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Summary of reviewsDrift Backpackers Hostel, located in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter, offers an exceptional lodging experience for travelers seeking a central and culturally rich environment. The hostel's prime location opposite St. Joseph's Cathedral and close to Hoan Kiem Lake provides easy access to numerous attractions, cafes, and restaurants, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in Hanoi's vibrant atmosphere.
A major highlight of the hostel is the buffet breakfast, frequently praised for its abundance, variety, and value. Guests appreciate the combination of Western and Vietnamese dishes served in a setting with a stunning cathedral view, enhancing the dining experience as a social hub where travelers can meet and interact.
The hostel's rooms offer a mixed experience, with comfortable beds being a significant positive. While the dormitories are noted for their cleanliness, some find them cramped and the bathrooms need improvement. Nonetheless, the attentive staff contributes positively, ensuring that the rooms remain tidy and guests are well-cared-for.
Staff at Drift Backpackers Hostel are frequently commended for their friendliness and helpfulness, making international travelers feel welcome and supported. The team, proficient in English, is dedicated to assisting guests with planning and booking trips. This personalized attention adds to the overall warm and inviting environment of the hostel.
The WiFi is generally satisfactory, with strong connections in communal areas, although there is room for improvement in certain areas. The adult-only label of the hostel ensures a relaxed atmosphere conducive to meeting new people, making it an ideal choice for those seeking meaningful interactions without the typical party hostel environment.
Overall, Drift Backpackers Hostel stands out for its ideal location, comfortable accommodations, excellent breakfast, and welcoming staff, making it a top choice for backpackers and budget-conscious travelers exploring Hanoi. Show more
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Cheap Hostel
Hostel for Adults Only
Room Types
Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory RoomThis bed in dormitory features a balcony and air conditioning.
Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory RoomThis bed in dormitory features a balcony and air conditioning.
Bed in 12-Bed Mixed Dormitory
Single Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
Double Bed in 18-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
Guest Reviews
Location
Nestled in the heart of the Old Quarter in Hanoi, Drift Backpackers Hostel boasts a sublime location that places guests at the city's doorstep. Positioned strategically opposite St. Joseph's Cathedral, this hostel offers an unbeatable spot for travelers eager to explore the historic charm and vibrant energy of Hanoi. Its proximity to the Hoan Kiem Lake and bustling walking streets ensures easy access to an array of attractions, cafes, and restaurants. The neighborhood itself, steeped in heritage and dotted with cultural landmarks, invites visitors to immerse themselves fully in the local atmosphere.
The hostel provides more than just a convenient base; it extends a warm welcome with friendly and attentive staff. Guests can begin their day with a rich buffet breakfast, offering a delightful mix of sweet and savory options against the backdrop of a beautiful terrace view. Clean, comfortable rooms provide a retreat after a day of adventure, accompanied by facilities such as ample storage space and cozy beds.
This centrally located gem not only allowing guests to reach city attractions effortlessly, but also promises a scenic setting near the main church. With its favorable position and inviting atmosphere, Drift Backpackers Hostel ranks highly among visitors seeking a value-for-money experience right in the lively hub of Hanoi.
Breakfast
At Drift Backpackers Hostel, the breakfast experience consistently garners high praise from guests, setting a remarkable standard for hostel dining. The buffet breakfast, often described as abundant and delicious, offers a rich variety of both sweet and savory options to cater to diverse palates. Guests appreciated the plentiful spread, including Western favorites like bacon and sweet toast, alongside typical Vietnamese dishes, ensuring a comprehensive and satisfying start to the day. Many highlighted the generous portions and the exceptional value given the affordable price, noting that the breakfast is among the best they've had in hostels.
The breakfast area itself adds to the appeal, with some guests mentioning the stunning view of the nearby cathedral, making for a memorable dining ambiance. The staffing complements the buffet's charm, with friendly and attentive service contributing to a warm and communal atmosphere.
While the breakfast delights with its consistency and variety, a few guests noted the lack of daily variation. Nonetheless, the overall sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive, with many emphasizing the breakfast as a highlight of their stay, often paired with praise for the hostel's convenient location. This dining experience is not only a culinary delight but also a social hub, providing opportunities to meet and engage with fellow travelers.
Rooms
Drift Backpackers Hostel offers a mixed experience for its guests seeking budget-friendly accommodations in a central location. While the dormitory-style rooms are consistently noted for their cleanliness, they tend to be small and cramped, often lacking sufficient space for the number of guests they accommodate. Beds are described as comfortable, with some rooms featuring double beds and large private balconies, which is a pleasant surprise for a hostel setting. However, privacy may be compromised due to thin bed curtains and bright bedside lamps.
Bathrooms in the hostel are a common point of contention, with some guests reporting issues with mold, unpleasant odors, and the lack of essential amenities like hand soap. Despite this, the overall cleaning maintenance is upheld daily. The hostel’s helpful staff is praised for accommodating guests by offering bed changes when available, and providing a satisfying breakfast, although some have noted the presence of ants.
