The Common Room Project in Ho Chi Minh City – Kick-starting the memorable Vietnam Adventure

Ho Chi Minh City; a city with more than 10 million motor bikes and the vibrant economic driver of the country. In all the chaos and the size it comes with, The Common Room Project is your small oasis.

The infobox on The Common Room Project ⭐

This is our review of The Common Room Project.

From the moment we heard about this accommodation, we were excited about it. It all started with a video and its continuity with lasting memories and friendships.

We included the video as well.

We also wrote a huge guide to the best hostels in Ho Chi Minh City.

Over there we compare all the great ones. In this guide, you will see why The Common Room Project is our #1 choice for hostels in Saigon!

We are Hostelgeeks, your independent shortcut to the world’s best hostels, the 5 Star Hostels.

We traveled to Ho Chi Minh City to check out The Common Room Project for you.

Read: 24 cool things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

And we did even more. We collected the best hostels around Vietnam and South East Asia.

Read: 24 Best Things to do in Vietnam

Before we start, pack smart…

Remember to pack accordingly for staying in a hostel – yet, do not overpack.

Here’s our full packing list, including Noise-Cancelling ear plugs and your padlocks.

The Common Room Project in a review

The Common Room Project, or TCRP for short, is located in a small side street.

It is perfect to have a relaxing good night sleep, away from the noise and traffic of the busy streets of Saigon.

The entrance is surrounded by healthy, green plants.

One glimpse is enough to realize you’ve arrived at a hip, stylish place.

Read: 27 Best Things to do in Vietnam

The floor tiles in the entrance area circle around the vintage garden table and even from the entrance you can see through the entire ground floor.

The open space concept unites reception with a stylish lounge and sofa, bold community table and the open kitchen at the end.

Let’s kick off our shoes and start walking around The Common Room Project.

There must be a reason for this curious name? And did someone say roof-top terrace?

Let’s find out in this detailed review the Common Room Project.

1. Love Child

Locally managed and started from scratch, the Common Room is a love-child.

As many stories with unique quality hostels begin, the owner loved to travel. He enjoyed the social lifestyle of a hostel and the quality of boutique-style hotels.

How about combining them?

Nowadays, that’s simple.

The result is fantastic.

The hostel teamed up with local tour providers.

You can get a pick-up transport to visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, north of Saigon.

Are these worth it to visit? That is a big yes!

Read our guide to best things to do in Saigon.

You will find many more tour offers around the hostel such as motorbike tours and tours to the Mekong Delta.

The black board tells you the latest news and rumors – worth keeping an eye on!

When on the staircase, look up!

There is one curious thing to do inside TCRP: When on the staircase, look up.

You will see the fish from below, swimming in their tank on the roof-top terrace.

They are quite big.

One of the fishes is a Crocodile fish. So it‘s better that you don’t try to cuddle it.

But no worries, it’s not dangerous.

2. Full of Style: The Design

Seriously, it really takes one quick glimpse.

The Common Room Project is a design-conscious hostel.

The house feels like a home, an oasis. Comfy sofas decorate the corners of the lounge and natural elements like wood and plants play a major part in the interior.

How about we show you some amazing shots?

We walk up the staircase to have a look for the rooms. Every floor has a private room on the left and a shared one on the right hand side. The choice is not easy, that’s for sure.

On your way up you walk passed graffiti and vintage paintings of Vietnam and old Ho Chi Minh City.

The private rooms on the left-hand side come in incredible quality, with fresh flowers.

The rooms are spacious and the mattresses are dangerously comfortable, you may wanna spend too much time here.

The glass wall in the bathroom is another highlight; another luxury touch. One of the rooms even features a cute, wooden desk.

So, what about the dorms, you’re wondering?

The dorms are expectedly stylish.

There are two basic types of dorms to choose from. The bunk-bed style room comes with black, iron bunk beds.

The, let’s call it single-bed dorm, has only single-beds and is separated into two levels.

You can walk up the wide ladder. Let us show you how this looks.

Read: Hostel room types, what are the differences?

3. Unique? A video is the answer

There are many things to point out making TCRP the #1 hostel in town.

Have you ever stayed at a hostel you just enjoy from the first until the last moment?

Well, it’s likely when staying at the 5 Star Hostels.

This love child of hostel combines a community feeling with stylish, comfortable facilities in high quality.

What else do you need?!

But, what is the best way to express what The Common Room is all about?

The answer is this video:

Here you can find 22 more videos of the best hostels in the world.

4. Community First

The Common Room is all about being a community.

You just saw it in the video.

It starts when you have to take off your shoes before entering. This simple gesture gives you the feeling of entering a home rather than paid accommodation.

Another big plus is the long, wooden community table.

A community table?

This is the magic facility so many social hostels have in common, for instance:

• Ani&Haakien Hostel in Rotterdam has one
• the Ecomama Amsterdam

There are two major hot spots to mingle at TCRP.

The big common area on the ground floor with its community table, board games, and the roof top terrace equipped with a bar.

Especially the ground floor is the place to hang out to meet and greet. You have to pass by this area to get to your rooms.

