Ha Giang
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City
Ha Long
Sapa
Mekong Delta
Da Nang
Hue
Hoi An
Ninh Binh
Da Lat
Nha Trang
Phan Thiet
Phu Quoc
Quang Binh
Quy Nhon
Vung Tau
Thai Nguyen
I just messaged my accommodation to advise them of my arrival time tomorrow and got a message back saying the apartment is no longer available.
I’ve found a couple of options I like, but they’re in district 7, and on previous visits I’ve stayed in D1.
Does anyone have a favourite place they’d recommend? I prefer small characterful places with plenty going on around, and like to wander rather than needing to get taxis everywhere.
I’m so annoyed I’m having to take the time to sort this when I’d spent ages researching and deciding months ago.
Hey ho ……..
Thanks for any input guys.
Trisha
Tiếng Việt
한국어
中文 (中国)
日本語
ไทย
Deutsch
Español
Destinations
Instagram
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Threads
Tiktok
I’ve checked into my “substitute” hotel now. It’s not as nice as my original booking looked, and the price is higher, but there’s nothing wrong with it.
I wouldn’t want anyone to think I’m a thug or anything, but it’s only a 15 minute walk to the original place, and I’d love to go and give them a piece of my mind 🤔……..………of course I won’t.
Trisha
Edited: 7:12 am, January 28, 2026
Never happened to me yet but l bet it will next time in Vietnam. I don’t book apartments usually. Just Hotels, guesthouses and what they call homestays, in Vietnam. The last homestay, l would not call it that, the owner was not on site, l only met her in order to pay.
#14, did you pay in advance? Could you cancel? Maybe they got more money from someone else.
A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush.
“Funnily enough this happened to me in 2015 in same city, when arrived only to be told it was Chinese-only hotel now.”
Wow!
Imagine reversing that little bit of ‘racism’……..
But sorry to hear of your current and recent hassles, Jay.
Just keep rolling with the punches / hiccups, l guess.
What else can you do???
Scott
Many reasons for last-minute cancellations, some genuine, many not in my opinion.
I was thinking of this thread as I arrived at my hotel in Sihanoukville (Cambodia) today at lunchtime, only to be told the property is now Chinese & they don’t accept bookings anymore :). Had to book at a nearby hotel at more than double the price.
Funnily enough this happened to me in 2015 in same city, when arrived only to be told it was Chinese-only hotel now.
Had live chat with Agoda, whilst sitting in foyer of nearby hotel using their WIFI, who said they would provide no help at all, in finding new accommodation. but they would cancel the original booking for free !!.
This trip so far in under 4 weeks, 8 bookings, 6 in Sri Lanka & 2 in Cambodia, 4 have cancelled on me last minute, leaving me to find new accommodation from fewer options & at higher prices of course, as well as wasting valuable holiday time doing hotel research. Seems far more likely to happen at apartments & single properties, rather than hotels.
Both booking.com & Agoda offer no help at all when this happens in my experience
First time it’s happened to me but it’s the first time I’ve booked an apartment in Vietnam as opposed to a hotel. It appears to be just one apartment, so I’m thinking that maybe the previous guests have asked to extend their stay and the host thinks it’s no big deal to tell me to find somewhere else. Just guessing…….
Trisha
69Bertie
Oh my goodness..our room was cancelled on arrival at a hotel on the Gold Coast..we told them 6 pm arrived 6.05 pm
.it was school holidays and a public holiday..we were there for a kids competition so everything was booked out..we had to drive home 3 hours and return the next day at 5 am..
That was Booking.com and our message from them was they’re expecting you. Never again !!
Annie
geraintw37 Maybe but do define a scam. Unfortunately it doesn’t just happen in Vietnam. I had much the same happen in London, with me being 30minutes away at 5.30pm having travelled 180miles. Take the offer (2 apartments instead of one but no view) or find another place. By taking the offer I could, at least, leave a filthy review. As someone mentioned, I too found Booking.com weren’t interested. I don’t use them anymore.
More scams?
Metro there is only one line, goes to D2. I may take it one day but the river ferry looks more useful to me.
I’ve never used buses in Vietnam. I will be trying out the new metro.
Trisha