakfast. The staff itself does not make any attempt to upsell, though they will assist you to travel with tours, buses, or laundries when necessary. It fits independent travellers who prefer to have time off, and yet they do enjoy the fantasy of sharing the day-end stories over the pool.
The One Hostel (3 ★★★ | 8.9/10)
As you enter The One, you are welcomed into a cosy courtyard with plenty of tropical vegetation. Dorms and personal rooms are fully air conditioned, have curtains on every bunk, fans, and individual lockers. There are mixed and female-only student dorms, and bathrooms are clean with hot showers. It is a quiet location, yet there is the anticipation that there will be bustling nights.
This place is unique because it has a rooftop pool and evening events. The dorm beds are sold at an average of 200,000 VND, inclusive of breakfast. The roof will be a serene point to relax and do late-night swims, chats, and sometimes movie nights. High Wi-Fi, laundry is provided, and the tour desk does not force a visit to the city. It is a soft getaway, distant workers in search of lax places, or a single traveler in search of some social energy here.
Little Charm Hanoi Hostel (3 ★★★ | 8.9/10)
Hiding in a side street a bit more out of the busy streets of Ta Hien, Little Charm is a hidden gem and the warm core of the back alley of Hanoi. The entrance to the house is a living wall of greenery that welcomes the guest, and the warm wooden foyer encourages the guest to take a break after leaving the bags upstairs. The hostel is small yet cozy and not stuffy, so it is easy to find other people at the common table.
Rooms have bed curtains, a reading light, electricity sockets, and even a small bottle of water. There are two-bedroom rooms with beautiful interiors and king-size beds. Dorm beds range beginning at 180,000 VND, and private rooms can cost as much as 600,000 VND, breakfast included. Its rooftop setting is softly lit in the evenings, where guests can get free beer during the happy hour.
Luxury Backpackers (3 ★★★ | 9.1/10)
Posting an address just behind St. Joseph’s Cathedral, this hostel very much fosters the spirit of cherished backpacking. Bright and clean, it is surprisingly quiet given its very central location. The front desk is also the entrance into a small café area where soft music and strong teas create a very calm first impression. Most dormitories have private rooms that feel more hotel stay than hostel bed personnel.
Dorm beds are around 170,000 VND and come with privacy curtains, good lighting, lockers, and AC. Private rooms run from 550,000 to 800,000, depending on the season. Breakfast is available, Wi‑Fi is reliable, and the staff are always ready to help but never overbearing. Great for travelers who want comfort, a walkable distance to landmarks, and a solid sleep between city adventures.
Nexy Hostel (3 ★★★ | 9.0/10)
Nexy is just one block away from Hoan Kiem Lake, appearing modern and somewhat more polished than your regular hostel in this range. The design is a mix of soft greys and exposed brick, with natural light pouring in through the tall windows of the common area. There’s a quiet library lounge, a game room, and a rooftop area where folks tend to gather sans rowdiness.
Beds in mixed or female-only dorms cost around 160,000 VND and come with curtains, lockers, USB charging, and reading lights. Private rooms with en suite bathrooms are also available and feel close to boutique hotel quality. Free breakfast, fast Wi‑Fi, luggage storage, and airport transfers are all handled smoothly. The whole setup suits solo travelers, remote workers, or anyone who wants clean, quiet, and connected, all in one place.
Mad Monkey Hanoi (3 ★★★ | 8.6/10)
It’s where things become loud in a good way. This Old Quarter hostel is nestled directly in the heart of the hustle, and Mad Monkey does not try to hide the fact. The walls are painted in colors, the bar is accessible in the early hours, and the energy heightens towards the afternoon hours. It attracts young people from international sources who are not afraid to share anecdotes with a glass in hand or dance till the end of the night.
The dorm beds begin at 200,000 VND, and they have privacy markers, lockers, lights, and major AC. Visitors receive welcome shots, daily happy hour, and discounted pub crawls. The rooftop bar has a drink between breathers, and breakfast can be served late. This is an extrovert, group-activity friendly place, and anyone who wishes to get their hands deep into the untamable side of Hanoi.
Final Thoughts
Every neighborhood in Hanoi has its own flavor for your trip. The bustling streets of Old Quarter beckon you to dive into the heart of the city, whereas the sights of the West Lake provide you with relaxation, the open space, and fresh air. Take your time selecting where to stay in Hanoi and have a good time on your journey. To find out more insider tips, tips to travel, stay, and more destinations that are handpicked, Seniworld has got you covered.
