Saigon Smile Hostel
by the TopOfHotel team
Saigon Smile is the pick for solo travelers — warm staff, a free pho breakfast, and the cheapest beds in Pham Ngu Lao.
Saigon Smile is the pick for solo travelers — warm staff, a free pho breakfast, and the cheapest beds in Pham Ngu Lao.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
A bed in the 6-bed mixed dorm runs VND 290,000 a night (about $11) in a 14 sqm room with three wooden bunk beds. Each bed has a privacy curtain — a bit worn — a power outlet, a USB port, and an under-bed locker, with clean white sheets, a soft-enough pillow, and air-con set just right. Two shared bathrooms, one men's and one women's, have strong warm showers and free Cocoon Vietnamese organic soap and shampoo. The 6-bed female dorm is VND 320,000 (about $12) and adds an electronic lock for extra privacy. Staff Phương and Linh run the welcome desk with the smiles the place is named for, and check-in takes about 3 minutes.
Food and amenities
From 06:30 to 09:30 there is a free pho breakfast in the ground-floor common area: a giant pot of beef Phở Bò and one of chicken Phở Gà on the stove, ladled yourself, with herbs, lime, and chili to add. The broth is clear, the beef tender, and the noodles a touch chewier than the Hanoi style. Alongside it there is Bánh Mì, Vietnamese egg coffee, tea, and mixed fruit (banana, dragon fruit, watermelon), all unlimited. The common area has sofas, a TV, 50 Mbps Wi-Fi, tables, and a sound system, and travelers from different countries end up talking here.
Location and getting there
The hostel sits in the middle of Pham Ngu Lao, about 25 minutes by car from Tan Son Nhat Airport and a 2-minute walk to Bui Vien Walking Street, which runs 19:00–02:00. Two hundred meters away, the Bia Hoi corner serves fresh local draft beer — some of the cheapest anywhere at VND 8,000 (about $0.30) a glass — on plastic stools at the roadside, open from 17:00 until it sells out around 22:00. Reviewers rate it a more genuine Saigon experience than the tourist-leaning bars on Bui Vien itself.
Things to know before booking
This is an old building, open since 2010, so it feels dated next to the newer boutiques nearby. The 8-bed dorm is tight at 12 sqm and can feel cramped when full, and the bunk privacy curtains show their age. Wi-Fi tops out at 50 Mbps, slower than the newer hostels, and there are only two shared bathrooms for the floor. None of that is a deal-breaker at this price — just go in knowing it is a budget hostel, not a boutique.
Our take
Saigon Smile is the best pick here for solo travelers and backpackers: warm, smiling staff, a free pho breakfast, the cheapest beds in Pham Ngu Lao from $10, and a 2-minute walk to Bui Vien. The score is 8.7/10, and after 16 years in business it has proven it knows how to run a friendly, easygoing hostel.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The staff are the signature here — warm, smiling, and genuinely helpful. Check-in is quick, around 3 minutes, and Phương speaks good English and gives solid tips on where to go.
- Free pho breakfast every morning from 06:30 to 09:30: beef Phở Bò or chicken Phở Gà, plus Bánh Mì, egg coffee, Vietnamese tea, and fresh fruit, all unlimited.
- The cheapest dorm beds in Pham Ngu Lao, starting from $10 a night for an 8-bed mixed dorm — about as low as it gets in this neighborhood.
- Right in the heart of Pham Ngu Lao, just a 2-minute walk to Bui Vien Walking Street and steps from the bars, food stalls, and ATMs.
- Choice of female-only and mixed 6- or 8-bed dorms, all with air-con and under-bed lockers, and the female dorm fitted with an electronic lock.
- It is an old building, open since 2010, so it feels dated next to the newer boutiques nearby — fine if you just want a cheap, friendly bed.
- The 8-bed dorm is tight at 12 sqm, so it can feel cramped when it is full, and the bunk privacy curtains are a bit worn.
- Wi-Fi runs at 50 Mbps, slower than the newer hostels in the area, and there are only two shared bathrooms on the floor, one for men and one for women.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Book a bottom bunk — easier to get in and out of without climbing a ladder.
- Get to the free pho breakfast before 08:00 — it is served 06:30 to 09:30, but the spread starts running low once it gets busy.
- Walk 200 meters to the Bia Hoi corner near the intersection: fresh local draft beer for about $0.30 a glass, served on plastic stools from 17:00 until it sells out around 22:00.