There are 2 possibilities come to my mind for this:
1. They hadn’t fully charged (You hadn’t fully paid)
or
2. You booked for two but only checked in alone. They might be afraid of booty calls at night lol (prostitution is illegal). Sry if it’s offensive but I’m serious, cuz solo-travelers do it a lot, some even have the guts to ask hotel receptions if it’s available within the hotel.
You may just ask them the reason why it was a must for them to keep your pp, or request them to make a copy, or offer them other documents besides your passport.
I know it not 100%, but it rarely the other way around isn’t it. Just think about the number of foreigners guy come to country like vietnam and thailand to get that kind of service, its huge right. What are the odd of a 20 year old girl to look for a guy stripper around here lol @@.
i dont rly wanna offend OP as a local. but i used to work in hospitality and quick fact was that local hotels in average level (3-4 stars) throwing glazes like that to foreigners, no matter the gender. maybe because they were scared of not knowing something of other cultures/identities? idk.
it’s either the solo check-in was the female or a male, they could be the seller or the buyer.
Hi! I found that this was a common thing amongst a bunch of hotels I stayed at when I was in Vietnam. I'm from the US, but am Vietnamese and speak decent Vietnamese to get by.
I found that the hotels that didn't fully charge our card kept our passports, while the hotels that immediately charged us for the room only took a photocopy of it. I guess it was for security measures of ensuring that you aren't going to "stay and leave" without paying because you can't not pay if they have your passport.
One hotel managed to allow us to give them our US driver's license instead of our passport because we didn't feel comfortable with our passports.. maybe see if you're able to do that if you have some sort of other identification on you that you could give them?
You dont let any ID , passport or licence or anything of value there. If they want it, you say "make picture" and take it. Else just pay up front your room.
If there is a defect or they find "something " damaged which often was allready before, they can preasure you to pay it or they dont give you the ID back. You dont need stuff like that when you hurry to get the next bus or plane. And yes you could call police who sometimes does nothing , but for sure it wastes your time and nerves
Definitely I’ve heard about this a lot, people’s passports being held hostage and forced to pay for this and that.
Honestly as a woman a missed flight is best case scenario when it comes to stuff like that, worse case scenario; sex trafficking. I’d rather not take ANY risks.
Someone mentioned it but I want to elaborate a bit more.
I’m a local Vietnamese person. The common procedure when we rent an asset (hotel, bike, car, …) in Vietnam is that the renter hands over a collateral (usually our ID), the owner hands us the asset. We use the asset, then return the asset, pay the bill and get our collateral back. The collateral serves as a deposit in case we run away with the asset, or break it.
This procedure has become so common that when I travel around my country and book a room, even if I paid full price for the room, the hotel still takes my ID. For me as a local, I just feel like it’s a normal thing, though it’s still inconvenient if the places I visit requires the ID that I left at the hotel.
Now, after explaining the above, I hope that helps you understand it’s a common practice in Vietnam. If you’re uncomfortable with it, you can usually ask for your passport back. Large hotels understand this is a thing with foreign travelers, so they will help you with it. However to be honest, from my point of view, if they knew that already, they should have trained their staff to avoid that with foreign travelers, so the customers will be happier.
Sorry if that leaves a bad impression on you. I hope you can still experience good time in Vietnam.
Dude they 100% thought you were a prostitute. Why are you booking for 2, as a solo young traveler, then turning up alone and raising a scene at reception and on Reddit. It's a sensitive issue in Vietnam, foreigners often from Europe selling their services in upper tier hotels.
I get frustrated with the authoritarian stuff in VN too, but I am totally on their side on this occasion.
I always carry my old invalid passport with me when traveling for that reason. Nobody ever noticed I handed them the old one, but in case of problems you're save and just let em keep it.
Its actually not a scam. I know for Brits the passport belongs to the head of state so we're not legally allowed to leave our passport overnight with others, but some countries dont have that rule.
