The Joy Hostel — Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Location • Entrance is in the alley beside the tailor shop and a rice restaurant. 3 min walk to the Central Market. • Located on the side alley of Bui Vien Walking Street so there was lots of food and pubs just walking distance away, but still quiet.

• Reception did not have air con, just fan. • There were tables and benches to eat at, some tour brochures. • Towel rental at 15k each, to be returned at check out.

Room • Stayed in the 10-bed mixed dorm room with balcony. Air con was good and strong. Each bed had a privacy curtain, nightlight, 1 charger port, a small shelf with 3 hooks. Mattress with super comfortable!! • My blanket felt a little sandy (?) for some reason but I just shook it out • Privacy curtain too thin • Lockers with lock under the bed, key is given upon check in. • Strong WiFi.

Facilities • Shared kitchen on ground floor with a fridge. • Drinking water refill available at 2k for 500ml, 5k for 1.5L.

Staff • Staff speaks English, not the most fluent but we can understand each other well. Friendly and would give me some recommendations on book and souvenir shopping.

Bathroom • Wet bathroom style (toilet and shower together, not separate) • 1 bathroom shared between 1 room with 10 beds. • Bathroom is outside the dorm room. • Shared shampoo and shower gel provided • Good water pressure...

I walked to the hostel and it can easily be missed because it's down an alley, but ask any vendor on the street and they'll point you in the right direction. The female dorm was clean but it's super tiny (easily 60 cm space between the 2 bunk beds), so knock first before entering the room to avoid bumping your dorm mate with the door unknowingly. The bed was very comfortable with fresh linen. The dorm had no windows, so oversleeping is bound to happen with no direct sunlight coming in. The bathroom is a wet room setup. There's no elevator and taking stairs to the fourth floor with a travelling bag was no joke at all. Not ideal if you want to get some work done as there's only one big table in the lobby, and people are usually sitting and eating there. The staff were nice, just use a translation app for when communicating with those that don't...

Central location and quiet considering how loud the walking street is! Rooms small with not much space to go in/out of your belongings. Lock is provided for the locker. Beds and sheets do not appear to be washed between guests. I had left something in my bed and went up to check 10 hours after checking out, and a new guest was in the bed I had stayed in, with my belongings still under the pillow - showing the pillow and the bed sheet both are not changed/washed. Cockroach in the bathroom but otherwise reasonably clean. 20,000 dong to rent a towel. Staff at reception smoking despite being sat next to a ‘no smoking’ sign, the smoke travels all the way to the top floor leaving an unpleasant smell. Would...