Saphia Hotel Nha Trang

Awful staff, dirty room, entered my room when I wasn’t there and took my stuff. Don’t stay here.

I booked three nights here and was under the impression the clerk at the front desk was ok that I hadn’t paid immediately and trusted that I would. Was I ever wrong. I needed my passport for an excursion and couldn’t find it when I woke up. Tore my room and bags apart, nothing. Tore it all apart again. Nothing. I immediately emailed my consulate that I had lost it and was told via auto reply that if it was an emergency to call collect (see photos). I called the front desk to ask how to do that because I had lost my passport and the woman told me that they had come into my room the night before while I was out to dinner and took it and they were holding it for payment. They didn’t even leave a note or anything in my room to let me know, they just took it. And I know they know how to leave a note because the room next to mine has had one taped to the door since I arrived. (See photo)
They defended themselves by saying I hadn’t paid yet, which is 100% true. Each time I came through the lobby the wait at the front counter was 6 or 8 people deep with one person working there, and I was keeping the exact amount in my pocket and planned to hand it over as soon as the clerk was free.

Here’s some free advice for the hotel for next time:
1. Don’t take things from guest’s rooms, especially a passport, and especially without telling them!
2. Booking has my CC# on file in case I tried to do anything underhanded.

I would leave -100 stars for this place if I could just because of this - let me tell you, freaking out about how I was going to get a new Canadian passport within a week in Vietnam is no fun, probably worse for a guy who’s had heart issues. It also ruined the last day of my stay here. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my stuff in the room when they felt comfortable just coming in and taking what they want. Did they take anything else while they were rooting around in my room for my passport? I don’t know for sure.

This is the second half of my review that got cut off.

What would they have taken if I had my passport with me while I was out? I don’t know. So I spent most of the last day sitting in my room, almost like I was guarding my stuff, definitely feeling violated. I’m so angry at this I’m still steaming a day later, but for the record here’s the planned 6-star review I wrote the night before and was planning to leave:

First impression, I checked in and got to the ninth floor and my key card didn’t work, so I spent the first half hour (after a long day of travel) sitting on the bed watching the handyman fix it. Not ideal.
After I unpacked I went to have a shower and neither of the bathroom lights worked properly. One was out, one strobed like I was in a nightclub. They fixed both the next day. (Edit: by night 3 the strobey one was back leading me to believe it’s likely loose wiring)
There was also a stream of the smallest ants I’ve ever seen going up the wall in my bathroom, but I’m not freaked out by them so whatever. The weak wifi? That bugs me more. So does the fridge that blows warm air.
Walls are thin enough I could hear the guy snoring in the next room.
The place could also use “do not disturb” signs to hang on the door. Cleaning lady knocked me awake at 8:30 am.
So not great, but the staffers I dealt with were pleasant and helpful (edit: I’ve changed my mind on this one obvs), it just wasn’t the ideal stay for me this time around. (Edit: no kidding)


In conclusion, I would advise you don’t stay here. There are other comparable budget hotels in the area that I’m relatively sure won’t take things from your room.

Nothing, honestly it was perfect.

Upon arrival at the hotel, staff claimed they needed to be paid in cash as opposed to on a card, claiming their machine was ‘not working’. Considering it was a substantial amount for a decent stay I was not prepared to visit the ATM so many times, and after a while they decided to try the machine which suddenly worked. A ploy to avoid taking credit card payments. Another attempt to hold onto my passport (for what reason), which I politely declined. Why these strange requests?

Two of our bed pillows didn’t have protectors and had significant mould on them. When shown a photo to the staff she replied, ‘well isn’t that behind the cover?’. Disappointing level of cleanliness.

Breakfast had many options however very minimal western options. We chose this place specifically for breakfast and location, ended up having to eat out many mornings.

Last disappointment was at one stage we booked a tour with an agency and were picked up from the hotel.
Multiple staff the next day said to me that we should have gone with them for the tour instead of the external agency, wasn’t nice having this as the only interactions with us. Other than the two male staff at the front counter, the staff were uninterested unless they needed something from us. Two of the breakfast staff had earphones in whilst serving, had to repeat myself a few times if I need to ask for something.

Only a few changes needed to make this place a 10/10.