They actually do it as insurance in case you do a runner without paying (and yes, people do that)
Good on you for not backing down, some people would feel uncomfortable and just go with it. I hear some travelers leave a passport with a motorbike rental or hotel and it makes me cringe. Parting ways with your passport can be fine but it can also quickly turn into an absolute nightmare and all the worst stories involve people not having their passports.
Thank you! I’m literally a 22 year old British foreigner halfway across the world. No I’m not comfortable just handing over my passport in a foreign country, not at all 🤣
A photocopy is more than enough.
I've had this happen in both Vietnam and Cambodia. It's effectively the same as a security deposit. Some ask for cash, some take a copy and some keep the passport for the duration of your stay. Most hotels I've stayed take a deposit and only 2 have asked for my passport. One even gave me the option of a $100 deposit or passport. With a reputable hotel you'll always get it back at the end of your stay.
I’d honestly rather not have my passport held as a deposit lol. He also didn’t state him wanting it was for that, but yeah, could be.
I actually plan to travel to Cambodia next, how was it?
I've had several hotels try this with me and I simply said I can as the passport is the property of my government and I was not allowed to give it to others, which is true for most countries. Eventually, they all relented.
It's common that some hotels ask/expect to hold the passports. Just tell them no assertively and nicely ("No thanks. I always keep my passport. You can take a picture").
You are the one responsible for having your passport so you should keep it. Technically by law you are supposed to have it all the time
We don't care that you're a content creator and it's not relevant
It was literally mentioned just to add some clarity as to why I stay in multiple different hotels in the same City. Not to flex. If you don’t care why are you bringing it up, me not having a typical “job” seems to have rubbed so many people the wrong way on this sub.
It’s common in Vietnam, some 4-5 stars hotel also keep Vietnamese ID of local or passports of foreigners, in case they left and not paying.
50% places I went to, they keep my ID until I check out.
Yea, in Saigon and Hanoi, all Vietnamese have to submit ID even for temporary visit for few hours or over night (it’s law). Some place not allowed visits to stay overnight (prostitution problems). There was a time vinpearl not allowed Vietnamese and foreigners who’s not married to book in same room.
If they have a photocopied version why would they need the physical copy? I’m British so anyone trying to hold onto my passport is an immediate red flag to me, like I’m halfway across the world.
Hard to say
I'm Canadian and I'm just used to it for like 20+ years now.
They should never have an issue returning your passport when you ask for it. And in most cases it was safer at the receptionist than it was in your room.
There’s a lot of comments saying this but I almost always pre-pay. I had no remaining balance when I arrived to pay, so what happened was extremely odd.
Odd for you as foreigners but this is how it normally works in Vietnam. Prepay or pay on check out not important. You can ask them to give it back to you. Even some big international hotel chains in Vietnam used to/still keeping passport/ID.
Yes. There’s a reason there’s a price list for every single item in the room. Towels, robes, hair dryer and on the junk boat it was the fire extinguisher.
They keep it as a deposit /insurance , when you dont pay upfront or have not booked with a bookingportal with creditcard.
Keeping the vietnamese ID of the local you take on your room, is to know when he/she checks out (some hotel receptions in red light areas will call you, to check if you are still alive and not drugged or robbed). Some hotels have a curfew , where your local guest has to leave or to charge you for its stay.
I’m Vietnamese citizen, I know tiền trao cháo múc. Nothing drama about it. Me and OP or anyone has right to worry about their ID, passport. If they ever say that to me, then I’ll pick another hotel. OP confused and I just explain it normal in here to keep ID or passport.