So it is inevitable to give-and-get a quick hi.

The community dinner is something you should never skip.

Keep an eye on the black board, because the team organizes the dinner when enough people are interested and around.

The food is tasty and they even serve local specialties like rice wine.

Vegetarian? Let the team know beforehand.

They’ll plan accordingly.

Last but not least, the guests and the team love to hang out and go out. There are special nights-out where the hostel unite the guests to go out for a drink.

5. Give-and-get a quick hi

We already mentioned the staff.

We always love to underline the importance of great people running the place.

It makes and always will make a major difference in the overall experience.

The staff are there to help you, to give you on-hand tips and recommendations in the city.

Whether you want to know where to eat in the area or how to get around; Laura and her team really know the city.

They give you their best insider tips for Saigon.

This is how we ended up in the coolest market in Ho Chi Minh City.

Curious?

Have a look at Vuon Chuoi Market.

Go there before 10am and try some local food there. An absolute hidden gem!

Saigon vs. Ho Chi Minh City?

For the traveler who has not been here, this might be quite confusing.

What is the name of the city: Ho Chi Minh or Saigon?

You will most likely hear both names during your stay in Vietnam. But no worries, it is very simple:

Saigon and Ho Chi Minh City are the same city!

Since 1976 the official name is Ho Chi Minh City. Yet, it is commonly known as Saigon. Even the airport code is SGN (Saigon).

Additionally, HCMC is the written version of the city. Once you type it 10 times, you will understand. Read more on that matter on Wikipedia.

Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)

We get it, Ho Chi Minh City can be overwhelming.

Especially for those who may temporary suffer jet lag.

With more than 10 million motorbikes and a minimum humidity tax of 60%, you might feel it difficult to go out of your hostel. But, we recommend you to go and explore the city and the surroundings.

We list here things to do in Ho Chi Minh so you can get inspired.

But think about this: Ho Chi Minh City has many hidden places that still need to be discovered by travelers (and locals). A building that looks like a simple working place can hide the best speakeasy in the city.

Keep reading to discover it. This is our list on things to do in Ho Chi Minh City:

1. Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market is the most popular market. There you will find everything you want to buy: shoes, clothes, backpacks, Vietnamese Coffee, rice…

Remember to bargain any price, even if you are happy with the price, it is part of the game.

2. Local Market: Cho Vuon Chuoi

A local market that Laura, from The Common Room Project team, recommended us. Here, you can see the real Vietnam.

Food, clothes, and bustle daily life, mixed with, of course, motorbikes. Pay attention, the motorbikes won’t stop and the streets are narrow.

3. Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

Housed in a traditional building, the Museum of traditional Vietnamese Medicine offers an in-deep look to the Vietnamese Medicine.

Vietnamese Medicine is heavily influenced by Chinese philosophy.

4. Food, Vietnamese food

We must admit, we love Vietnamese food!

In Ho Chi Minh, you can find food everywhere: street food Stalls, restaurants, Banh Mi stalls, markets, vegetarian restaurants (Com Chay), cafés…

If you don’t want to miss any local specialty, we recommend you to join a Saigon street food tour. Have a look at this street food tour with motorbike – PURE FUN!

We are sure you will gain weight during your Vietnam trip. Enjoy your meal!

5. Refresh at a swimming pool

With the humidity in the city, a swimming pool sounds so refreshing!

Well, some Hotels have a swimming pool, and it is not necessary to sleep on the hotels to use the swimming pool.

Normally, there is an entrance fee, so make sure you ask in advance what does this fee include to avoid any surprise.

Silverland Yen Hotel

Just a 6-minute walk to Ben Thanh Market, Silverland Yen Hotel features an infinity swimming Pool and Sauna.

Intercontinental Asiana Saigon

Located in District 1, Intercontinental Asiana Saigon is a luxurious accommodation with leisure facilities, including a swimming pool.

Good to know: expect a high fee to be able to use the swimming pool.

6. Chinatown

Located in District 5, China town area in Ho Chi Minh City is quite interesting to see. You will find many markets, shops, temples, and pagodas.

Good to know: If you are in Ho Chi Minh during the Chinese New Year, Chinatown is a must.

7. Skybar

Ho Chi Minh City rooftop bar’s are a must while you are in the city. Enjoy the views from one of the Skybars the city has to offer with a drink on your hand.

• Chill: this was our favorite, as you can still see the traffic from the rooftop bar. We recommend going for sunset and see how the colors in the city change. After 12, it turns to a dancing club.
• Glow: offering drinks in in a beach club atmosphere, this Skybar attracts well-dressed expats and locals looking to dance.
• EON Heli Bar: Located in the Bixteco Financial Tower, it is the highest Skybar in Ho Chi Minh city.
• The View Rooftop bar: located in the backpacker’s street, Bui Vien Street. This rooftop bar is located in the 9th floor of Duc Vuong Hotel. It is known for being one of the cheapest skybar in the city.

