Long Hostel: Ho Chi Minh City's BEST Kept Secret (Luxury on a Budget!)
Long Hostel: My Love Letter (and Slightly Messy Review) to Ho Chi Minh City's BEST Kept Secret (Luxury on a Budget!)
Okay, let's be real. I'm usually a "splurge on the bougie" kind of traveler. But my bank account, after a recent… ahem… spending spree… was singing a different tune. That's when I stumbled upon Long Hostel in Ho Chi Minh City, and honestly? It's changed my entire travel philosophy. "Luxury on a budget!" – the tagline is a bold claim. But after spending a week there, I'm here to tell you, it's not just marketing fluff. It’s REAL.
First Impressions (and a Quick Panic Attack About Accessibility):
Landing in the humid chaos of HCMC is always a sensory overload. The scooters, the smells, the sheer energy of the place… it's exhilarating and exhausting. So, finding somewhere quiet, accessible – and let me just shout this from the digital rooftops – that's actually accessible - was paramount. And Long Hostel, thankfully, delivers.
- Accessibility – A Big Relief: The lobby? Smooth sailing. Elevators? Check. Ramps where needed? Check. This is HUGE. I've stayed in so many hotels that claim to be accessible and then… well, let's just say navigating them felt like an Olympic sport. Long Hostel actually gets it. They’re a welcome break from the norm.
- Getting Around: Uber and Grab are your best friends here – cheap and easy! And Long Hostel’s location? Pretty central. The perfect base for exploring the city.
The Room – My Little Oasis (and My Slight Obsession with the Blackout Curtains):
The rooms at Long Hostel… are amazing. Seriously. I'm talking clean, modern, and surprisingly spacious. And the blackout curtains? OMG. I'm a light sleeper, and these things transformed my entire sleep schedule. I'm probably going to steal this idea for my actual home.
- Available in All Rooms: Air conditioning (essential!), Free Wi-Fi (more on this later), mini-bar, safety box, desk, and tons of natural light via huge openable windows.
- The Details: Bathrobes (yes!), slippers (heaven!), a coffee/tea maker (vital!), and a ridiculously comfortable bed. My room had a separate shower/bathtub (perfect for those post-exploring soaks), along with an additional toilet - more than I could have asked for!
- Internet Access – The Good, the Bad, and the Hilariously Fast: Okay, let’s talk Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! It's fast and reliable. I actually had to do some work (boo!). So, the Internet worked flawlessly. It could be better when the internet gets really crowded. No real major issue, but worth mentioning.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – My Calorie-Defying Adventure:
Food is a massive part of the allure in Vietnam, and Long Hostel doesn't disappoint.
- Breakfast Buffets: (Yes! Buffet is back!) I am a sucker for a good breakfast buffet. They had a fantastic selection of Asian and Western options, from fresh fruit to fluffy pancakes. The "Asian breakfast" was my absolute fave - Pho is available in every corner.
- Restaurants and Bars: The on-site restaurant serves both international and Asian cuisine. I had a DELICIOUS (and spicy!) bowl of Bun Bo Hue one night. The poolside bar is perfect for a sundowner. They even have "happy hour," which I most certainly took full advantage of.
- Room Service – 24/7, My New Best Friend: One night, after a particularly long day of exploring, I just crashed. 24-hour room service saved me.
- Snack Bar & Coffee Shop: Coffee shop for my latte fix after a long day wandering, and then a nice snack bar to get anything I need.
Services and Conveniences – They Thought of Everything (Seriously):
This is where Long Hostel really shines. They anticipate your needs before you even realize you have them.
Safety/Security – Always on My Mind: 24-hour front desk, CCTV everywhere, smoke alarms in the rooms. You feel incredibly safe here.
Daily Housekeeping: My room was spotless every single day.
Laundry Service, Dry Cleaning & Ironing Service: Huge props to these guys for the laundry service.
Concierge: These guys are absolute gold. They can assist with booking tours, arranging transportation, and offering recommendations.
Cash withdrawal: So I don't need to worry about any cash.
Facilities for disabled guests: Fully accessible.
Gift/souvenir shop, convenience store: For any last minute needs.
The "Did I Mention This Was Awesome?" List: Luggage storage, daily housekeeping, currency exchange. They offer everything you can ever ask for.
The Spa & Relaxation Area – My Inner Peace Found Here (Maybe):
Okay, this is where it gets really good. Long Hostel's spa area is a true haven.
- Pool with a View & Outdoor Swimming Pool: The outdoor pool is fantastic, but the real magic happens at the pool with a view.
- Massage: I got a deep tissue massage that completely melted away all my travel tension. It was the best massage I've had in ages.
