The case emerged after a video circulated on social media showing a woman attempting to sell a non la to a foreign couple for VND 850,000 (approximately USD 32.4) on Hang Gai Street in Hoan Kiem Ward.
The transaction was halted when a local spa owner intervened and demanded the money be returned. He said there had been no prior agreement on the price and that the vendor pretended not to understand foreign languages, prompting the tourists to hand over all the cash they had.
At the police station, the 45 year old vendor said she had sold the hat on January 11 at an agreed price of VND 250,000, claiming the tourist had given her VND 1 million. The money was later returned and the woman left without apologising.
After recovering the full amount, the foreign couple thanked the spa owner for stepping in. He later apologised to them on behalf of the vendor for the incident.
Police fined the woman VND 225,000 (approximately USD 8.6) for illegally selling goods on the roadway. Authorities said the incident had harmed Vietnam’s image among international visitors.