Clémence M.
We left within four hours of checking in, just long enough to find another hotel. When we asked for a refund, the staff processed it straight away without questions or surprise, which says a lot. We paid another $300 AUD for a total of 3 nights elsewhere, and that hotel was beautiful, clean, and worth every cent. I wish we'd sorted Google reviews by lowest rating before booking. The negative ones were buried among lots of positive reviews that looked fake, and that would have saved us the hassle. The Sea Pearl Hotel in Cat Ba was nothing like its listing. Construction right beside it and across the road blocked the beachfront view, with cranes, dust, and constant noise. None of that had been mentioned when we booked, and the online photos and description were misleading. Inside, it smelled bad and looked old and poorly maintained. The pool was closed, and most common areas were shut, making the place feel abandoned, like a ghost hotel. Our electronic door lock barely worked, and it took five minutes to get into the room. At payment, they said something about the EFTPOS machine and that they preferred cash, which felt unprofessional for a hotel of its supposed standard. The listing also said motorbike rental was available, but reception just said “no” and sent us out to find one on the street. Avoid this place. It was a stressful stay and nothing like the photos.