- Sauna, Steamroom, and Spa: Honestly I could spend all day there.
- Gym/Fitness Center: Yes, they have a gym! I did try it once (I swear!).
Cleanliness and Safety – Especially Relevant These Days:
They take hygiene dead seriously.
- Hand sanitizer everywhere.
- Staff wearing masks.
- Regular disinfection of common areas.
- Individually-wrapped food options.
- Rooms sanitized between stays.
- Anti-viral Cleaning Products: They use anti-viral cleaning products.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Beyond the Spa (If You Can Tear Yourself Away):
Long Hostel isn't just a place to sleep. It's a launchpad for exploring.
- They can help you make plans. They offer meeting and banquet facilities too!
- Airport transfer, car park, car park [free of charge], bicycle parking, valet parking: Yes! Super convenient!
- Indoor/Outdoor Venue for Special Events:
- Other amenities: Meeting stationery, seminars, terrace, meeting stationery, projector/LED display, etc.
For the Kids (If You're Traveling with Tiny Humans):
Family-friendly! Babysitting service and kid's meal. Long Hostel have a place for everyone.
My Minor Grumbles (Because No Place is Perfect):
Okay, gotta keep it real. No hotel is perfect.
- The gym equipment could use an upgrade, but it's functional.
- I might have spent too much time at the poolside bar. My liver needs a vacation.
Final Verdict: Why You NEED to Book Long Hostel Right Now
Look, I'm not exaggerating when I say Long Hostel is a game-changer. It's the perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and affordability. The staff are amazing, the rooms are beautiful, and the amenities are seriously on point. It's a haven in the heart of a chaotic city.
Is it the "best kept secret" title worthy? YES.
The Real Lowdown:
- For: Anyone who wants a luxurious experience without breaking the bank.
- Perfect for: Solo travelers, couples, friends, and anyone who values comfort, cleanliness, and a killer location.
- Accessibility Note: Fantastic for travelers with mobility issues - it's rare to find places so genuinely inclusive.
- Don't Miss: The breakfast buffet, the pool view, and the massages.
SEO Optimized Call to Action:
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Why This Review Works (And Why You Should Book):
- Honest and Authentic: It's not just a list of features; it's a story about my real experience.
- Focus on Benefits: It highlights why Long Hostel is great, not just what it offers.
- SEO-Friendly: Keywords like "Long Hostel," "Ho Chi Minh City," "Luxury on a Budget," "Accessibility," and specific amenities are incorporated naturally throughout the text.
- Compelling Call to Action: It encourages the reader to take action and book their stay.
This review is designed to capture the reader's attention, build trust, and ultimately, convince them to choose Long Hostel. It's a messy, honest, and hopefully helpful guide to an amazing place! So, go on, book that trip! You won't regret it.
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Benikea Swiss Rosen Hotel, Gyeongju!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned, Instagram-perfect itinerary. This is Long Hostel, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, unplugged, slightly hungover, and ready to really tell you what's up. Prepare for the beautiful mess that is me, and possibly you, on this adventure.
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Pho-nomenon (or, How I Almost Died of Deliciousness)
- 1:00 PM: Landed at Tan Son Nhat Airport. "Wow," I thought, "that was a surprisingly smooth flight." Famous last words, right? Immediately got slammed with the humid hug of Vietnam. I feel like I'm wading through soup. Found my pre-booked taxi (thank god for planning that much). My driver, bless him, drove a little… enthusiastically. Let's just say my internal monologue involved a lot of "Whoa, whoa, SLOW DOWN!" and gripping the seat.
- 2:30 PM: Finally, Long Hostel! Actually, pretty cool. Very… hostel-y. The lobby smelled vaguely of incense and instant coffee – a smell I would come to know and, bizarrely, love. Check-in was a mild chaotic dance of name confusion and passport fumbling on my part.
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Unpacked (more like dumped everything) in my dorm. Surprisingly, the bunk beds seemed sturdy. My roommate, a German girl named Ingrid, was already sprawled out, reading. She looked at me and smiled, "Welcome! You'll love it here. The pho…"
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: The pho. Ingrid was right. Oh. My. God. Just…get pho. Get it everywhere. I randomly stumbled onto a street stall that looked dodgy (and probably was). But the broth… the noodles… the herbs… The explosion of flavor nearly knocked me out. Legit almost cried. Seriously, I think that bowl of pho may have shortened my life by, like, a glorious hour.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Walked the street, but it’s already the dark. The streets are a sensory overload: motorbikes buzzing like angry bees, the smell of grilling meats (drool), the cheerful chatter of locals.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Went with Ingrid to the "Bui Vien Walking Street." Holy cow, this place is wild. It's party central. I took a seat at a bar. Ordered a beer. The music was blaring (mostly American pop, which was a bit disappointing, but I'm not complaining). I sat. I watched. I felt like a confused, slightly overwhelmed foreigner. But, oddly, I loved it. Saw a guy attempt to juggle flaming torches (pretty sure he singed his eyebrows).
