Many Vietnamese hotels still run on on-premise hotel management software installed 5–15 years ago. At first, this software met operational needs well. But the hospitality industry has changed completely, while the old PMS has stood still. This article looks plainly at why the old system is slowing your hotel down, and why DiCloud — online hotel management software is the logical next step.
Part 1: The core problems of an outdated on-premise PMS
1.1 Outdated technology and programming languages
Most on-premise PMS in Vietnam were written in Visual Basic 6, Delphi or .NET Framework 2.x between 2005 and 2015. These technologies are no longer officially supported by their vendors. The practical consequences:
- Not compatible with Windows 11 or newer Windows Server versions — the old server has to be kept as it is
- Cannot run on mobile phones or tablets — staff are tied to the front desk
- DOS-style or Windows XP-style interface — new staff take weeks to get used to it
- No REST API — no way to connect to any modern platform
⚠️ The reality at many hotels: The server running the old PMS cannot be upgraded to Windows 10/11 because the software is not compatible. When that server fails, years of operating data can be lost entirely if backups are incomplete.
1.2 Accounting modules that have not kept up with Circular 99/2025/TT-BTC
From 1 January 2026, the Ministry of Finance applies Circular 99/2025/TT-BTC, with important changes to the enterprise accounting regime — directly affecting every hotel operating as a company. Meanwhile, the accounting software built into long-standing on-premise PMS is rarely updated:
- The chart of accounts has not been updated to Circular 99 — books are produced to the wrong standard
- No support for electronic VAT invoices under Decree 123/2020/ND-CP and the latest circulars
- Financial reports (P&L, balance sheet) do not match current accounting standards
- Two systems must be run side by side — the old PMS plus separate accounting software — so data is entered twice
This is a serious legal risk. A business can be fined for administrative violations during a tax audit if its books do not meet the standard.
1.3 After-sales support keeps getting weaker
Many on-premise PMS vendors in Vietnam have scaled down or shifted their focus to new products. The consequences for hotels still using the old software:
- Incident response takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days — while the hotel cannot check guests in
- Technicians who understand the old system are increasingly rare — expensive and hard to find
- No development roadmap — new feature requests are often refused or left pending for years
- Complete dependence on one or two people who "understand the system" — a risk when they leave
1.4 Hidden costs keep rising
On-premise PMS usually come with a low one-off licence cost — but the total cost of ownership (TCO) over time is much higher:
| Cost item | Old on-premise PMS | DiCloud (SaaS) |
|---|---|---|
| Server + UPS + server room | VND 50–200 million | VND 0 |
| Software upgrades | Paid, with downtime | Automatic, free of charge |
| Data backup & recovery | Manual, risk of loss | Automatic, daily |
| Remote access | Complicated VPN / not available | Any device, anywhere |
| Legal compliance (Circular 99, e-invoices) | Not updated automatically | Updated continuously |
Part 2: Why DiCloud is the right replacement
2.1 Built on the platform used by more than 300 hotels nationwide
DiCloud is the cloud version of DiHotel — hotel management software trusted by more than 300 accommodation properties, 3 to 5 stars, across Vietnam. That means DiCloud is proven in daily operation at:
- International 5-star resorts with hundreds of rooms and multiple F&B, spa and conference services
- 3–4 star hotel chains that need to run several branches in sync
- Boutique hotels and serviced apartments that need flexibility in pricing and distribution channels
2.2 Taught in the curriculum of 15 universities and colleges
A particular sign of the standing of the DiCloud/DiHotel ecosystem: 15 universities and colleges of tourism and hospitality from the north to the south of Vietnam have included DiHotel in their curriculum and certify their students on it:
Hanoi · Hai Phong · Hue · Da Nang · Quy Nhon · Nha Trang · Da Lat · Phan Thiet · Ho Chi Minh City · Vung Tau · Kien Giang…
This has a practical benefit for hotels: new graduates already know how to use DiHotel/DiCloud — cutting training and onboarding time down to half a day.