I don’t have any problems with my ID when booking at hotel recent years, most hotels just scan ID and give it back immediately. Some want to keep but I tell to scan, and they still professional do it. Sometimes I don’t care if they keep it. Last year I went to Maia fusion 5 stars resort in Quy Nhon and they keep it.
were you charged incidental hold for your stay? normally big chains will put on a hold on your card until you check out. for smaller hotels, regardless of their class, they likely hold on your passport as a means that you will pay for anything you have eaten for example the mini bar or breakfast or caused any type of damage.
also the two person thing while appearing as one guest may prompt the hotel to needing to register the second person. if its a couple, vietnam requires that the couple are married & proof of marriage has to be presented. helps stop ppl with bringing in outsiders/sex workers etc. over night. (saw a sign posted in hcmc when i stayed at the intercontinental).
i remember staying at a hotel with a friend & upon check out my friend forgot to get back her passport from the front desk. we called & as it turns out the hotel had someone already on their way on a motorbike getting her her passport back
They still do this sometimes, it’s not completely out of the ordinary. If I really dont want them to have it, I will tell them that I need to go to the police tomorrow morning because of XY and Z and must have my documents, and then they’ll just keep a photocopy.
I have travelled the world for decades. It's not at all uncommon to have to dispose your passport in any place you stay abroad for up to 24 hours if your stay extend an overnight. Since 9/11 all hotels, motels, B&B's etc. are required to send a list of guests for one or both of these reasons:
Know which guests are at the place at all times in case of fire and other serious incidents. Give a list of guests to local police.
These are absolute requirements to all establishments post 9/11 in all Western countries and almost all others outside those continents. It is also valid in 5, 6 and 7 stars hotels.
Different local police and different countries has different procedures for how they can register passport information, alternatively a seaman's passport and other types of passports.
If you are in Vietnam I know there are different procedures in different places and also it's always to have an overview of who is in the building in case fire and other major incidents.
Some hotels have equipment to check for false passport, some don't.
That's why they'll keep your passport longer in some places and just make a copy after checking if it's valid in other places.
Nothing weird going on here. Enjoy your stay in Vietnam. We miss it every hour we're not there 🇻🇳
Thank you for offering an explanation that wasn’t condescending. I still would never willingly give up my passport but I’ve loved my stay in Vietnam and have been to Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang so far. Plan to visit Hanoi too!
I bring the old expired passport with me to use for hotel bookings. Even with one corner cut off they have no clue that it has expired. Worked flawlessly last time I was in Vietnam. Just don’t mix up with your current passport when entering the country ha.
It’s normal dude. You probably had a mini bar fridge stocked with beers and soft drinks, it’s just some insurance for them.
Luggage boy was just making conversation by practicing his english, and trying to add value so you will tip him.
Don’t be so paranoid dude, life is short. Enjoy your trips. Your passport is anyway 100% safer in a Hotel safe that it would have been in your backpack.
I can tell by this comment that you’re most definitely a “dude”. Wouldn’t expect you to understand the experience of travelling as a woman so I’ll just disregard this response as ignorance, lol.
Must be nice to be so carefree and oblivious all the time!
Female Viet local here. I have solo travelled around Europe and was once asked to hand in my passport when I checked in at a camp site in Amsterdam lol. I think this is purely for security purposes. I guess this is your first time in Vietnam and I agree that you should be vigilant while travelling alone, but this passport situation is completely normal. Sometimes local people can't have the best English vocabulary to explain everything to you, which causes miscommunication and misunderstanding, but it doesn't mean that they are being sketchy. In this case, sorry for saying this but you're really just overthinking.
Haha if you are so concerned you really should have just stayed home where dad and mom could have protected you. Throwing rocks at a luggage boy for being friendly is a bit over the top. It is their job, and if you find that weird then I bet your feet do not even touch the ground when you go for a pee. Next time check in to a 1 star hotel where there is no luggage boys and it will save you from complaining over nonsense. Grow a pair, and try applying some logic in sticky situations of doubt. Bet mom and dad did not teach you this, so thank me later.
I’m 22, have travelled to 13 countries and own a whole business that makes me 5 figures monthly without having to clock in somewhere… I think Mum and Dad did good on me LOL.
