Vietnam imposes tax duty on foreign room-booking sites

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03-02-2017, 07:36 PM
harrybarracuda

Vietnam imposes tax duty on foreign room-booking sites

Vietnam imposes tax duty on foreign room-booking sites
January 29, 2017

Firms such as Agoda and Expedia will have to pay a 10 percent duty.

The Ministry of Finance has told foreign accommodation booking services to pay taxes if they wish to continue operating in Vietnam.

A document recently released by the ministry asked booking sites like Agoda, Traveloka and Expedia to pay a combined 10 percent of their total revenue made in Vietnam.

Vietnamese accommodation providers that have signed contracts with these foreign sites are obliged to fulfill these tax duties on behalf of them.

The ministry said that the move aims to prevent tax losses from foreign-based companies that are gaining from online business transactions.

Vietnamese accommodation booking site Vntrip had previously held a press conference and sent a document to the ministry accusing Singapore-based travel agency Agoda and some other sites of tax evasion.

Vntrip said that the acts of these foreign companies had resulted in huge losses to the state revenue and created unwholesome competition.

This is not the first time the Vietnamese government has imposed taxes on international businesses operating in the country. Last September, the popular ride-sharing service Uber was officially ordered to pay taxes after two years of providing transport services in Vietnam.

http://bangkokjack.com/category/news/
03-02-2017, 07:41 PM
rickschoppers

It appears the Vietnamese are trying to nickel and dime again. I am beginning to believe they work harder at it than their SE Asian neighbors. I have read several travel forums who state, "beware of the add ons" while visiting Vietnam.
03-02-2017, 09:38 PM
Bower

Mixed feelings about this.
03-02-2017, 09:49 PM
thaimeme

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bower

Mixed feelings about this.

Seems to have come full circle universally, as most mega-corporate [online]booking/travel agents are having fees, surtaxes, and cut income extended upon them - making up for their scamming services.

Comes around.
03-02-2017, 10:20 PM
beerlaodrinker

So I guess I can add another 10% to my online booking when I go to Vietnam again? Wtf. I don't get it. Why?
03-02-2017, 10:40 PM
thaimeme

Quote:

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

So I guess I can add another 10% to my online booking when I go to Vietnam again? Wtf. I don't get it. Why?

One doesn't require pre-booking for anything.

Just go - play it by ear.
Much more adventurous, actually.
03-02-2017, 10:57 PM
baldrick

Quote:

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

Wtf. I don't get it. Why?

because they are having problems getting the chin hotel owners to pay tax

maybe better if they just went for a rates/room tax
04-02-2017, 05:15 AM
harrybarracuda

Quote:

Originally Posted by baldrick

Quote:

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

Wtf. I don't get it. Why?

because they are having problems getting the chin hotel owners to pay tax

maybe better if they just went for a rates/room tax

"Vietnamese accommodation providers that have signed contracts with these foreign sites are obliged to fulfill these tax duties on behalf of them.".
04-02-2017, 07:00 AM
Little Chuchok

If you have been staying in a Hotel that you like. Get a deal from them and book direct. In the bigger Hotels, get hold of the Rooms Manager. If he won't do a deal, then go somewhere that does.
04-02-2017, 08:53 AM
cyrille

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Chuchok

If you have been staying in a Hotel that you like. Get a deal from them and book direct. In the bigger Hotels, get hold of the Rooms Manager. If he won't do a deal, then go somewhere that does.

Umm...that would be after you've made an initial booking.

:confused:
04-02-2017, 09:39 AM
Little Chuchok

^That's when you go back to a hotel. Can't do for new bookings unless you have a time machine. :)
04-02-2017, 10:14 AM
cyrille

So you decide to stay in the hotel only after you've...err...decided to stay in the hotel?

Genious!

:confused:
04-02-2017, 03:04 PM
Dillinger

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaimeme

One doesn't require pre-booking for anything.

Just go - play it by ear.
Much more adventurous, actually.

i did that in Majorca once. This hotel was only 30 quid a night online, so i thought id pay for 3 nights and then it would be cheaper to pay for the other 7 at the hotel when we got there.

on the wall when we got there the rates were 100 pound a night. To cut a long story short we ended up staying in some maids quarters up a hill on a chicken farm and doing a DJ Pat in the middle of the night on the seventh day

look back and laugh now
04-02-2017, 03:07 PM
Dillinger

there was something on watchdog the other day about booking.com and agoda who are both the same company btw. They take 15% off these hotels. Its sometimes best to call the hotel itself
04-02-2017, 03:10 PM
Little Chuchok

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyrille

So you decide to stay in the hotel only after you've...err...decided to stay in the hotel?

Genious!

:confused:

I meant that if you have stayed in a hotel in the past,when you are there, approach the management about booking direct for your next stay... instead of going through a booking company again.

I've always done this. Mate of mine has worked for a major hotel chain all his life.He told me to do this years ago. Doesn't always work, but it has for me on most occasions.
04-02-2017, 05:33 PM
Bower

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Chuchok

If you have been staying in a Hotel that you like. Get a deal from them and book direct. In the bigger Hotels, get hold of the Rooms Manager. If he won't do a deal, then go somewhere that does.

I do exactly this but you have to book a good few days in advance. Most reception and reservations staff are not given the authority to discount. Some hotels also have their own loyalty scheme and offer deals on their own websites. I prefer to spend my money locally anyway, never had a problem with failed bookings when they know you are a cash customer :)
04-02-2017, 05:50 PM
beerlaodrinker

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Quote:

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

So I guess I can add another 10% to my online booking when I go to Vietnam again? Wtf. I don't get it. Why?

One doesn't require pre-booking for anything.

Just go - play it by ear.
Much more adventurous, actually.

Not when your travelling with a Lao missus and 2 young sprogs Geoff. If just me then I would certainly turn up and wing it
04-02-2017, 05:55 PM
thaimeme

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dillinger

there was something on watchdog the other day about booking.com and agoda who are both the same company btw. They take 15% off these hotels. Its sometimes best to call the hotel itself

Most of the major and popular sites have become flim-flam caliber, not to be trusted.

Buyer beware.
05-02-2017, 07:02 PM
CaptainNemo

Quote:

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Vietnam imposes tax duty on foreign room-booking sites
January 29, 2017

Firms such as Agoda and Expedia will have to pay a 10 percent duty.

God they really are dumb... they need to cut the prices to get more visitors over there, and get more people to care about their country and it's upcoming conflict with China.