The central location of Drift Backpackers Hostel makes it an appealing choice for travelers looking to explore the area. However, potential visitors should be aware of the challenges posed by the lack of elevators, as carrying luggage to upper floors can be tiring. Additionally, noise levels may be high due to the metallic bed frames and dynamic social atmosphere, especially with groups occasionally making noise late into the night.
Overall, Drift Backpackers Hostel caters well to backpackers and budget-conscious travelers who prioritize location and cost over luxury, offering a clean staying environment despite some space and facility challenges.
Beds
The beds at Drift Backpackers Hostel are consistently praised for their comfort and spaciousness, providing an inviting place to rest after a day of exploration. Many guests highlight the large and super comfortable beds, with some even describing them as big enough for two people. Curtains offer a degree of separation, although sometimes noted as thin. The bed's design, featuring partitions or dividers for added privacy, is well-received, making the sleeping spaces feel more personal. The dorms are equipped with amenities such as individual outlets, allowing for a more convenient stay.
In addition to comfort, the hostel offers thoughtful storage solutions with a lot of room under the beds for personal belongings. The atmosphere in the common areas complements the relaxing sleep environment, creating a sociable and cozy place to hang out. Guests also appreciate the helpful and efficient staff, as well as the hostel's prime location. Coupled with an amazing breakfast buffet, these factors contribute to many visitors returning to Drift Backpackers Hostel. While a few issues like wobbly or squeaky beds and occasional ants were mentioned, the overall impression is one of a well-run hostel with very comfortable accommodations.
Cleanliness
Drift Backpackers Hostel presents a mixed picture when it comes to cleanliness, a recurring theme in guest reviews. On a positive note, many visitors found the rooms to be very clean and comfortable, with regular daily cleaning ensuring that the accommodation remains tidy. Additionally, the hostel’s environment is often described as comfortable and welcoming, supported by friendly and accommodating staff. Clean bedrooms and a good breakfast add to the overall positive experience for many guests.
However, the state of the bathrooms is a frequent point of contention. Reports of mold, unpleasant odors, and overall dirtiness in the bathrooms are common. While some guests did find the bathrooms to be clean and spacious, others noted that they were insufficient for the number of users and often remained uncleaned for extended periods. The common areas' cleanliness similarly fluctuates, with some reviews indicating a need for improvement.
With consistent cleaning, especially of shared facilities, the potential for a better guest experience at Drift Backpackers Hostel is certainly within reach.
Staff
Drift Backpackers Hostel has earned high praise for its enthusiastic and welcoming staff, creating a friendly atmosphere that guests appreciate. Visitors consistently highlight the team's helpfulness and dedication to ensuring a pleasant stay. The hostel boasts reception staff proficient in English, contributing to a smooth experience for international travelers. Many guests commend particular staff members for their exceptional service, noting their willingness to assist with planning and booking trips. The engaging environment fostered by the staff makes guests feel like part of a family, where everyone is sociable and attentive.
While a minority of reviews mentioned instances of unhelpfulness or inflexibility among some staff, the general sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive. Guests frequently describe the staff as incredibly sweet and accommodating, with smiles that enhance the welcoming vibe of the hostel. Ruben, mentioned by several guests, is particularly highlighted for his positive impact on organized outings and parties, helping to create memorable experiences.
Overall, Drift Backpackers Hostel stands out for its wonderful staff who not only ensure clean and spacious rooms but also contribute significantly to the hostel's friendly and welcoming environment. Visitors appreciate the team's readiness to go above and beyond, making the hostel an attractive choice for travelers seeking excellent service and a warm atmosphere.
Wi-Fi
Drift Backpackers Hostel provides a generally positive WiFi experience for its guests. Many reviews mention that the internet connection and WiFi are good, offering a satisfying browsing experience for most travelers. Guests appreciate the strong connections available, especially in communal areas like the lounge, which tend to be more reliable than individual floors. However, there is room for improvement, as some guests noted that the WiFi signal can be weak, particularly on higher floors, and it is not always usable on the ground floor. Overall, while there are occasional issues with connectivity in certain areas of the hostel, the WiFi is largely seen as being adequate for most needs.
Adult Only
Drift Backpackers Hostel offers a unique refuge for travelers seeking a relaxed environment devoid of the typical party hostel atmosphere. Despite its adult-only label, the hostel does not focus on adult-specific amenities or experiences, but rather provides a setting that encourages meeting new, lovely people from around the world. The ambiance is suitable for those who enjoy polite conversations and wish to engage in English communication with fellow travelers. While occasional late-night disturbances can occur due to guest behavior, these instances do not detract from the overall tranquil experience facilitated by the hostel itself. With an emphasis on genuine connections among globetrotters, Drift Backpackers Hostel stands as a welcoming haven for foreign tourists seeking meaningful interactions.
No, Drift Backpackers Hostel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Drift Backpackers Hostel.
No, Drift Backpackers Hostel doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Drift Backpackers Hostel.