TL;DR - Quick Guide to Avoiding Hotel Scams in Vietnam

Vietnam is a fantastic destination, but hotel scams can ruin your trip. Here’s what you need to know:

• Book smart: Use trusted booking platforms (e.g. Booking.com, Agoda) or official hotel websites. Avoid paying deposits through Facebook or unfamiliar bank transfers.

• Verify your booking: Contact the hotel directly via their official site or phone number.

• Watch for red flags: Unrealistically cheap deals, vague or overly positive reviews, requests to pay outside the platform.

• At arrival: Insist taxi drivers take you to the hotel you booked. Don’t believe claims that it's full or closed without verifying.

• During your stay: Check room condition, secure your valuables, and confirm all charges in writing.

• Check-out traps: Watch for surprise charges. Ask for a clear, itemized bill.

• Reporting: Keep records. Report scams to booking platforms, local authorities, or Vietnam’s tourism hotline.

Use your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.

A Complete Guide to Avoiding Hotel Scams in Vietnam

Introduction: Vietnam’s Charm—and Its Challenges

Vietnam draws millions of visitors each year with its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities. Tourists flock to its lively streets, world-class cuisine, and heritage sites like Ha Long Bay and Hoi An. Yet, alongside this growth in tourism lies an uncomfortable truth: scams targeting travelers, especially around hotel bookings, are all too common.

While Vietnam is considered physically safe for tourists, financial scams remain a significant concern. Some are minor annoyances; others involve sophisticated fraud that can ruin a trip and cost thousands of dollars. The rise of social media and digital booking has made scams more difficult to detect. This guide aims to help travelers recognize red flags, protect themselves, and navigate Vietnam confidently.

Common Types of Hotel Scams

1. Online Booking Scams

a. Fake Listings & Misleading Ads

• Scammers create fake hotel pages—often on Facebook—or upload false listings to booking platforms. These might advertise nonexistent hotels, misrepresent basic homes as luxury apartments, or display altered photos.

b. Deposit Fraud

• Tourists are offered “discounted” rooms and asked to pay a deposit via bank transfer or PayPal. Upon arrival, the property is nonexistent or denies any reservation.

c. Platform Exploits

• Even reputable sites like Booking.com and Agoda are not immune. Scammers have hacked hotel accounts and sent messages asking users to “verify” credit cards through fake links. These phishing attempts often use correct booking info, making them seem legitimate.

d. Last-Minute Cancellations

• Some hotels cancel bookings right before arrival to dodge low-price commitments or prevent bad reviews from being posted. Others might pressure guests into direct bookings outside the platform.

2. Arrival Scams

a. Taxi Diversions

• A well-known trick: the driver says your hotel is closed or full and insists on taking you to a “better one”—usually low quality and paying the driver a commission.

b. Impersonation Hotels

• Some hotels adopt names very similar to legitimate ones. A tourist may think they’ve arrived at the right place when, in fact, they’ve been taken to a low-grade imitation.

c. Overbooking Excuses

• Hotel staff may claim the room you reserved is no longer available and push you to accept a subpar or more expensive room. Sometimes this is a tactic to upsell; other times, it’s a bait-and-switch.

3. During the Stay

a. Hidden or Inflated Charges

• You might be told the price was per person, not per night. Extra charges appear for services never used: towels, early check-in, or Wi-Fi that doesn’t work.

b. Poor Conditions

• The room is far from what was shown online—dirty, noisy, with broken amenities, and infested with pests.

c. Staff Behavior

• Staff may pressure you for tips, ignore “Do Not Disturb” signs, or even search your room. Some demand to hold your passport or a large cash deposit as “security.”

4. Check-Out Scams

a. Surprise Charges

• Upon check-out, bills may contain mysterious add-ons. Arguments are difficult, especially if you're rushing to the airport.

b. Currency Tricks

• The Vietnamese Dong (VND) has high denominations and similar-looking notes. Some staff or taxi drivers exploit confusion by swapping your 500,000 VND with a 20,000 VND note and claiming underpayment.

c. Passport Leverage

• Hotels may hold passports to pressure guests into paying inflated charges. Always try to provide a photocopy or reasonable deposit instead.

How Scammers Exploit Systems

Digital Deception

• Fake reviews, cloned websites, and stolen images build credibility for fake listings.

• Scammers use urgency (“Only one room left!”) to push fast decisions.

• Phishing messages sent via official booking chat systems are hard to detect.

Booking Platform Weaknesses

• Some platforms allow hotels to cancel without penalty, preventing negative reviews.

• Customer service is often slow to act on fraud complaints.

• Sensitive credit card data may be sent to hotels, putting your information at risk.