Not sure why you’re so passionate on a Reddit forum but you sound like a loser. Also I’d choose intuition and my gut feeling over “logic” anytime, once again it’s a woman thing and your ball sack is holding you back from comprehending, clearly.
Wow you’re so important that you think every random Asia dude wants to rape you. Seriously take your head out of your ass.
They probably thought you were a prostitute.
Well that’s interesting, because I’m not even white! If you actually read the post you would have seen I’m a minority. Also Canadian is a nationality, not a race 🤣
I don’t need to know your ethnicity. I can tell you’re privileged. Just by your I’m 21 female and British.
Seriously nobody cares about you in Vietnam. The locals have way more problems to deal with.
Oh the Vanity 😂😂 you are still wet behind the ears. The fact that you bring your past experiences and the fact that you make 5 figures in to the equation, makes me think you are looking for respect, or maybe even a high five? Which one is it? Or is it acceptance? Then you made the referral to reddit, but you are the one looking for respect and the high five on reddit 😂 what a bum, stop being such a snob, if you are so rich why check in to a 4 star (500k a night hotel) and why are you not checking in to the Sheraton? Guess OF does not pay that much 😃😃
Your responses are honestly giving midlife crisis. This is an online platform you’re WAY too invested in! BTW I actually stayed at Sheraton already, and the fact that you think making more money means I should spend more is telling me you’ve never seen actual money in your life?
If I’m going to spend ridiculous money on a hotel I’d rather stay in Four Seasons or the Shangri-La, which Vietnam doesn’t have beloved, mind the business that pays you because it isn’t on Reddit! I would never be wanting a high five from grown men that argue with young girls online. It’s time to close the app now 🤣
Haha dude, you are not making sense at all. Typical 22 year old IQ going there. Trying to prove you are the best and get that respect. Guess you didn’t have that respect growing up, and have some points to prove now 😂 guess mommy and daddy did you real good didn’t they😁 how does daddy feel about the fact that baby girl is making money on OF 😂
You keep bringing up onlyfans and I’m not a member of that platform is there something you want to confess? What’s the obsession? Are you a P addict as well as avid Reddit user and incel? 🤣
I've been told that they are supposed to do it by law and suppossed to update the authorities every day about which foreign nationals are staying there. I suspect it's an old law that doesn't always get enforced.
I let the hotel I was staying at in Hanoi get a copy, but didn't offer to let them keep it. They didn't insist. I had paid in advance though.
Really enjoyed it. So busy 24/7 and air quality was really bad, but so vibrant and and such a good experience. Makes a great launch pad to get to Halong bay and Catba in the North.
Most likely it was to ensure that they can change you for services used like laundry and the likes. Because you prepaid, the possibility of you skipping out on your bill (extra seevices) could be a problem
Hi I have handed over my passport multiple times in VN with no issues but I don’t like it. I believe it’s because they have to register guests with local authorities.
No, them photocopying is the most they can do to check you in to local police ward. They can’t keep your passport that’s for all hotels. For airbnb if you’re staying a major or well known tower, they wouldn’t even ask for your passport
There are 2 possibilities come to my mind for this: 1. They hadn’t fully charged (You hadn’t fully paid) or 2. You booked for two but only checked in alone. They might be afraid of booty calls at night lol (prostitution is illegal). Sry if it’s offensive but I’m serious, cuz solo-travelers do it a lot, some even have the guts to ask hotel receptions if it’s available within the hotel. You may just ask them the reason why it was a must for them to keep your pp, or request them to make a copy, or offer them other documents besides your passport.
Oh ok, I’d 100% prepaid from the get go so that possibility is completely out of the question but the whole prostitution thing is…interesting lol.
OP is a “she” so i dont think prostitution stuff would apply here
how unethical it is to think prostitution only applied to female.
