Hoa Hong Hotel

The room was clean, and there are coffee shops, food places, massage shops, and other stores nearby. The area has a local feel, though it's about a 30-minute car ride to central HCMC. Still, I had a horrible stay and wouldn't book here again. I paid $24.50NZD for a deluxe room that should have cost $15 maximum. The hotel is shabby and rundown, and Agoda doesn't seem concerned about the false advertising. The listing promised free bottled water, tea and coffee, mosquito nets, and reliable internet, but none of those were provided. The old bed's springs are giving out, and the sheets are thin nylon. A nearby church rings bells at 4am and 5am, then broadcasts its service through a microphone all day. Locals talk loudly outside the hotel even at 1am, and with no soundproofing I could hear guests moving and talking. The spa bath didn't work, though I only wanted a larger room. The internet kept cutting out and restarting while I watched YouTube. The TV had a black circle mark on the screen and a crack down the middle.

Great.

The air conditioning worked, the bed was comfortable, and the staff were pleasant and understanding. But the room was nothing like the photos and wasn't very clean. The bathroom smelled awful, probably from the sewers. I came away with mixed feelings, an average experience.

My first room was clean, convenient, and very good. After I decided to extend my stay, staff knocked and I told them I was staying longer, but they said nothing. Later they came back and said the room was booked for someone else who was checking in, then offered to move me. They should have told me earlier to avoid putting guests in this position. The replacement room was small and old, with no refrigerator, wardrobe, clothes rack, or coat hooks. It was really frustrating. I hope the staff review their procedures.