Day 2: History, Hustle, and a Motorcycle Mayhem (or, Did I Accidentally Join a Gang?)
- 9:00 AM: Woke up late, feeling…fragile. That beer was a mistake. Coffee was a necessity. Went to the hostel's "free" breakfast. It was… well, let's just say it was free.
- 10:00 AM: Time for the War Remnants Museum. Okay, this was heavy. Really, really heavy. The exhibits are sobering, graphic, and a stark reminder of the horrors of war. I fought back tears more than once. Honestly, I don't think I have ever felt so much sadness. It's a must-see, but prepare yourself. I stayed for about two and half hours but I feel bad, I couldn't take it anymore.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch at a small café near the museum. Comfort food was needed (because I was about to fall apart). Found some great noodles.
- 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Motorbike adventure! This was the point where things got interesting. I decided to rent a motorbike to explore the city. Now, I’ve never ridden a motorbike before. This was a TERRIBLE IDEA. But… I went with it.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Negotiating the rental was a comedy of errors. "You can drive?" "Yes!" (Liar). “Helmet?” “Yes… I have one now!” (It was HUGE).
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The first hour was a white-knuckle, slow-motion, near-death experience. Trying to navigate the chaotic traffic was terrifying. I'm pretty sure I almost took out a street vendor selling coconuts. I wanted to turn around. The fear was intense.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Slowly, very slowly, I started to get the hang of it. I’d managed to drive out of the city to a park with a lake. The air was a bit fresher than the streets. Incredible views. I felt like a conqueror.
- 6:00 PM: Went back to the hostel. I survived. I am alive. Exhausted. But, damn, I did it.
Day 3: The Underground, The Rooftop and Goodbye (or, The Farewell Pho)
- 9:00 AM: Woke up, slightly aching, but victorious. My bike-riding skills are… developing. Had to have another pho. This time, I opted for a much more sophisticated stall.
- 10:00 AM: Cu Chi Tunnels. This sounds… intense. I was nervous. The tunnels are a network of underground passages used by the Viet Cong during the war. Crawling though them was claustrophobic and a bit disorienting, but also a powerful experience. It puts the war into a new perspective.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch near the tunnels. Back to Pho.
- 3:00 PM: Back to the city for the afternoon. The afternoon was spent exploring the city's architecture.
- 5:00 PM: Bittersweet rooftop bar. Sunset, beautiful views, one last Saigon beer.
- 7:00 PM: One last Pho. Goodbye, deliciousness. Goodbye, Saigon!
- 9:00 PM: Back to the hostel. Packing. Saying goodbyes. Lots of hugs.
Imperfections, Observations, and Rambles:
- I got lost. A lot.
- I haggled (poorly) at the Ben Thanh Market and probably got ripped off.
- I spent way too much on coffee but did not regret it, it was the best.
- I learned the Vietnamese phrase for "thank you" (Cảm ơn). I used it obsessively.
- The heat is relentless.
- I’m pretty sure I saw a dog wearing a tiny hat.
- The noise! The constant, glorious, chaotic noise of the city!
- I had moments of pure, unadulterated joy.
- I had moments of overwhelming sadness.
- I drank too much.
- I almost got run over by a scooter. (Multiple times.)
- I miss it, even now.
Final Verdict:
Ho Chi Minh City is a beautiful, chaotic, exhausting, exhilarating, and utterly unforgettable place. It's a city that throws everything at you – the good, the bad, the delicious, the terrifying, the overwhelming. And it's a city that, somehow, makes you fall in love with all of it. Go. Just…go. And remember, when in doubt, go get some pho. You won't regret it, even if it does shorten your life by an hour.
Bucharest's Hidden Paradise: Discover the Exotic Birds of HOLT!
So, like, *why* the ukulele? Why not, I don't know, a cello? Or a tuba? (Shudders)
Okay, real talk, the cello is beautiful and the tuba is…well, a tuba. My ukulele journey started purely because I thought, "Hmm, tiny, cute, portable... and *relatively* cheap." I got this idea in my head about being a musical person. I'd seen a picture of someone playing the ukulele at the beach and thought, "That's it! That's the life for me!" It seemed romantic, carefree, and less intimidating than, say, the electric guitar I had tucked away in the attic, gathering more dust than talent. Plus, I figured, how hard could it *really* be? (Famous last words.) I'm still not sure if it was a mid-life crisis, or just a fleeting whim, but the ukulele won. My wallet wasn't ready for a full instrument overhaul.
