Mooka's Home lobby with chairs, a bookshelf, books, plants, and motorcycle helmets
October 18, 2023

5 Best Hostels and Homestays I Stayed at in Vietnam

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After spending one and a half months solo traveling Vietnam, here are the five best hostels and homestays that I stayed at. These places stand out to me because of how nice it was, the hospitality of the owners and staff, how easy it was to meet other travelers, or a combination of all three. These hostels and homestays are also affordable if you’re traveling on a budget.

If you’re visiting Da Lat, Hue, Tam Coc/Ninh Binh, Hoi An, or Cat Ba during your time in Vietnam, you’re going to have a great stay at any of these places.

Table Of Contents
  1. Mooka's Home (Da Lat)
  2. New World Hotel (Hue)
  3. Tam Coc Rice Fields Homestay (Tam Coc/Ninh Binh)
  4. Fuse Old Town Hoi An (Hoi An)
  5. Secret Garden (Cat Ba)
  6. More resources for traveling Vietnam

Mooka’s Home (Da Lat)

Grill pit and dishes of food laid out on a table at Mooka's Home

Mooka’s Home is a family-run hostel in the hills of Da Lat. It’s also by far my favorite hostel that I stayed at during my entire time in Vietnam. The facilities are spacious, clean, and well maintained. I stayed in the 10-bed mixed dorm with an ensuite bathroom that had two sinks, one toilet, and one shower. Unlike typical Vietnamese mattresses, which are hard, the beds at Mooka’s Home were soft and comfortable. The room had a lot of floor space, so you didn’t feel like you were on top of other people and you had plenty of room to pack and unpack.

Aside from how comfortable the dorm room was, I absolutely loved Mooka’s Home because of its BBQ dinner and sweet owner, Van. Mooka’s Home hosts a BBQ dinner a few times each week on its rooftop. Everyone gathers around a large table with a few grills, and you grill your own meat. There’s bread to build your own banh mi and lots of side dishes. For vegetarians, don’t worry – they have lots of veggies and tofu. I attended the BBQ on my first night there and met a whole bunch of solo travelers. Many of us went to the well-known Maze Bar afterward, which I highly recommend if you’re up for some more drinks.

Van and her family are always around and so welcoming. I had a nice chat with Van about how she intentionally selects the tour companies that she recommends because who she works with is a reflection of the hostel. On one morning, I was being picked up for a tour before they started serving breakfast. I talked to Van about it the night before and she offered to put together a quick breakfast to go for me. It’s clear how much Van cares about her guests’ experience.

Pros

  • Beds are soft and large, and the room and bathroom are very clean.
  • They host a BBQ dinner on their rooftop a few times a week, which is so fun and a fantastic way to meet other people.
  • There’s free coffee, tea, and snacks in the common area.
  • There’s an option to have breakfast included for about $1 USD more per night. They offer six options, with a mix of savory and sweet breakfasts. No matter what you choose, it’s delicious.
  • You can book transportation and a number of activities through the hostel.
  • The owner is very friendly and helpful, and her family has an adorable dog.

Cons

  • It’s a 15 to 20-minute walk to the city center and a bit more to get to some tourist attractions.
  • Although there’s a common area in the lobby, people don’t really hang out there outside of breakfast.

New World Hotel (Hue)

Bunk beds in a dorm room at New World Hotel Hue
Image via Hostelworld

Although Hue was one of my least favorite places that I visited in Vietnam, I really enjoyed my time at New World Hotel. It’s more of a hotel than a hostel, as the vast majority of their accommodations are private rooms. They do have a 6-bed dorm room though, which comes with breakfast. The dorm room has an ensuite bathroom, lockers, a small clothing rack, and even a TV. All beds have a privacy curtain, outlets, and a light.

Since it’s mostly a hotel, there isn’t really a social vibe at New World Hotel. Despite that, I was able to meet a few people when I was here. What made New World Hotel memorable was the family that runs it. I was in Hue during Tết (Lunar New Year). When I returned to the hotel after a day out, the owner and her family were sharing traditional New Year foods and snacks with a few guests that were staying there. It was the perfect opportunity to try some Vietnamese food that I hadn’t come across yet, and I really appreciated their hospitality.

Pros

  • It’s located steps away from the tourist area of Hue, where there’s lots of restaurants, cafés, and bars.
  • Rooms and bathrooms are clean.
  • There’s a small indoor pool.
  • If you have a lot of luggage, there’s an elevator.
  • A basic breakfast is included.
  • The family that runs the hotel is helpful and welcoming. They’ll help you book activities and transportation (Although I didn’t do their DMZ tour, I heard it’s fantastic from other guests who did it).

Cons

  • If you’re looking to meet people, it’s not the best place.
  • The dorm room is a bit cramped, as there’s not a lot of floor space.
  • The bathroom in the dorm room is narrow and long, which doesn’t give you much room to maneuver around.

