Hanoi · Vietnam
Hanoi Oldtown Nomad Hostel & Pub
Suspicious-review evidence
≈174 possibly bought · 1038 top-rated reviews scanned
Explain how it works
We compare every 5★ review's word count against the global distribution. Hostels where unusually many top-rated reviews are suspiciously short — way under the typical length — start to look like the staff (or a boost-my-listing service) is padding the score with throwaway praise.
The detector flags reviews that are both top-rated and below a length threshold, then estimates how many of them statistically shouldn't exist. For this hostel we scanned 1038 top-rated reviews and 0% were suspiciously short.
Length z-score: 12.12. A z-score measures how far this hostel's distribution of 5★ review lengths sits from the global average, in standard deviations. 0 = perfectly typical. 1–2 = slightly unusual but within normal noise. 3–5 = strongly anomalous. Anything 10+ means the pattern is so far from the global norm that it's effectively impossible to get there organically.
This is a heuristic, not a verdict — it surfaces hostels worth a second look, not proof of fraud. Read the actual reviews below and judge for yourself.
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
Free drink also for writing a review
Very good stay, easy communication and they managed to extend our stay easily. Free drink also for writing a review lol.
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Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
free beer when you leave a good review
good location, reasonable price, & clean room, as well as a free beer when you leave a good review on google :)
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Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
refund for the nights we didn't spend yet). they asked to put 10/10
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Pressure to leave a review
asked to put 10/10
we had a rat (in private room) and the staff didn't care at all (we got refund for the nights we didn't spend yet). they asked to put 10/10 (for free beer). room wasn't cleaned between two days. big plus point is the location.
Belgium FEMALE 25-30 -
Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
reviews are good because you get a free drink
The hostel doesn't look clean. I was sleeping on the 5th floor and there is no elevator. My bed was dirty. The blanket also felt dirty. The reviews are good because you get a free drink if you write a review. When I told them the bed was dirty, it seemed like they didn't care.
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Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
reviews. They give you a free drink
This hostel was a bit disappointing. Nothing terrible, but was expecting a lot more considering the reviews. They give you a free drink if you review them so that is why they are so high. The dorms are pretty crammed and there’s space in the lobby but no other common area. Overall it was a very basic hostel. However, they did have a pretty good breakfast.
Canada ALLFEMALEGROUP 18-24 -
Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
free drinks in exchange for review
!! RUN !! We stayed in a private room for 2 nights, and left in the middle of the night after an encounter with a rat.. we were intrigued by the noises and were then faced with it. On top of that, the rooms and bathroom are in a bad state and it does not seem clean. The reception did not even presented their excuses but we have been refunded for the coming nights we already booked. Be mindful of the comments, the hostel offers free drinks in exchange for reviews. The positive aspect of the hostel/hotel is its location.
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Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
10/10. this property offers you a discount
not leaving a 10/10. this property offers you a discount in exchange of a 10/10 review. Generally I would recommend staying in this hostel. the staff is friendly and helpful.
Mexico MALE 31-40 -
Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
reviews is because they hand out free drink
Only giving 3 star because the location is great and booking the Ha Giang Loop through them was easy. Everything else was a mess. The hostel was really dirty, even the “rental towels” you have to pay for came covered in stains 🤢. Lockers were broken, construction workers walked into the room at 9am, and one hour before checkout the cleaning lady started making our beds while we were still packing. Honestly feels like the only reason they have such good reviews is because they hand out free drink
Germany FEMALE 18-24 -
Reward tied to a review
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Suspiciously shortSignal trace
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Review-authenticity complaint
fake reviews
Hostel was ok given that it was still being built when I arrived. Workmen in the room still building the shower when I arrived. I feel the pictures are misleading and probably some fake reviews. If you stay in Hanoi, go to the backpackers rooftop as that is where you have breakfast and is the only place to socialise
Scotland MALE 31-40 -
Review-authenticity complaint
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Suspiciously short
有电梯很方便~住了两晚，有免费的早餐，性价比不错~
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Great
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superbra
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Nice 👍
New Zealand MALE 25-30 -
Suspiciously short
LOVED IT!!!!
Slovakia FEMALE 18-24 -
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Very good
Norway MALE 18-24 -
Suspiciously short
Lovely place
England FEMALE 18-24 -
Suspiciously short
Awesome stay
Australia MALE 18-24 -
Suspiciously short
Great staff!!
Germany FEMALE 18-24 -
Suspiciously short
Great time
England MALE 18-24 -
Suspiciously short
Good breakfast!
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Very good!
Finland FEMALE 18-24 -
Suspiciously short
Rất vui
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Suspiciously short
Great plac3!
Argentina MALE 31-40 -
Suspiciously short
Great stay!
Canada MALE 25-30 -
Suspiciously short
Good spot
Canada MALE 18-24
HostelPunk native reviews
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