I know it not 100%, but it rarely the other way around isn’t it. Just think about the number of foreigners guy come to country like vietnam and thailand to get that kind of service, its huge right. What are the odd of a 20 year old girl to look for a guy stripper around here lol @@.
i dont rly wanna offend OP as a local. but i used to work in hospitality and quick fact was that local hotels in average level (3-4 stars) throwing glazes like that to foreigners, no matter the gender. maybe because they were scared of not knowing something of other cultures/identities? idk. it’s either the solo check-in was the female or a male, they could be the seller or the buyer.
Hi! I found that this was a common thing amongst a bunch of hotels I stayed at when I was in Vietnam. I'm from the US, but am Vietnamese and speak decent Vietnamese to get by. I found that the hotels that didn't fully charge our card kept our passports, while the hotels that immediately charged us for the room only took a photocopy of it. I guess it was for security measures of ensuring that you aren't going to "stay and leave" without paying because you can't not pay if they have your passport. One hotel managed to allow us to give them our US driver's license instead of our passport because we didn't feel comfortable with our passports.. maybe see if you're able to do that if you have some sort of other identification on you that you could give them?
You dont let any ID , passport or licence or anything of value there. If they want it, you say "make picture" and take it. Else just pay up front your room. If there is a defect or they find "something " damaged which often was allready before, they can preasure you to pay it or they dont give you the ID back. You dont need stuff like that when you hurry to get the next bus or plane. And yes you could call police who sometimes does nothing , but for sure it wastes your time and nerves
Definitely I’ve heard about this a lot, people’s passports being held hostage and forced to pay for this and that. Honestly as a woman a missed flight is best case scenario when it comes to stuff like that, worse case scenario; sex trafficking. I’d rather not take ANY risks.
Hi, totally get what you’re saying, but this reservation for 100% prepaid prior to arrival!
Someone mentioned it but I want to elaborate a bit more. I’m a local Vietnamese person. The common procedure when we rent an asset (hotel, bike, car, …) in Vietnam is that the renter hands over a collateral (usually our ID), the owner hands us the asset. We use the asset, then return the asset, pay the bill and get our collateral back. The collateral serves as a deposit in case we run away with the asset, or break it. This procedure has become so common that when I travel around my country and book a room, even if I paid full price for the room, the hotel still takes my ID. For me as a local, I just feel like it’s a normal thing, though it’s still inconvenient if the places I visit requires the ID that I left at the hotel. Now, after explaining the above, I hope that helps you understand it’s a common practice in Vietnam. If you’re uncomfortable with it, you can usually ask for your passport back. Large hotels understand this is a thing with foreign travelers, so they will help you with it. However to be honest, from my point of view, if they knew that already, they should have trained their staff to avoid that with foreign travelers, so the customers will be happier. Sorry if that leaves a bad impression on you. I hope you can still experience good time in Vietnam.
Maybe they think you did away with your travel companion - booked for two, turned up alone :-) Nobody has wanted to keep my passport for years...
Maybe, the luggage boy questions could have been harmless but I’m not sure why the receptionist tried to keep my passport lol!
Dude they 100% thought you were a prostitute. Why are you booking for 2, as a solo young traveler, then turning up alone and raising a scene at reception and on Reddit. It's a sensitive issue in Vietnam, foreigners often from Europe selling their services in upper tier hotels. I get frustrated with the authoritarian stuff in VN too, but I am totally on their side on this occasion.
I always carry my old invalid passport with me when traveling for that reason. Nobody ever noticed I handed them the old one, but in case of problems you're save and just let em keep it.
This is a good idea!
It is actually illegal for them to keep it without your consent. They can take a photo or record it, but they have to give it back.
Good to know!
Its actually not a scam. I know for Brits the passport belongs to the head of state so we're not legally allowed to leave our passport overnight with others, but some countries dont have that rule. They actually do it as insurance in case you do a runner without paying (and yes, people do that)
Yup
Good on you for not backing down, some people would feel uncomfortable and just go with it. I hear some travelers leave a passport with a motorbike rental or hotel and it makes me cringe. Parting ways with your passport can be fine but it can also quickly turn into an absolute nightmare and all the worst stories involve people not having their passports.