2.3 24/7 support — a hotel's screen is never left dark
Hotels have no closing time — at 2 a.m., when the night shift needs to check in a group, the software cannot wait until 8 a.m. The DiCloud support team works 24/7, around the clock, with the commitment to:
- Respond to incidents within 15 minutes
- Support by phone, Zalo and remote desktop
- On-site technicians for serious incidents in major provinces and cities
2.4 Continuous feature updates based on real market needs
DiCloud is not a "package once, sell forever" product. On a cloud platform, every improvement is rolled out automatically — no interruption, no reinstallation. Concrete examples of recent updates:
- Accounting module updated to Circular 99/2025/TT-BTC before 1 January 2026
- Chip-based citizen ID card (CCCD) verification — faster check-in, fewer front desk staff needed
- Revenue Management module with AI forecasting in development Upcoming
2.5 A fully connected ecosystem
DiCloud online hotel management software does not work in isolation — it is an open platform connected to the whole hotel ecosystem:
- E-wallets & payments: BIDV, VNPay, ZaloPay, Momo — instant cashless payment
- Channel Manager (CMS): D-Edge, Hotel Link, Exely, SiteMinder, Staah — two-way rate and inventory sync in real time
- Booking engine: DiBooking built in — take direct bookings from your website with no OTA commission
- Electronic invoices: integrated with e-invoice providers under Decree 123 — issued automatically at check-out
- Open API: connect any third party — POS, spa, parking, loyalty programme
2.6 A flexible hybrid option: DiCloud + DiHotel
An important difference: DiCloud and DiHotel can be combined in a hybrid setup, covering every need from 1 to 5 stars — especially well suited to managing hotel chains that include both large 4–5 star hotels and small 1–3 star hotels in one system:
- DiCloud, fully cloud: for guesthouses, motels and 1–3 star hotels — deploy right away, no server, lower cost
- DiHotel on-premise: for resorts and 4–5 star hotels that need full control and keep operating offline when the internet goes down
- Hybrid DiCloud + DiHotel: on-premise processing on site + cloud data sync and remote access — the best of both worlds
- Multi-tier chain management: a group that owns both 5-star and budget hotels can use DiHotel for the flagship property and DiCloud for the smaller ones — all consolidated in one central reporting dashboard
DiCloud is DiHotel on a cloud platform, continuously updated with in-depth features drawn from DiHotel's real-world experience at 300+ hotels. That means DiCloud never "stands still" — every lesson from practice is turned into a new feature.
🎓 A hiring advantage: When your hotel uses DiCloud/DiHotel, you can hire new graduates from 15 tourism schools who have already learned DiHotel — saving considerable training cost compared with software few people know.
Part 3: A realistic migration roadmap
Many hotels hesitate to switch for fear of disrupting operations. In practice, DiCloud has helped hundreds of hotels move off old PMS with a well-refined process:
- Free assessment (1 day): a DiCloud specialist reviews current operations and the data to be migrated, and proposes a suitable configuration
- Data migration (1–3 days): all guest profiles, booking history, rates and policies moved into DiCloud — no data lost
- Staff training (half a day): hands-on training at the hotel — front desk shifts, accounting, housekeeping
- Parallel running (1–2 weeks): DiCloud as the main system, the old PMS as backup — no risk
- Full cutover: switch off the old PMS once the team is confident — DiCloud becomes the single system
Ready to leave an outdated PMS behind?
The DiCloud team is ready to assess your hotel free of charge and propose a migration roadmap that fits.
Conclusion
An outdated on-premise PMS is not just an inconvenience — it is a burden of hidden costs, a legal risk on the accounting side, and a growing competitive weakness. By contrast, DiCloud online hotel management software provides a modern platform, proven at 300+ hotels, fully compliant with regulations and supported 24/7.
Combined with the DiHotel hotel management system in a hybrid model, your hotel can draw on the strengths of both on-premise and cloud — no need to choose one, you get both.