Saigon Gạo Hostel — Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

I really enjoyed my stay in the Saigon Gao Hostel. When I arrived, I was tired and a bit unsure of where as I was going as my phone was not connecting to service and my Grab driver did not speak English. Off of a local market on a quiet side street, I found the hostel, and as I entered, I was greeted by a very cute and friendly little, chubby dog. ||(And if you are cautious about petting dogs in foreign countries, this dog has rabies shots and is quite clean.)||||Trip Planning Help:||The daughter of the owner helped me from the beginning, helping me carry my bags to my room and connect me with another solo traveler to go to dinner. She speaks English very well, is a very friend person, and seemed to genuinely want to help with trip planning to ensure that guests really enjoy their time in Saigon. She can help you book day tours to major sites, identify places to visit on your own, help you figure out transportation (I recommend Grab scooter!), recommend local neighborhoods to walk around as your travel time allows, and is willing to find new tourist/recreational opportunities off the beaten path (which for me was paddle board rentals on the river and visiting a local farm).||||Location:||The location was great, close to lots of good restaurants and coffee houses, a local park, shops, and a bus station. It is also ideal fo those looking for nightlife as it is close to but not right next to Bui Vien Street. You can easily get to tourist sites around the city from this location.||||Accommodations: ||In terms of accommodations, the room was spacious for a solo traveler (or couple) with a double bed, a mini fridge, a small sitting area with a sofa and coffee table, a bureau with hanging space, a private bathroom, good air-conditioning, and a small window. The bathroom is typical East Asian style with an open shower between the toilet and sink, though it was spacious enough that your belongings on shelves and hooks would not get wet as you showered. Also, there is hot water and you can easily control water temperature here unlike some other accommodations. The room was also very clean, and house cleaning would come in and change the sheets and towels every few days. You can also have your laundry done for a reasonable price and buy drinking water as needed.||||Other Notes:||Some other things to know: Private rooms are here are typically for couples and solo women travelers where as the dorms, which other guests seemed happy with, are for solo men travelers. There is always someone available downstairs to open the main door when it is locked at night and help you during the day, and the owner’s daughter, the only person who speaks English, is usually there six days a week in the afternoon/evening. Also, soon within the time of arrival, you will need to pay for your stay here in cash.||||Overall, I would highly recommend Saigon Gao Hostel for solo and couples traveling to...

We stayed at Saigon Gao hostel for 3 nights earlier this week. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, and I really like they did what seemed to be a one off happy hour where every person could have 1 free beer or soft drink or water. We were staying in a private room, so It really helped us to mingle with other guests.

The location was also down a side street, so that made it really quiet. Although the room opposite ours had a dog which would bark as anyone walked past, which wasn't ideal! Getting to the main sights Is quite easy due to where it was situated in district 1.

In terms of the room though, this is where it slightly fell down for us. The room itself had all the facilities we needed and it was really clean which was great, so intially we were really pleased. However, we had 2 issues that impacted our stay. The first was quite a bad smell coming from the bathroom, which I can only assume was the drains. It would spread to the rest of the apartment whilst we were asleep or when we were out, so it made staying in the apartment was a bit unsavoury. We did let the staff about this after the first night and they said they'd have a look, although im not too sure what had been done to remedy it, as it still smelt when we got back later that day.

The other issue was the bed. Personally I found it rock hard and uncomfortable which meant I'd wake up with a bad back each morning. An upgrade to a softer mattress would be my recommendation.

The above might not be the same if staying in one of the dorms though. If it hadnt have been for the smell and bed, it...

The hostel’s location is advantageous, situated adjacent to the primary pedestrian thoroughfare, which is a popular destination for evening entertainment. However, the hostel is situated on a side street, providing a serene and peaceful atmosphere, despite its proximity to the lively main party area. The staff is courteous and helpful, and the laundry facilities offer a reasonable service at a cost of 30k per kilogram. The rooms are adequate, although they could be improved. Our experience was largely positive due to the fact that we were a group of three sharing a four-person room for two nights. The beds were comfortable but not particularly clean. There were visible hairs and dirt on the sheets, and my friend had some dried human fluids on the mattress. The bathroom was satisfactory and maintained cleanliness. While the beds lack curtains at the foot of the bed, this is not a significant inconvenience. A notable advantage is the provision of a locker and padlock, which is a valuable amenity. Additionally, our room featured a balcony, which provided excellent views and was a source of enjoyment. Overall, the hostel offers good value for money. It is affordable and centrally located, making it a suitable choice for travelers. However, it is important to note that the hostel’s amenities are modest, reflecting its budget-friendly nature. Despite this, the staff’s friendly demeanor significantly enhances the overall experience....