Nha Trang Travel Forum

Hi!
I'm wanting to book a deluxe double room at the Vinpearl resort in Nha Trang - i've been talking with someone there through an email provided on the website, and they tell me that to reserve the room I want, I need to photocopy both sides of my credit card, and fax this with a filled out form to the address (they also mentioned that they wanted me to a new email address - info@vinpearlland.com, instead of the one originally provided - reservation@vinpearlresort.com). It all feels a bit weird to be honest. Does anyone have any experience with this place, booking a room in advance, paying on arrival etc.? is it possible to turn up (late March, early April), and get a room without having pre-booked?
Many many thanks...

Having to give a credit card number is usual these days as they have a lot of no-shows and have the right to charge for a night,s accommodation.. However don,t give the number on the back , that is a security code and would allow anyone receiving the details to use your credit card. Perhaps ring your Bank and ask what happens in the case of fraudulent use, I was not comfortable doing this either but was assured i only have to pay the first $50 if someone else used my card , I,m in Australia.

mmm, interesting. Thanks for the advice - I'm actually just new to credit cards (was very slow getting one). They actually just wrote to me again, a different person, with a different, more legitimate request to just fill out a form to reserve the nights, no credit card needed.

We have stayed at the vin pearl resort 3 times now. You will pay alot more money if you book through the resort or through the innernet. The best rate is through a local viet. travel compnay. The rates now for a garden view can be had for aprox. $105 to $115USD Pool/ocean view is about $20 more. You will really love the Vin Pearl. Its worth every penny! I know where you are coming from. I did the same thing comparing apples with apples and oranges with oranges ect. The same service were many $'s apart. My wife and I have now been back to vietnam 4 times in the last 3.5 years. I was a soldier there in 1970 and heard Vietnam was now a great place to visit. It is! We are from Seattle,Wa.The 2nd trip we brought our 24 year old son and have been back for an engagement party and just 2 months ago for his wedding. We have traveled up and down vietnam and have used 2 different local viet travel companies. One in Saigon and the other one is located in Nha Trang. They give great prices and are very honorable. We always compare and they are always lower with the same service ect. We pay once we are there and in return they give us the in country flight tickets,hotel vouchers and receits ect. If you want more info. you can e-mail me at kennbaker@msn.com Either way...have a great time! I am going back to vietnam in April for a week to check on a partnership I have now with a coffee/gift shop in Nha Trang

ok 3 part answer from me
1. they are very keen to get the crc number since it gives them the control and you cant do them over. Lets face it say $200 is months pay and if the boss does his dough you can bet he takes it out on the poor guy who signed it up. You'd be suprised just haow many people dont pay / show or part pay. _ Usually they (VN) are very honest but??? I've done it with TNK travel and they honoured the deal but I was very nervous until they did.
2. Booking through a VN agent can save you a packet and they know who's doing what in their own turf. So they are good value over direct access.
3. My usual line is give hientonkin from Tonkin travel an email and see if she can help. hey will wait and see you in hanoi to do the credit card thing, and know their stuff, so talk to them well before you leave
4. (the extra bit) - enjoy the trip and add to your smiles
Don

Hi Jon, giving photocopies of your credit card is not a good idea!! A better option is to do what we have done and book your hotel room through asiarooms.com. They have really great prices and we have used them for our entire trip here in Vietnam so far and everything has gone really well. We are on our way to Vinpearl tomorrow and really looking forward to it. This site is very secure and they reply to any queries in minutes!! Good luck, Amy.

I frequently use asiarooms for booking hotel rooms, safe and response is very fast.
But for my travels to Vietnam, (book 2 times now) Ive compared the prices, the one that is reliable and also offer cheaper price than asiarooms is a local internet site. www.hotels-in-vietnam.com. It was recommended by an expat friend based in Vietnam, and its indeed good.
Its secure booking too, and best is you pay direct to the hotel, cash or cards, but the rate is lower than published rate @ hotel it self. They need your credit card details only upon booking as guarantee for no show.

Talk to your credit card company and ask for a disposable number.Some cards will issue you a credit card number that is only good for 1 transaction-but still from your account.Impossible to have someone ring up extra charges.I found the Vietnamese to be by and large honest people-but better safe than sorry

jon I have had to do the same.Before I did I got them to send me contacts of people who had dealt with them in the past from australia,as this is where I am.I then emailed them to check the travel agent out.In my case all was well, or so they said.So I sent my credit card details.As I'm not travelling till early april I don't know wether it has worked.I'm also staying at the vinpearl and went through a vietnam travel agent as they were so cheap $125/night USD ocean view deluxe room.I beleive you can book when you turn up but the sofitel standard rate is alot more then what agents can offer.They are processing my booking now and when they email me saying it is booked i will be ringing the resort aswell to check my room is booked.Not much help but if it fails you won't be the only one who has done it.