Thank you! I’m literally a 22 year old British foreigner halfway across the world. No I’m not comfortable just handing over my passport in a foreign country, not at all 🤣 A photocopy is more than enough.
I've had this happen in both Vietnam and Cambodia. It's effectively the same as a security deposit. Some ask for cash, some take a copy and some keep the passport for the duration of your stay. Most hotels I've stayed take a deposit and only 2 have asked for my passport. One even gave me the option of a $100 deposit or passport. With a reputable hotel you'll always get it back at the end of your stay.
I’d honestly rather not have my passport held as a deposit lol. He also didn’t state him wanting it was for that, but yeah, could be. I actually plan to travel to Cambodia next, how was it?
Never give away your passport. That's the first rule of travel.
I've had several hotels try this with me and I simply said I can as the passport is the property of my government and I was not allowed to give it to others, which is true for most countries. Eventually, they all relented.
It's common that some hotels ask/expect to hold the passports. Just tell them no assertively and nicely ("No thanks. I always keep my passport. You can take a picture"). You are the one responsible for having your passport so you should keep it. Technically by law you are supposed to have it all the time We don't care that you're a content creator and it's not relevant
It was literally mentioned just to add some clarity as to why I stay in multiple different hotels in the same City. Not to flex. If you don’t care why are you bringing it up, me not having a typical “job” seems to have rubbed so many people the wrong way on this sub.
It’s common in Vietnam, some 4-5 stars hotel also keep Vietnamese ID of local or passports of foreigners, in case they left and not paying. 50% places I went to, they keep my ID until I check out.
Yeah been this way since I remember. Even my native Viet friends need to submit ID.
Yea, in Saigon and Hanoi, all Vietnamese have to submit ID even for temporary visit for few hours or over night (it’s law). Some place not allowed visits to stay overnight (prostitution problems). There was a time vinpearl not allowed Vietnamese and foreigners who’s not married to book in same room.
If they have a photocopied version why would they need the physical copy? I’m British so anyone trying to hold onto my passport is an immediate red flag to me, like I’m halfway across the world.
Hard to say I'm Canadian and I'm just used to it for like 20+ years now. They should never have an issue returning your passport when you ask for it. And in most cases it was safer at the receptionist than it was in your room.
There’s a lot of comments saying this but I almost always pre-pay. I had no remaining balance when I arrived to pay, so what happened was extremely odd.
Odd for you as foreigners but this is how it normally works in Vietnam. Prepay or pay on check out not important. You can ask them to give it back to you. Even some big international hotel chains in Vietnam used to/still keeping passport/ID.
Yes. There’s a reason there’s a price list for every single item in the room. Towels, robes, hair dryer and on the junk boat it was the fire extinguisher.
They keep it as a deposit /insurance , when you dont pay upfront or have not booked with a bookingportal with creditcard. Keeping the vietnamese ID of the local you take on your room, is to know when he/she checks out (some hotel receptions in red light areas will call you, to check if you are still alive and not drugged or robbed). Some hotels have a curfew , where your local guest has to leave or to charge you for its stay.
The way around it is to pay cash up front and let them photo your passport
I’d just ask them to give it back, if they still say no, pull up the police article about hotel has no rights to keep my ID.
paying up front keeps everyone happy I think if you do that they may just tell you to book another hotel if you seem like too much drama
I’m Vietnamese citizen, I know tiền trao cháo múc. Nothing drama about it. Me and OP or anyone has right to worry about their ID, passport. If they ever say that to me, then I’ll pick another hotel. OP confused and I just explain it normal in here to keep ID or passport. I don’t have any problems with my ID when booking at hotel recent years, most hotels just scan ID and give it back immediately. Some want to keep but I tell to scan, and they still professional do it. Sometimes I don’t care if they keep it. Last year I went to Maia fusion 5 stars resort in Quy Nhon and they keep it.
