Disappointing Hanoi. Fabulous Ho Chin Minh

Me & food4thot were very excited to go Hanoi since we have book the air tix for mths. We’ll be in Hanoi for 4 nites and 3 nites in Ho Chin Minh and last nite in Hanoi again to take the flight. But once we reached there, we have been cheated & treated badly from Day 1.

Started with the airport taxi. The information centre told us that taxi would be US$10 but when we were approached, they asked us to follow and took our bags and starting putting our bags in the MPV while we were still negotiating. Taxi man said US$12 but we insist on US$10. Since 50% of our bags are already in the MPV, I was just to lazy to create a commotion so I gave in since it doesn’t really cost much as both of us are sharing. When we reached the Old Quarters, the taxi man couldn’t really find the hotel as we later found out that it is using another name. Nevertheless we were quite relieved when we found it. Now, lets talk about the hotel and I’m dedicating a whole long paragraph to this F@#$ed-up hotel.

Thru internet booking, this hotel is known as Anh Toah Plaza Hotel. On the main entrance door, it says New Star Hotel. On the hang tag on the room keys, it is Hanoi Lotus hotel. Remember the multiple name of this hotel as you DO NOT WANT TO STAY THERE. We booked 4 consecutive nites here by the way. 2 of their staff boys took our bags to the room which was located on the 5th floor. When they reached our room, one for them turn on the fan and sat down. So we thought they need a quick rest before they leave the room. But no. They tried to asked us question which we definitely couldn’t understand cos they dun speak English. They were behaving very badly or should I say very frisky. They hug food4 thot so hard that she almost fell on the bed. Then the bloody bugger touches me on my arm. We asked them to leave and I’m not sure whether they really dun understand or they just act as if they dun know. Finally they left and we were a bit shaken by that incident and afraid to leave the room to have our dinner. Then I receive a msg from Jeffrey asking me whether I have reached Hanoi. I was surprise but delighted that he is in town as well. Din expect him to be in Hanoi since he is based in Ho Chin Minh City. He asked us whether we wanna have dinner together with his frens and I accept it without thinking twice J . Boy am I glad to see him…..my saviour…….. Dinner was good and Jeffrey sent us back to the hotel. (read more on vietnam food review food4thot).The next day, the same bloody bugger that touched me, was having his hormones high again. He touched me and winked at me while we were having breakfast. So after that, we told the staff girl that if they touch us again, we will check out. Luckily the day before, we’ve signed a tour for 2D 1N trip to Halong Bay from another tour agent (maybe that’s why). We have no intention to check out as we wanted to keep our heavier luggage in the room. But the f@#$ed-up hotel asked us to leave saying that the staff did not tell him that we are staying for 4 nites and they have guest coming in. What loads of cock & bull!. We even have our booking receipt with us. Before this, we even asked them whether should we pay first and they said that we only need to pay when we checked out. At the same time, the Halong Bay tour van arrives and is waiting for us. The hotel guy keep insisting that we should pay and that we can’t stay for free. While we argued with them that we are not even checking out yet. If you could see their face at that time, they look like they can just punch us in the face. Finally I just paid the hotel and carried our luggage along. Planning only to look for another hotel when we come back from Halong Bay.

When we reached the jetty, it was already raining very heavily. The both of us were soak and with our bags, we were actually quite pathetic.The price that we paid for the junk is suppose to come with air-cond. But we were given a fan room. Luckily it was cold that we didn’t even need to use the fan. Those that had an air-cond room will be charged extra if they use the air-cond. What bloody nonsense is this? Apart from that Halong bay sceneries were beautiful. Could have take better shots of it if it’s not for the rain.

On our way back from Halong Bay, we changed to another junk as our junk will not be going back to jetty. There we met 2 Malaysian men/ uncle and coincidentally they were looking for a place to stay too when they reached back Hanoi. Sometimes it’s comforting to know that there are other Malaysians in the group that you are traveling with. Once we were back in Hanoi, we went looking for an accommodation and found this place called Camelia Hotel III. The rooms are US$ 18/ nite and comes with buffet breakfast. I don’t know what it comes with since we didn’t take the breakfast as our flight to Ho Chin Minh were early. Maybe lots and lots of bread, butter & jam. Anyway, we were suppose to pay only US$ 16 if we are not taking breakfast. So when we checked out, we were once again disgusted that they do not hold on to their words. The room were quite clean and spacious though. There are quite a few Camelia Hotels.

We booked Camelia Hotel II for our last nite in Hanoi for US$ 10/nite. When we first saw the room, it was clean and spacious (not as spacious as Camelia III though). That’s why we booked there as they said that I will have the same room that I saw. Why isn’t’ it surprising that when we reached there, we were given another smaller room that have seen better days. They said the room is already taken. The man has the guts to tell me “Oh, it’s ok one. Its only for one nite only”. They did say that we can changed the room for me but its on the 2nd floor (the current room is on 1st floor) which we are not willing to due to our luggage. Since it is our last nite, we just leave it as it is.

We use Pacific Airlines from Hanoi to HCM. Flight was delayed for 2 ½ hrs. Is it just bad luck or is just Hanoi?

If Hanoi ever wants to improve their tourism, they need to really buck up their service.

Our stay in Ho Chin Minh was wonderful, thanks to our dear Jeffrey. He brought us around for City Tour, took us for scrumptious meals that any tourist will not get to sample. (read more on vietnam food review food4thot) and nice cafes for us “to-be-seen” and along with great ambience. He even insisted on buying us lunches & dinners. Where to find such man? (Girls if you are interested, pls send in your resumes please). And no, we didn’t eat right thru his pocket hole. We bought him as well. He brought us to a café which is located on the 9th floor of Caravell Hotel (hope I got the hotel name correct). According to Jeffrey, there is a similar one in Sheraton as well.

We stayed in Spring Hotel for US$ 18/ nite. I will definitely recommend anyone to stay there. They are very professional and staff are very friendly. Room is clean and tidy. Definitely worth every dollar.


Signed up for 2 tours, Chu Chi Tunnel (pronounced as Gou Gei Tunnel) & Mekong Delta river tour. It was surprisingly cheap for tours in HCM being US$ 5 for former & US$ 7 for latter, compared to a cacat City Tour in Hanoi. It cost us US$ 15!!!!! What did I tell you.
HCM has service with a smile but not in Hanoi. Its service with a horse face.

I will definitely go back to HCM again for food, cafés, Vietnamese coffee & not to be missed, bagutte