Old Quarter Hotels

Jaitch wrote:

Many budget Ha Noi hotels are out and out crooks. They could teach the most corrupt person you know lessons!

Do not believe any hotel locator web sites; pay cash (and get receipt). Some hotels even have several names (but almost identical addresses).

One reasonably reliable on-line resource for hotel reputations is TripAdvisor (just don't buy airline tickets from them). At least they acknowledge they get spammed and actually do something about it.

The company I work for actually does VN hotel surveys, for the whole country, and Ha Noi is the only place we have two people actually check in together because of the problems.

Standard, 1 and 2 star hotels are the problem. Always check the room you are actually renting BEFORE handing over your passport (some hotels hold your passport as ransom).

Most bottom feeder hotels are in the tour sales business NEVER buy tours from them or even say you will think about it. Most hotels cannot legally sell travel products, but since when has that bothered Hanoians?

Avoid, under all circumstances, the Planet whatever hotel (they change the name).

Make a photocop(y)(ies) of your passport data page (the one with your mugshot) and your visa. Give those to the receptionist and show your passport. If they want to keep your passport, say you need it to get a China visa. If they say they need it for police it is a lie (in Ha Noi) - they are wanting to hold your passport for ransom.

The only place you have to hand over your passport is in Lao Cai Province. (Stupid Peoples Committee chairman)

If they still demand your passport, after you have inspected the room, either pay them cash (and get a receipt) or get another hotel.

Taxis: Only use named taxi's such as Deluxe, Mai Linh or even Vinasun.

1. Never ride a taxi where the meter is not mounted on the dash board!;
2. Before setting off for a cab ride, ask your hotel how much it should cost. I have a note where a taxi driver asked for over VND2,000,000 for a VND30,000 trip to an embassy.
3. Always take the taxi plate number AND the taxi company number;

Rail Travel:
For best choice and best prices (to SaPa) it is best to buy rail tickets in person.

'Travel  Agents' (most are illegal) by up quantities of Lao Cai tickets 'on spec(ulation)' expecting to sell them a premium (profit) Would be Travellers go to the station and the woman at the Foreign ticket window might say: "Sorry, no tickets" and then suggest you contact an agency (who pays her bribe money).

If you go to buy your rail ticket 2/3 days ahead of travel, they usually have tickets at legal prices at the station..

Usually they will only sell you a singe ticket to Lao Cai (the stop for SaPa) as there have been many cancellations in the past. Now you can simply buy the return portion in SaPa and 99% of the time you get the date you want.

If you are going to Ha long, buy your rail ticket after you have bought your Ha Long Bay cruise.

Note: Lao Cai trains leave at around 22.00-23.00 from Platform 10/11 which is on the far side of the station. Use the glass doors in the booking hall to (carefully) cross over to the platform. You ar crossing rail lines and trains don't stop quickly.

Food at the station is very expensive (even the vendors) so buy yours early at the supermarket.

Trains return to Ha Noi around 03.20/04.00H in the morning. If you haven't made arrangements with your hotel to return at that time, your may be charged a penalty for opening the door early!

If you thinkI exaggerate about 'travel agents' consider the name Sinh Travel. There were over 56 Sinh Travel in Ha Noi and ALL are frauds, fakes, conn artists.

The original Mr. Sinh, of HCMC, is now known as SINH TOURIST (legally protected and copyrighted). He knows his business, He is honest. (I have no connection with him) More importantly, he has paid his $15,000 bond to VNAT.

Ha Noi is simply a tourists nightmare. Which is why my colleagues travel in pairs and we carry small bottles of chili oil as a defensive weapon!

Excellent post.
Unfortunately you're going to put TripAdvisor,Lonley Planet,Viator,Frommers,Agoda and Hotels.com, out of business.
I'm surprised posters are unaware of these websites.
Before the Internets,it was much harder to glean information about a destination.Now it's too easy,just 10-15 minutes research on any of the above sites and if one is very cautious,reading the online newspapers for current situations.