This is great place to stay in Hanoi. Good location, walking distance to great street food (which they provide an excellent map for), the night market, various attractions around Hanoi and the lake. They also offer a free daily walking tour that goes for about an hour and one of the staff who is an Hanoi local will take you around and show you some hidden treasures.

The hostel itself is very clean, good value, has free breakfast, wifi and computers to use. They also have a BBQ during the week upstairs in the bar with delicious burgers (for 50000 dong) and a giant jenga game in the middle of the bar which is a great way to make friends (or enemies!).

They also offer a trip to Halong Bay. It costs $199USD but most of the good ones are around that price. Although it was a fun trip, and worth the price (good food, reliable and safe boat, great tour leaders, adequate accomodation), I would really only recommend it for 22 year old party animals (or those who are still trying to be 22 year old party animals). There is alot (ALOT) of drinking, beach shenanigans and frivolity, and very little sleeping or sightseeing, so if that's your idea of a fun 3 day trip to Halong Bay, go for it! If you're looking for a relaxing time, seeing the sights of Halong Bay, a few quiet drinks, find another tour. This is a fun tour, but be ready to party!

First off, I did not stay in the hostel, but used them for the Ha Long Bay 3 night / 2 day trip. I was travelling solo and, as I was staying at a nearby hotel, wanted to meet people and thought going on the hostel trip was a good idea. I read some horror stories of Ha Long Bay tours and this one was recommended by the Rough Guide - so I thought it would be worth a shot.

Ha Long Bay itself is incredibly beautiful and a must if you go to Hanoi. However, my thoughts of the trip organised by the Hostel are less positive!

Pros
- If you want to meet lots of young people, party and booze 24/7 then this is the place for you
- By and large the guides who run the event are decent. Kayaking and wake boarding are great.

Cons
- Price. It is extremely expensive for what it is (USD200). I reckon it cannot cost more than USD30 TOPS! The hostel cuts corners at absolutely every single opportunity (accommodation, transport there, food etc) - read other cons. this is a BIG money spinner for the hostel - they send 40+ people there everyday.
- Accommodation. you stay in one of several huts where there are about 13 mattresses side by side/head to toe. The beds have mosquito nets with BIG holes all over - i.e. they are useless as mosquito nets. do not expect to get much sleep. there will be loud music throughout the night, people will walk over/on you while you are sleeping, sand will get everywhere on your mattress as people walk on them during the day, no privacy, toilets/showers do not have locks
- non-stop drinking. if this is what you want, then do it. but if you want more out of your trip to Ha Long Bay - after all, you can drink and party anywhere, but this place is incredible - choose another Ha Long Bay tour.
- food is pretty poor.

basically, if you don't mind being ripped off to the tune of about USD170 just for the opportunity to drink heavily on a beach all night long with other 20 somethings who are looking for sex, then do it. oh, they will throw in a wakeboarding, kayaking and rock climbing, but that really isn't worth that much. Otherwise, suggest you choose another Ha Long Bay tour.

I like this hostel. The staff speaks English very well!
The rooms are clean with wifi, hot shower and toilet just out from the dorms. Unfortunately the wifi in the room and the hot water didn't work when I was there - but I suppose that it's gonna be great!
The airconditioning in the dorm is turned on automatically and freezing cold. 21-23 degrees every night, and you can't turn it off!!
They have a really nice bar at the rooftop but expensive like hell.