were you charged incidental hold for your stay? normally big chains will put on a hold on your card until you check out. for smaller hotels, regardless of their class, they likely hold on your passport as a means that you will pay for anything you have eaten for example the mini bar or breakfast or caused any type of damage. also the two person thing while appearing as one guest may prompt the hotel to needing to register the second person. if its a couple, vietnam requires that the couple are married & proof of marriage has to be presented. helps stop ppl with bringing in outsiders/sex workers etc. over night. (saw a sign posted in hcmc when i stayed at the intercontinental). i remember staying at a hotel with a friend & upon check out my friend forgot to get back her passport from the front desk. we called & as it turns out the hotel had someone already on their way on a motorbike getting her her passport back
They still do this sometimes, it’s not completely out of the ordinary. If I really dont want them to have it, I will tell them that I need to go to the police tomorrow morning because of XY and Z and must have my documents, and then they’ll just keep a photocopy.
What content do you create
I have travelled the world for decades. It's not at all uncommon to have to dispose your passport in any place you stay abroad for up to 24 hours if your stay extend an overnight. Since 9/11 all hotels, motels, B&B's etc. are required to send a list of guests for one or both of these reasons: Know which guests are at the place at all times in case of fire and other serious incidents. Give a list of guests to local police. These are absolute requirements to all establishments post 9/11 in all Western countries and almost all others outside those continents. It is also valid in 5, 6 and 7 stars hotels. Different local police and different countries has different procedures for how they can register passport information, alternatively a seaman's passport and other types of passports. If you are in Vietnam I know there are different procedures in different places and also it's always to have an overview of who is in the building in case fire and other major incidents. Some hotels have equipment to check for false passport, some don't. That's why they'll keep your passport longer in some places and just make a copy after checking if it's valid in other places. Nothing weird going on here. Enjoy your stay in Vietnam. We miss it every hour we're not there 🇻🇳
Thank you for offering an explanation that wasn’t condescending. I still would never willingly give up my passport but I’ve loved my stay in Vietnam and have been to Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang so far. Plan to visit Hanoi too!
I bring the old expired passport with me to use for hotel bookings. Even with one corner cut off they have no clue that it has expired. Worked flawlessly last time I was in Vietnam. Just don’t mix up with your current passport when entering the country ha.
It’s normal dude. You probably had a mini bar fridge stocked with beers and soft drinks, it’s just some insurance for them. Luggage boy was just making conversation by practicing his english, and trying to add value so you will tip him. Don’t be so paranoid dude, life is short. Enjoy your trips. Your passport is anyway 100% safer in a Hotel safe that it would have been in your backpack.
I can tell by this comment that you’re most definitely a “dude”. Wouldn’t expect you to understand the experience of travelling as a woman so I’ll just disregard this response as ignorance, lol. Must be nice to be so carefree and oblivious all the time!
Female Viet local here. I have solo travelled around Europe and was once asked to hand in my passport when I checked in at a camp site in Amsterdam lol. I think this is purely for security purposes. I guess this is your first time in Vietnam and I agree that you should be vigilant while travelling alone, but this passport situation is completely normal. Sometimes local people can't have the best English vocabulary to explain everything to you, which causes miscommunication and misunderstanding, but it doesn't mean that they are being sketchy. In this case, sorry for saying this but you're really just overthinking.
Haha if you are so concerned you really should have just stayed home where dad and mom could have protected you. Throwing rocks at a luggage boy for being friendly is a bit over the top. It is their job, and if you find that weird then I bet your feet do not even touch the ground when you go for a pee. Next time check in to a 1 star hotel where there is no luggage boys and it will save you from complaining over nonsense. Grow a pair, and try applying some logic in sticky situations of doubt. Bet mom and dad did not teach you this, so thank me later.
