Yes! The Myanmar trip that I have been looking forward to has finally begun!
First things first, I need to find a place to stay in Yangon. There was nothing interesting on Airbnb so I decided to stay in a hostel instead. I searched on Agoda, one of my go-to website for accommodation bookings.
I chose HOOD Hostel for its mission to empower Yangon youths. HOOD Hostel provides free vocational training and first-hand experience for Yangon youths in the hospitality industry. Each stay funds and supports the program, providing free education to the local youths.
Housed in a refurbished heritage building, HOOD Hostel is a newcomer in the hospitality industry. In fact, HOOD Hostel only started operations 5 months ago. Some of the rooms such as Crafthood and Tablehood are not furnished yet.
HOOD Hostel is fully-furnished in a black and white color scheme which gives it a minimalistic feel.
The dormitories can be accessed via a metal gate and a flight of stairs to the right of the lobby. Female dormitories are on the first floor and male dormitories are on the second floor. The third floor is an open-air rooftop where breakfast is served.
Every level has a seating area with rattan chairs and cushions for socializing.
The dormitories have white walls and wooden double-decker beds. Each bed is fitted with a clean white bedsheet and comes with a white blanket and towel.
Shower rooms and toilet cubicles are housed in a separate room. The shower and toilets are clean but I don’t like the basin which is dark gray in color. It gives me a dirty feeling, especially when there are rust marks too. There are only two two shower cubicles to service 3 dormitories, which may not be enough as more people stay here.
Breakfast is served everyday from 7-9am at the rooftop on third floor. It typically consists of a glass of orange juice, two slices of toasted bread with a separate dish of butter and jam, a fried egg and a local dessert. It is a simple and delicious breakfast to start your day.
Located on 36th street, HOOD Hostel offers a glimpse into how Yangon people live. It is 10-minute away from Sule Pagoda and Yangon Central railway station. It is a little far from Chinatown but still walkable, around 20-30 minutes.
HOOD Hostel is run by Yangon youths and they try their best to make your stay as memorable as possible. They allowed me to leave my luggage with them after check-out. They even allowed me to borrow their towel and use the shower facilities.
HOOD Hostel
Address: 225 and 227 36th Street Upper Block, Myanmar
Telephone: +95 1377318”