Tam Coc Rice Fields Homestay (Tam Coc/Ninh Binh)

Common area with a fan, water dispenser, and refrigerator of drinks at Tam Coc Rice Fields Homestay

Tam Coc, located in Ninh Binh province, is a place that I’d go back to in a heartbeat. It was one of the highlights of my time in Vietnam. Part of why I have such fond memories of Tam Coc is due to its stunning nature and small town feel, and part of it is due to where I stayed and the people I met.

I chose Tam Coc Rice Fields Homestay because of its extremely high rating – many of which called out the owner, Dan, as being one of the best things about the homestay. Dan was a delight. He was kind, funny, and friendly. I was there during the week leading up to Lunar New Year, and Dan treated some of us to Vietnamese snacks and his home-brewed happy water.

Dan is truly what makes the homestay special, as the 8-bed dorm room where I stayed checked off all the standard requirements but wasn’t particularly special. Each bed had curtains and an outlet, but no lights. There’s a small locker that fits your valuables and a day pack, and the ensuite bathroom is one large wet room with a toilet, sink, shower, and some hooks.

Pros

  • Breakfast is included. You can choose between eggs with bread or pancakes. Both come with fruit and either coffee or tea.
  • The homestay is beautiful, with multiple buildings made out of brick and wood. The outdoor seating has a lovely view of the rice fields. Having breakfast outside every morning was such a pleasant and calming way to start the day.
  • The owner is really friendly and helpful. He’s a great guy to chat with and learn more about Vietnamese culture from. He’s also happy to give recommendations on where to eat and what to do.
  • It’s a 6-minute walk to the Tam Coc Van Lam Pier. If you’re taking a bus into or out of Tam Coc, this is where you’ll most likely be dropped off or picked up.

Cons

  • Beds do not have lights – only outlets.
  • The homestay is located on a small, quiet road. There are some parts of the street that aren’t well lit, although I never felt unsafe.
  • The hot water in the dorm room didn’t last as long as I’d like it to. I had enough hot water for a quick shower, but not enough to also wash my (fairly long and thick) hair.

Fuse Old Town Hoi An (Hoi An)

I stayed at Fuse Old Town Hoi An about a month after they first opened. Because they were a new hostel, it was a bit quiet, but I could see its potential. The hostel is modern and colorful, with a bar, pool, and lots of seating on the ground floor. They also do a lot to connect travelers staying there. There was some sort of activity nearly every day that I was there, whether it was a free walking tour or a beer pong tournament.

The 10-bed dorm room with an ensuite bathroom, which is where I stayed, was nice but basic. There was strong air conditioning, but there weren’t any lockers at the time. The biggest downside is there’s one bathroom that contains everything: the sink, toilet, and shower. I had to wait for the bathroom a couple of times, which was somewhat inconvenient.

Pros

  • There are a lot of organized activities where you can meet other travelers.
  • It’s a 5-minute walk to Hoi An’s Old Town.
  • There’s a pool and large common area with tables, seats, and a bar.
  • They have unique amenities, like a free recovery room with a sauna and ice bath.
  • There’s a free shuttle that goes to their beachside hostel, Fuse Beachside Hoi An, which also hosts many events.

Cons

  • Only the bottom bunk beds have curtains – the top beds do not.
  • Beds do not have lights – only outlets.
  • If you stay in an 8, 10, or 12-person dorm room, you might need to wait for the bathroom since there’s only one ensuite bathroom.

Secret Garden (Cat Ba)

Image via Hostelworld

I was in Cat Ba during its low season, so Secret Garden didn’t have much of a social atmosphere. I also had a nasty stomach bug, which meant I spent most of my time laying in bed. However, Secret Garden had everything I look for in an amazing hostel: a common area where people hang out, activities that bring travelers together, a central location, and cleanliness. I would absolutely come back during a busier time to experience the hostel when it’s livelier.

Pros

  • They host communal dinners, which are delicious and provide an opportunity to meet other people.
  • There’s a large outdoor space with seating, a pool table, a firepit, and a pool.
  • They have a bar and restaurant, so you don’t necessarily need to leave for food.
  • Some bunk beds have stairs, instead of ladders, to get to the top bunk.
  • There are plenty of shared bathrooms, which are separate from the rooms.
  • The hostel grounds are gorgeous. It’s filled with greenery and colorful murals that create a jungle-like oasis.

Cons

  • If you go during the low season (November to April), the hostel and Cat Ba is really quiet.
  • When it rains, the dorm room feels a bit damp.
  • The hostel is located at the top of a small, gradual hill, and it’s a 9-minute walk to the main road where many tourism companies and restaurants are located.

More resources for traveling Vietnam

Best Hostels in Vietnam
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Hi, I’m Felicia. Ever since studying abroad in college, I’ve had a growing passion for travel. I love sharing those experiences with others, so you’ll find travel guides, packing lists, tips, and more here!