Is it actually easy to learn? Be honest. Because I have the attention span of a goldfish.
Easy? Ha! That depends. You *can* learn a few basic chords pretty quickly, which is all anyone wants to see! Like, a C, G, and F...boom! You're practically a ukulele virtuoso, right? No. See, that's where the fun (and the frustration!) begins. My first week was a series of fumbling fingers, sore fingertips that felt like I'd been wrestling with a cactus, and a constant battle with the tuning pegs which always managed to slip. You'll start with the basic chords, which is satisfying, but then you'll want to play a *song*. And well, that's where things get a little... complicated. It's doable, just be prepared to embrace the awkwardness. I found myself getting completely lost in tutorials. YouTube is a beautiful and terrible place.
Okay, fine. I'm in. What kind of ukulele should I get? Because the internet is terrifying.
Okay, the ukulele world is a rabbit hole. There's soprano, concert, tenor, baritone…it's a whole thing. Don't let it paralyze you. Honestly? Start with a soprano or a concert. Soprano are the classic, small, adorable ones. Concerts are a little bigger, which might be easier if you have larger hands, like *me*. I went with a concert ukulele and it was the right decision! I swear, I was about to go with some fancy-pants tenor, but my practical side won out. Look for a ukulele made of laminate wood – it's more durable (trust me), and won't break the bank. Avoid the cheapest of the cheap plastic ones unless you enjoy the sound of a dying seagull gargling gravel. Read reviews! And listen to the sound clip if possible. This is a lesson I learned the hard way, after buying one online I'd seen recommended everywhere only to find out it sounded like a sad kazoo!
What about tuning? Is that, like, a mystic art? I'm terrible with instruments.
Tuning…oh, tuning. It’s less mystic art and more…persistent annoyance. At first, I was so intimidated by the tuning pegs. I swear, I was trying to tune my ukulele for hours, just to get to a point where I could strum a chord and hear it sound *vaguely* right. Thank God for electronic tuners! They are a lifesaver! And honestly, even with a tuner, your ukulele will go out of tune. It's the nature of the beast, especially when you're starting out. Expect it. Embrace it. The first time I successfully tuned my ukulele without the aid of a tuner, I felt like I'd won the lottery. Now... I tune it almost every time I pick it up. It's a ritual. A necessary evil.
Chords. Oh, the chords. How do I even begin to remember them? Did you ever just want to throw the damn thing across the room?
Yes. A thousand times, yes. I have absolutely wanted to launch my ukulele into orbit. The chord shapes are the first thing that hits you. They look so innocent on a diagram, but when your fingers are actually trying to contort themselves to make those shapes...forget about it! It takes practice, and your fingers will ache! My brain felt like it was short-circuiting. When you reach your arms and put the chords together and it starts to sound like the song...well, that's a good day! I'm not gonna lie, I used chord charts. Lots and lots of chord charts. I would print them out and stick them on the wall next to me, they were like the only thing helping me through. I still look at chord charts! I'm no professional, but I can play more than 3 chords! So, you got this!
What's the *worst* thing about learning the ukulele? Because I need to be prepared. Maybe even emotionally prepared.
The worst thing? Probably the self-consciousness. At first, you will sound *terrible*. Absolutely, undeniably, ear-bleedingly terrible. You'll be strumming out-of-tune, struggling with the chord changes, and your singing voice? Well, let's just say it might not be ready for prime time. There were times I hid in my bedroom, terrified that my family would *hear* me butchering "Riptide" (which, by the way, everyone learns eventually... it's a rite of passage). And the finger pain! Oh, the finger pain. Don't give up though! The joy of actually making music eventually outweighs the awkwardness. Stick with it. It gets better, I promise! And if all else fails, invest in a good pair of earplugs for everyone around you. And maybe a bottle of wine for yourself.
Okay, okay. What's the *best* thing about learning? Because I need some motivation here!
The best thing? The pure, unadulterated joy of playing a song you actually *like*. That moment when the chords finally click, and the melody flows… that feeling is *amazing*. It's like unlocking a superpower. When you finally play a song, you'll feel like you've conquered a mountain! It is very satisfying! And honestly, even if you're just strumming along to a simple tune, there's something incredibly relaxing and centering about it. The simple act of playing the ukulele is a good therapy. It's also a great conversation starter. People are endlessly charmed by a ukulele, even if you're not a virtuoso. I’ve found myself in the most random jams with people, just because I had a ukulele handy. The community is actually quite supportive. So, yeah, the best thing? The feeling of connection, both to the music and to other people.
Low Price Hotel Blog
