City Backpackers Hostel — Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Really average place with poor staff attitude and vicious air from insecticides. For international standards, really bad. Be warned it could easily be worse elsewhere. Place full of pesticides. Half my clothes smells pesticides now after 1 night staying there.

Pros Central area Aircons works with no odor Elevator (many places don't have)

Negs The place is also a travel agency with only 1 staff present at all time. So if you have a trouble, you will have to queue a long time for any problem to be solved. No AC in the lobby / reception. Suffocating and bad smell. The young female receptionist bad been extremely rude. Made me wait 28 min right in front of her face without warning to give trip advises to clients of while I was just trying to checkout. Really 0 client awareness. Maybe 4 people were waiting behind me and she didn't dare a damn about it. The people left angry. Had no choice rather than waiting. I completely regret I put my feet here. Pugnacious odor of insecticide chemicals everywhere probably from a recent bed bug extermination or repulsives for cockroaches Smells a bit moldy and clear presence of black mold in the bathroom A bit filthy there and there Mattress so soft it is almost more liquid than water Hand soap smells like the most horrible cheap odor factory no alive organism would like to receive No hand towel nor bathroom matt (they provide an old rag certainly used by all client for the floor) Heavily degraded furnitures Depressing design and decoration Greasy handle for the entree door Poor lighting in the bathroom No bed light No desk light Room lighted by a cheap tube on the wall. 1 garbage bin that smells cigarette each time you open it is the only one provided for everything including toilet paper Area full of cockroaches. The hotel is at the same level as the street so all insect can come. No steps to protect the building. A staff sprayed me while I was in the toilet. Got the insecticide taste in my mouth. Poor client awareness. Again. And dangerous for health.

= To summeries, many improvements directions for this hostel. I believe...

There were so many hotel/hostel accommodations to choose from in this prime location, and I’m SO GLAD I went with this place! I got a private room so I’ll be reviewing from that POV. Anna runs the joint and is 100% responsive with all texts, inquires, and confirmations. Checking in is really easy, and she pointed us in all the right directions for where we could go and what sights to see. She is SUPER INFORMATIVE with real talk advice and suggestions. There are tour agencies everywhere but she’s got the hookups for all those tours like the Cu Chị tunnels (which we checked out; highly recommended), Mekong River Delta (which I’ll have to come back to see), and etc. I liked how CLEAN the rooms smelled and looked, which is surprising considering that it’s a hostel! I was also pleasantly surprised that we got fresh towels and room service every day so coming back to a hot shower was always like new like a hotel. The biggest thing for me was how helpful staff were, and Anna was always looking out for us to optimize our experience with minimal spending. Clean water is free and available in the lobby, and coming down to her warm greeting was always a great start to venture our days. I really don’t feel the need to “try” other accommodations after my stay here. Next time I come back (likely winter 2024), I’m staying here again. ...

My stay at City Backpackers Hostel was absolutely fantastic, thanks to the incredible hospitality of James and Elizabeth. From the moment we arrived, they went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. They were not only kind and accommodating but also had a great sense of humour that made every interaction enjoyable. Their English is flawless, which made communication effortless, and their local knowledge was invaluable.

James and Elizabeth gave us amazing advice on exploring Ho Chi Minh City, recommending fantastic restaurants that became some of our favourites. They also helped us book transport and tickets for the Cu Chi Tunnels, making the entire experience stress-free. Beyond that, they went out of their way to assist my friend with his visa, ensuring everything was sorted smoothly.

What truly sets them apart is their genuine care for guests. Whether it was making sure we had everything we needed, sharing insider tips, or just having a friendly chat, they created such a welcoming atmosphere. It’s rare to find hostel staff who are this dedicated and passionate about making every guest’s experience unforgettable.

If you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City, I highly recommend staying here. James and Elizabeth make City Backpackers Hostel feel like a home...