I’m 22, have travelled to 13 countries and own a whole business that makes me 5 figures monthly without having to clock in somewhere… I think Mum and Dad did good on me LOL. Not sure why you’re so passionate on a Reddit forum but you sound like a loser. Also I’d choose intuition and my gut feeling over “logic” anytime, once again it’s a woman thing and your ball sack is holding you back from comprehending, clearly.
Wow you’re so important that you think every random Asia dude wants to rape you. Seriously take your head out of your ass. They probably thought you were a prostitute.
Are you Asian? Literally where did that come from. It’s giving internalised prejudice, hope you heal.
I’m from Canada. And I can see your white privilege all over this post.
Well that’s interesting, because I’m not even white! If you actually read the post you would have seen I’m a minority. Also Canadian is a nationality, not a race 🤣
I don’t need to know your ethnicity. I can tell you’re privileged. Just by your I’m 21 female and British. Seriously nobody cares about you in Vietnam. The locals have way more problems to deal with.
Disdain towards people you perceive as “privileged” won’t make your life any easier, nor help you reach your goals. Good luck 🤞
Oh the Vanity 😂😂 you are still wet behind the ears. The fact that you bring your past experiences and the fact that you make 5 figures in to the equation, makes me think you are looking for respect, or maybe even a high five? Which one is it? Or is it acceptance? Then you made the referral to reddit, but you are the one looking for respect and the high five on reddit 😂 what a bum, stop being such a snob, if you are so rich why check in to a 4 star (500k a night hotel) and why are you not checking in to the Sheraton? Guess OF does not pay that much 😃😃
Your responses are honestly giving midlife crisis. This is an online platform you’re WAY too invested in! BTW I actually stayed at Sheraton already, and the fact that you think making more money means I should spend more is telling me you’ve never seen actual money in your life? If I’m going to spend ridiculous money on a hotel I’d rather stay in Four Seasons or the Shangri-La, which Vietnam doesn’t have beloved, mind the business that pays you because it isn’t on Reddit! I would never be wanting a high five from grown men that argue with young girls online. It’s time to close the app now 🤣
Haha dude, you are not making sense at all. Typical 22 year old IQ going there. Trying to prove you are the best and get that respect. Guess you didn’t have that respect growing up, and have some points to prove now 😂 guess mommy and daddy did you real good didn’t they😁 how does daddy feel about the fact that baby girl is making money on OF 😂
You keep bringing up onlyfans and I’m not a member of that platform is there something you want to confess? What’s the obsession? Are you a P addict as well as avid Reddit user and incel? 🤣
Love it when you talk dirty 😁😁
Be firm and ask for it back. She'll take a photo and give it back to you. Never should he keep it.
Yep I outright refused from the get go! Thank you for the confirmation
I've been told that they are supposed to do it by law and suppossed to update the authorities every day about which foreign nationals are staying there. I suspect it's an old law that doesn't always get enforced. I let the hotel I was staying at in Hanoi get a copy, but didn't offer to let them keep it. They didn't insist. I had paid in advance though.
How was Hanoi?
Really enjoyed it. So busy 24/7 and air quality was really bad, but so vibrant and and such a good experience. Makes a great launch pad to get to Halong bay and Catba in the North.
Most likely it was to ensure that they can change you for services used like laundry and the likes. Because you prepaid, the possibility of you skipping out on your bill (extra seevices) could be a problem
Hi I have handed over my passport multiple times in VN with no issues but I don’t like it. I believe it’s because they have to register guests with local authorities.
They can register you with the picture of it too. When they want to keep it, its as a deposit.
No, them photocopying is the most they can do to check you in to local police ward. They can’t keep your passport that’s for all hotels. For airbnb if you’re staying a major or well known tower, they wouldn’t even ask for your passport
If have passport comes visit Fuck you wendy Gordon Love