Friday Hotel

I had a confirmed reservation at Friday Premium Hotel through Booking.com, but on arrival the hotel said it had no record of it. Booking.com resent the confirmation, which clearly showed the booking was valid, yet the problem remained. I was also surprised to learn that they accepted cash only, with no card payments, something the booking process hadn't mentioned. Given the lack of reliability, transparency, and professionalism I experienced, I don't understand the high rating on Booking.com. If you're considering staying here, I strongly suggest contacting the hotel in advance to confirm both your reservation and how you can pay. Don't rely only on what the booking platform says.

The platform photos and ratings seem greatly inflated. Once you arrive, the place doesn't look like the visuals or live up to the ratings, and many other travelers describe the same thing in their reviews. The establishment claims to have several stars, but in my view it falls far short of international standards, especially European ones. A hotel shouldn't claim four stars with this level of service or staff who, according to their own feedback, openly disrespect guests and even partner platforms. The check-in hours are unusually late, from 10 p.m. to midnight. It looks like a way to advertise low prices, then charge extra if you want to arrive earlier. They also ask for a 2,000,000 VND deposit and often try to collect payment directly at the property to avoid fees from platforms like Agoda or Booking.com, which doesn't feel transparent. In my experience, the welcome was the opposite of the warm, professional service common in Asia. There was no real welcome, and even basic exchanges felt unpleasant and disrespectful. Avoid it if you're looking for professional hotel service and clear, respectful communication.

When I arrived, the staff said an earlier check-in at 14:00 would cost an extra 1,000,000 VND. The app showed 22:00 in small print. Reviews had already made me aware that similar incidents had happened before, so I cancelled by 14:00, while I could still do so for free. Everyone should be careful.

The room itself was fine: bright, clean, quiet, and equipped with amenities. The issue was the check-in time and extra charge. I arrived around 5:30-6 pm, and the clerk told me check-in wasn't until 10 pm. I checked my agreement, and it did say 10 pm. I may have noticed that and ignored it, since it's unusual. The clerk asked for a larger payment to let me check in then. I had very little Vietnamese Dong with me, so I had to find the nearest ATM and withdraw cash first. I'd booked one night through Agoda for the day I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, mainly because the hotel was close to my bus meeting point the next day, and the price was hard to pass up. Reviews suggest others have run into this too. I partly blame myself for not reading the agreement carefully, or for noticing the detail and ignoring it. If you're thinking of booking, read the check-in time closely.