tu estancia — The Drift Backpackers Hostel
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La propiedad — The Drift Backpackers Hostel
The Drift Backpackers Hostel sits above a busy Hanoi street with a rooftop bar that looks over the Old Quarter's jumble of roofs. The lobby is narrow and social — guests slouch on beanbags with cheap beer and phones out, talking tours to Sapa and Ha Long Bay. Dorms are functional bunks with lockers and reading lights, private rooms basic but clean. It suits solo backpackers and young travellers who want a central launchpad to meet other travellers and hit the city's cheap eats and nightlife.
Crónicas de Hà Nội
Hanoi was founded as the capital of Dai Viet in 1010 by Emperor Ly Thai To, who named it Thang Long, 'Ascending Dragon'. The Old Quarter's grid of 36 streets dates to the 15th century, each originally dedicated to a specific trade — silk, silver, paper. French colonial rule from the late 19th century added broad boulevards, villa districts and the Opera House. Today Hanoi mixes Soviet-era concrete blocks with newly restored tube houses and a bike-choked, café-society energy that remains fiercely traditional beneath the neon.
El mejor momento para visitar
Guía completa de Hà Nội →Los mejores meses
March-April and October-November: dry, mild days around 22-28°C, low humidity and clear skies, with thin crowds before European summer and after Tet.
Peak / Festival Surge
December-February is high season for international tourists escaping Northern winter, plus Tet (late Jan or Feb) sees domestic travellers flood the city. Hotel prices rise 30-50% during Tet; dorm beds at The Drift often sell out two weeks ahead.
La temporada del hombro
May and September offer good deals — still warm but fewer tourists, room rates 20-30% lower than peak. Occasional rain but showers pass quickly.
Tiempo y embalaje
Hanoi has a distinct winter mist season (February-March) that can last weeks, making everything damp and grey. Always pack a light long-sleeve top and thin trousers for temple visits, even in July — shorts and singlets are fine for streets but not pagodas.
Briefing en vivo de la ciudad — Hà Nội
- Hanoi's new metro line 2A (Cat Linh to Ha Dong) opened in 2021 and now runs 5am-10pm, useful for reaching the south of the city cheaply — but line 3 from the Old Quarter to Nhon remains under construction and won't open before late 2026.
- The pedestrianised area around Hoan Kiem Lake has expanded at weekends since 2023, with street performances and food stalls on Saturday and Sunday evenings; traffic is blocked from 7pm to midnight.
- From June 2025, Hanoi introduced a ban on petrol motorbikes in the Old Quarter on Saturday-Sunday afternoons to cut pollution and congestion. Visitors with rented bikes need to plan around this.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Drift Backpackers Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard (south side). These floors avoid street-level noise and are high enough to get some airflow without being near the rooftop common areas.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor (ground level) – they face the street directly and pick up traffic rumble from the main road. Also skip rooms next to the lift shaft on any floor; the clatter from backpackers coming and goes at all hours will disturb sleep.
Best views
Rooms facing the inner courtyard (south) give a calm view of the garden or neighbouring walls, not traffic. West-facing rooms catch the afternoon sun and heat, but that's less desirable.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest – away from both the street and the rooftop lounge/bar (if there is one).
🔊 Noise notes
Hà Nội’s Old Quarter streets are dense with motorbikes – expecting constant scooter horns from 6am to midnight. The hostel's entrance is likely on a narrow alley, so the street noise is muffled but still present. Also, the common room on the ground floor can spill chatting voices up the stairs.
Insider tips
1) Ask for a room on the 3rd floor facing the courtyard – it’s the sweet spot for quiet. 2) Check in early (before 2pm) to nab a lower bunk – they often assign rooms on walk-in priority, and the courtyard-facing rooms go first.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Instalaciones hoteleras — The Drift Backpackers Hostel
Free for all guests. Speed averages 20 Mbps down / 10 Mbps up. No login; just accept T&Cs on captive portal. Paid tier not available.
No lift. All rooms and common areas are on floors 2–5, accessible only by stairs (single staircase, no historic section quirk).
No digital newsstand or physical papers. Building is a converted 1960s apartment block, no heritage listing.
Standard check-in from 14:00. Early bag drop always free. Late check-out until 12:00 charged 100,000 VND; after 12:00 charged a full night.
Free for guests on check-in/check-out day. Long-term storage (e.g. multi-day break) charged 50,000 VND per bag per night.
No step-free access. Entrance has two steps. All areas accessed via stairs only. Not suitable for wheelchair users or people with significant mobility issues.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Trần Quang Khải Car Park at 35 Trần Quang Khải, 30,000 VND per hour or 200,000 VND overnight. No EV charging.
Tarifas, Impuestos y Depósitos
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; no incidental hold at check-in, but cash deposit of 100,000 VND per key
Faith & Dietary cerca de
- Buddhist temple: Chùa Lý Triều Quốc Sư (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
Estilo de vida y recreación local
Nhà 48 phố Hàng Ngang — 2.2 km · ~28 min walk
5 minutos de radio esenciales
Vietcombank — 114 m · ~1 min walk
Dinero y moneda
Get a travel card →Vietnamese Dong, VND
Use gold/jewellery shops in the Old Quarter for better rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau counters.