8. Ho Chi Minh State Garden

One of the main streets where many venues are held. This brings us to…

9. Nguyen Hue Boulevard

Along this boulevard, there are some colour fountains, as well as many shops, restaurants and cafés. If there is an event in the city, the most probable is that will happen here.

We recommend going to 42, Nguyen Hue Boulevard, pick a restaurant or café in the upper floors with street view, and sit with a drink. Take your time to admire the fountains, the people walking around, and the vendors who play hide and seek with the policemen.

10. Cinema Time

Yes movie lovers, it is possible to watch a movie in English in the city!

And the cinema has air conditioning, a plus to consider in this warm city.

Actually, bring warm clothes because it is going to be cold inside.

11. Saigon Opera House

The Saigon Opera House is located in a French Colonial building in the heart of Saigon.

Many people say, this is where east meets west. You can simply visit it.

12. Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the few remaining strongholds of Catholicism in Vietnam.

Vietnam being a largely Buddhist country, this Cathedral is interesting for many foreigners. It can only be seen from the outside.

13. Saigon Central Post Office

Located in the heart of HCMC, this building fascinates many visitors. You can see a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and French influences.

It is one of the oldest buildings in the city.

14. Vietnamese Coffee

If you are a Coffee lover, Vietnam will be your paradise. Even if you are not, you will love Vietnamese coffee!

Matt loves coffee, so during our travels we do always find design Cafés with tasty coffee.  To find these nice Cafés can be tricky, as many places are hidden in buildings which do look like as an office.

Hereby our favorite coffee places:

• Mocking Bird
• Things Café
• La Rotonda Café
• House Number 7

We are sure the city has many, many more. Feel free to add your favorite on the comments below.

15. Saigon Botanical Gardens

Near the history museum, the Botanical Gardens are the place to stroll with giant tropical trees. there is also a zoo, but it is not in good conditions.

 16. Speakeasy

We are sure, there are many speakeasy in Ho Chi Minh City, but we do have a favorite.
Hidden on a residential block, you can find an unique space which offers sophisticated and tasty cocktails, great design, and live music.

Snuffbox aims to offer chilled vibes and high-quality drinks. And it certainly does.

17. Party time!

For those looking for party, HCMC won’t let you down. There are many bars and discos around the city.

Go to a skybar like Chill or party like a Local, meaning… KARAOKE!

18. Jade Emperor Pagoda

Built in the 20th Century by a community of Cantonese, Jade Emperor Pagoda is one of the 5 most important pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City.

19. Live Music

In Ho Chi Minh City, you will find many live music events.

Whatever your taste is, you will find it, we are sure of that. Our recommendation?

Go to Inidka, known as the House of curiosity. It is a place to chill, work, create, eat, and drink. The vibes are simply amazing.

You can check their events in Indika Facebook site.

20. Backpacker’s Street

Just a s many other big cities, like Bangkok, many things happen around the Backpacker street.

In Ho Chi Minh, the backpacker street is Bui Vien Street.

If you are curious, go and see. Personally, we found it totally overrated and busy, very busy.

21. Pink Cathedral

Known as Lady Pink for many people, Tan Dinh Church is a church built during the french colonial period.

It is the second largest church in Ho Chi Minh City, after  Saigon Notre Dame Basilica.

22. War Remnants Museum

The most visited museum in town and one of the most famous war museums worldwide.

The war remnants museum contains exhibitions from the war period.

Bear in mind, the War Museum do close from 12 to 13:30. If you happen to be in the area, there are restaurants and cafés.

23. Cu Chi tunnels

We already mentioned it: you should visit the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Having a guide, will help you get many details and facts about the tunnels. You can book in advance a Cu Chi Tunnels tour here.

24. A Motorbike ride

We could not finish this list of things to do without a Motorbike ride.

Traffic is crazy, and it can be fun to experience!

Yet can it also be scary.

With more than 8 million bikes, the fastest way to move around the city is with Motorbike-taxis, called Xe-Om.

We would recommend you to take a deep breath and give it a try. Think about it: how many time would you be able to do ride along HCMC? And these guys certainly have the experience to ride in such a crazy city.

But how to get a taxi without getting ripped off? Here our trick, which is also valid for ordering car taxis.

Get the app called Grab on your cell phone and ask for a Motorbike Grab to get a ride.

The app is free.

With Grab, you do not have to discuss starting and finishing point, as you will mark it on the map. Neither the price, they indicate an approximate price, so you will know beforehand how much your ride will cost.

You can avoid district 1 if you feel overwhelmed by the city traffic. But we encourage you, a motor ride is a real experience!

Read: our best travel apps we use

More you need to know about Vietnam

We wrote up more articles during our 3 months trip in Vietnam.

On our journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, we have experienced so many wonderful things.

For a starter, read all travel tips and 27 Best Things to do in Vietnam

Our travel tips Vietnam here:

• 3 best hostels in Ho Chi Minh City
• 24 BEST Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City/ Saigon (including understanding the cities history and name)
• a list of 41 cool things to do in Hanoi
• a guide to Sa Pa Vietnam – how to get there and have a great time with the locals villagers
• last but not least, a guide how to find coffee shops in Da Nang