What a night costs
| 🛏️ Hostel dorm bed | $5–$10/night |
| 🚪 Private room (hostel/guesthouse) | $14–$25/night |
| 🏨 Budget hotel / Airbnb room | $20–$35/night |
Full backpacker daily budget for Vietnam (bed + food + local transport + fun): about $30/day shoestring or $50/day flashpacker.
Where to stay
Old Quarter for the classic chaos, Tay Ho (West Lake) for calm.
Local tip
💡 Hostel 'free beer hour' places are party spots — check reviews for 'quiet' if that's not your scene.
The clean-bed formula
Filter to rating ≥ 8.3 with 150+ reviews, then read the recent negative reviews — that's where the cleanliness truth lives. Prefer free-cancellation rates; plans change, especially yours.