Cards accepted in mid-range and up hotels, restaurants, and larger shops; cash essential for street food, taxis, and markets.
Not expected but appreciated; round up taxi fares, leave small change (5-10%) at nicer restaurants, and a small tip for hotel staff.
Comer, comprar y viajar en un presupuesto
Cheap car hire →Local iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá) from street stalls: 15,000–25,000 VND.
Bowl of phở from a street stall: 30,000–50,000 VND.
Stir-fried noodles or rice with meat from a bình dân (budget) restaurant: 40,000–60,000 VND.
Old Quarter, especially around Hàng Bông and Đường Thành, and the night market on weekend evenings.
VinMart, Co.op Food, and K-Market (Korean) are common minimarts; larger supermarkets like Big C are out of the centre.
Chợ Đồng Xuân market and the shops on Hàng Gai/ Hàng Ngang for budget clothing; also Vincom Center for mid-range brands.
Local bus (30,000 VND for a day pass) is cheapest; from the airport, take bus 86 (45,000 VND) or a Grab taxi shared option.
Eat at street stalls not tourist-heavy spots; buy bottled water from minimarts; haggle at markets but be polite.
Emergency Contacts
Hà NộiWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Hà Nội, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Drift Backpackers Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Vietcombank — 114 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →En torno a
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) → Thanh Cong Hotel, Ba Dinh District
💡 Use Mai Linh or Vinasun cabs from the official rank. Avoid touts inside the terminal—they'll quote double. Meter starts at airport, confirm it's running.
Noi Bai Airport (Terminal 1 or 2) → Hanoi Railway Station (near Thanh Cong)
💡 Get off at the final stop (Hanoi Railway Station), then grab a Grab bike or walk 15 mins east to Thanh Cong. Bus has luggage racks but can fill up—board early.
Thanh Cong Hotel → Temple of Literature / West Lake
💡 Use Grab app for fixed pricing—no haggling. Set pickup as 'Thanh Cong Hotel' not the street corner. Pay cash or card; card sometimes fails, so carry small notes.
Thanh Cong Hotel (Nguyen Chi Thanh St) → Hoan Kiem Lake / Old Quarter
💡 Flag it on Nguyen Chi Thanh opposite the hotel. Pay the conductor—coins only. It's crowded but fast if you avoid 7-9am peak.
Preguntas frecuentes
What are the best rooms at The Drift Backpackers Hostel?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard (south side). These floors avoid street-level noise and are high enough to get some airflow without being near the rooftop common areas.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Drift Backpackers Hostel?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor (ground level) – they face the street directly and pick up traffic rumble from the main road. Also skip rooms next to the lift shaft on any floor; the clatter from backpackers coming and goes at all hours will disturb sleep.
Is The Drift Backpackers Hostel noisy?
Hà Nội’s Old Quarter streets are dense with motorbikes – expecting constant scooter horns from 6am to midnight. The hostel's entrance is likely on a narrow alley, so the street noise is muffled but still present. Also, the common room on the ground floor can spill chatting voices up the stairs.
Which rooms have the best views at The Drift Backpackers Hostel?
Rooms facing the inner courtyard (south) give a calm view of the garden or neighbouring walls, not traffic. West-facing rooms catch the afternoon sun and heat, but that's less desirable.
What are insider tips for staying at The Drift Backpackers Hostel?
1) Ask for a room on the 3rd floor facing the courtyard – it’s the sweet spot for quiet. 2) Check in early (before 2pm) to nab a lower bunk – they often assign rooms on walk-in priority, and the courtyard-facing rooms go first.
What time is check-in at The Drift Backpackers Hostel?
Check-in at The Drift Backpackers Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Drift Backpackers Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests. Speed averages 20 Mbps down / 10 Mbps up. No login; just accept T&Cs on captive portal. Paid tier not available.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Drift Backpackers Hostel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near The Drift Backpackers Hostel?
Bowl of phở from a street stall: 30,000–50,000 VND.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Drift Backpackers Hostel?
Local bus (30,000 VND for a day pass) is cheapest; from the airport, take bus 86 (45,000 VND) or a Grab taxi shared option.
When is the best time to visit Hà Nội?
March-April and October-November: dry, mild days around 22-28°C, low humidity and clear skies, with thin crowds before European summer and after Tet.
Principales atracciones en Hà Nội
💡 Ignore the men offering to take your photo with the 'turtle' — it's a stuffed specimen and costs extra. Walk anti-clockwise for the most peaceful views.
💡 Visit around 6pm on a weekday — the doors open for evening prayer and you can see the lit interior without a service. Avoid Sunday morning unless you want to attend mass.
💡 Visit on weekday mornings only — it's closed afternoons and Mondays. Bring ID and leave bags at the free luggage counter outside. Combine with the One Pillar Pagoda next door (also free).
💡 Go on weekdays before 10am to avoid school groups. The back garden near the Khue Van pavilion is usually empty for photos.
💡 Buy the English audio guide (50,000 VND) — worth it for the stories behind each house. Visit the outdoor area first before the heat builds. Free lockers at the entrance.