Ferrari, I think you were given a long shot of BS - not unusual in a culture where directness is not valued. It is better to give someone a BS excuse than tell them something direct. Also not unusual to see where the men act differently than the women - e.g. have macho sense of entitlement and puff up and strut like peacocks, the women are more service-oriented.

I noticed this on an AA flight MIA - UIO with the Latin cabin crew (I notice these things, and comment as a Latin male.) The women FAs served, picked up and did most of the work the two guys did practically nothing except chat with each other about non-job related stuff, and allowed some unsafe cabin conditions, such as hand baggage on the floor next to the emergency exit on landing. If there were justice, those guys would have a can tied to their tail, the women would get promoted.

And in Egypt as well - relationships are important, directness is not valued, and what appear to be blatant lies are actually culturally apporpriate ways of telling people you'd like it to be the way they want. For osme reason they don't want to give you an upgrade, "the exec floor is fully booked." Catching them in the act only makes them squirm and keep to the lie... but you got what you needed to, as I did in Cairo... ("Inshallah, a room will be available" - meaning "If Allah wills it... and the subtext is, He's not telling me to give you the room, so forget it.")

When dealing with fish like that, you have to use different bait. But then in Hanoi I think you were give a ration of bovine excrement. (Hint: It's not you, it's that okole at the desk.)