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Although many hotels in Hanoi are helpful and
trustworthy, there are still some scam artists around. Touts will try to lure
you into a hotel. If you decide to go, be sure to have them pay the transport,
and don't hesitate to leave if you do not like the place. Also, do not believe
anybody other than the front desk clerk if they tell you that a certain hotel is
"full". They'd rather take you to a place that pays them a commission. Any hotel
will be keen to have you book a Halong Bay trip through them, but wait a day to
judge the quality of service you're receiving there - that'll give you some idea
of what kind of travel agency they intend to refer you to.
Be aware that unscrupulous hotels will promise deals that are poorly explained
until check-out - for example, "daily free water and fruit" that is only free on
the first day. In the Old Quarter, Thien Tan Hotel, Omega Hotel, Old Street
Hotel and Ocean Star Hotel indulge in this scam, so avoid them. (Update December
2010 - The Ocean Star has been renamed the Hanoi Phoenix and now seems to have
stopped operating this scam!) If you've booked into a rotten hotel and you're
planning to leave, don't be shy about taking photos of the minibar right before
you leave, lest a few bottles go missing while the staff are "checking" your
room. Also, ask explicitly whether tax is included in your room rate. Better
hotels will include the tax, but scam-havens like the Old Street Hotel see it as
an opportunity to squeeze an extra dollar or two out of you.
You might return late at night to your hotel room to find that all your
belongings have been cleared out and you will be accused for not having called
during the day. They will then make you believe that there was something wrong
with the plumbing in your room, that they were fully booked and you have to
change to another hotel which is, of course, much more expensive. There are some
hotels that will tell you their room is facing an electricity or water leaking
problem and arrange you to stay at a much cheaper, maybe lousy hotel on the 1st
day.
With the overwhelming amount of motorbike traffic and the common rule to honk a
few times before even considering the brakes, it is wise to check your hotel
room's location before taking it. Having a room on the street side means being
exposed to the honking which doesn't end till 1AM and starts again around 5AM.
If you go more upmarket, chances are there will be sound-proof glass, but it is
still wise to check first.