Warning Signs to Watch For

Before Booking:

• Extremely cheap deals compared to other hotels in the area

• Limited or overly generic reviews

• New Facebook pages or hotel listings with no website or unclear location

• Requests for payment via bank transfer or QR code outside the platform

Upon Arrival:

• Taxi drivers refusing to go to your hotel

• Staff denying your reservation despite confirmation

• Hotel appearance differs drastically from online photos

During Your Stay:

• Staff push you toward paid tours or upgrades

• Missing, broken, or downgraded amenities

• Disputes over what’s included (e.g., "breakfast not included" despite confirmation)

How to Protect Yourself

Before You Book

• Use major booking platforms or the hotel’s official website.

• Cross-check photos, reviews, and locations across Google Maps and multiple travel sites.

• If you book directly with the hotel, always ask for a written confirmation via email. Make sure the email includes your booking details, room type, and payment conditions.

• Always re-confirm your booking directly with the hotel using their official contact info.

Upon Arrival

• Use ride-hailing apps like Grab, Be, Xanh SM or trusted taxi companies (e.g., Vinasun, Mai Linh).

• Carry your hotel address in Vietnamese and English.

• Insist on visiting the hotel before accepting alternatives.

During Your Stay

• Check room condition immediately. Take photos of any damage or discrepancies.

• Lock up valuables. Use room safes or travel locks.

• Clarify what’s included in your rate (e.g., taxes, breakfast, towels).

At Check-Out

• Ask for an itemized bill. Verify charges line by line.

• Avoid paying large amounts in cash if possible. Credit cards offer protection.

• Count your change and double-check VND bills to avoid confusion.

How to Spot Fake Reviews

• Contradictory patterns: Listings with both extremely positive (5-star) and extremely negative (1-2 star) reviews should raise suspicion. This inconsistency often indicates fake positive reviews added to bury genuine criticism.

• Generic management responses: If bad reviews receive bland or robotic replies, often signed with different names ("Thanks from Emma," "Regards, David," etc.), it may suggest outsourced or AI-generated responses.

• Overly generic or vague praise: Reviews that say "Great stay!" or "Amazing service!" without any specifics are often inauthentic.

• Clustered posting dates: A burst of glowing reviews in a short period can be a sign of purchased feedback.

• Reviewer profiles: Check their history. Multiple glowing reviews in different countries within days is suspicious.

• Lack of balanced feedback: A 5-star average with no neutral or critical reviews is unrealistic. Every business gets some mixed feedback.

• Cross-platform comparison: Compare reviews on Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, and Agoda. Discrepancies between platforms can reveal manipulated scores.

• Even Google reviews can be misleading: Positive feedback can be bought or incentivized. Don’t trust ratings alone—read the content carefully and look for authentic tone and detail.

• Overly generic or vague praise: Reviews that say "Great stay!" or "Amazing service!" without details are often fake.

• Clustered posting dates: A spike of positive reviews within a short time frame can suggest paid review campaigns.

• Reviewer profiles: Click the reviewer—if they’ve posted glowing reviews for unrelated places in different countries within days, it’s suspicious.

• Lack of negative reviews: No business is perfect. A perfect 5-star rating with zero criticism can be a red flag.

• Cross-reference reviews: Check multiple platforms (e.g., Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com). Be cautious if reviews on one platform are excellent but mixed elsewhere.

• Even Google reviews can be misleading: Some hotels purchase reviews or incentivize guests to leave 5 stars without context. Treat unusually glowing feedback with skepticism.

Consider Checking TikTok and Social Media Comments

Before booking, search for the hotel or area on TikTok or Instagram. Many travelers now share their experiences via short-form video, and the comment sections often contain real, unfiltered feedback from past guests. Be cautious, though—some influencers may be paid, so focus on repeated themes in the comments rather than the video content itself. Look for:

• Multiple users mentioning inconsistent experiences

• Complaints about scams, poor conditions, or dishonest behavior

• Replies from other travelers sharing helpful alternatives

This can be especially useful when the hotel has few written reviews elsewhere or seems too good to be true.

What to Do If You're Scammed

1. Stay Calm: Take notes of what happened.

2. Collect Evidence: Save emails, screenshots, receipts, photos.

3. Report to the Booking Platform: Submit all proof. Be persistent.

4. Contact Your Bank: Initiate a chargeback if applicable.

5. Contact Local Authorities:

   • Tourist Support Hotlines:

     • Hanoi: 1800 556 896

     • Da Nang: 0236 3550 111

     • Ho Chi Minh City: 1022 ext. 8

   • VNAT Complaint Line: (0084) 24 3 942 3760

   • Tourist Police: Available in major cities

Final Thoughts: Safe Travel is Smart Travel

Vietnam is a warm, welcoming, and culturally rich country. Most visits are smooth and full of amazing experiences. But to protect yourself from the minority of bad actors, stay informed, stay alert, and trust your instincts. A little caution goes a long way.

By following this guide, you’ll be better equipped to avoid hotel scams and enjoy your trip with peace of mind.