OYO 237 Hao Tin Hotel

Our reservation was cancelled just one day before we were due to arrive, leaving us stranded. The hotel then refused to cancel the Booking.com reservation themselves and instead insisted that we cancel it, even though it was non-refundable, so they could charge us a cancellation fee. Handling the cancellation this way put the burden on us and was completely unacceptable. The communication and customer service were deeply frustrating and disappointing. I strongly recommend avoiding this hotel unless its policies and service improve seriously.

I stayed in room 502, which had a window but no balcony, right in the middle of Saigon. The location is great, with a 7-11 and other convenience shops nearby. Staff were really nice and helpful, and I didn't hear street noise. The window looked out nicely over the square. The bed was comfy, the shower had hot water, and the room had a big smart TV that let me log into Netflix, plus a working fridge and kettle. The air conditioning and fridge could keep running when I left, so I could return to a cool room and keep ice cream in the fridge. There were blackout curtains and a good spot to work on my laptop. The washroom was high quality with lots of room to hang things, though the toilet area was a bit cramped. Staff English was okay, but communication was sometimes difficult.

I paid 650,000 dong a night, but the room had an opaque glass front door that let light in whenever people switched on lights outside, making a good night's sleep difficult. Since the room was above reception, I could hear people coming and going as well as a timed beeping system. The staff also cooked in the reception area, and the smell reached my room. There are no amenities, and I found the staff generally unhelpful and unfriendly. I would avoid the place.

The administrator, Alice, was very helpful throughout my trip. The room I stayed in was small but clean, and the air conditioning made a big difference in Saigon's heat. The hotel is in an excellent spot if you want to stay in district 1.