The Bien Bac Restaurant in Bai Chay Ward was fined following an inspection by a local inter-agency tourism task force after a family from Hanoi raised concerns over the cost of a seafood lunch.
One of the diners said the family accepted the authorities' findings and viewed the incident as a lesson to ask about individual prices before ordering during future trips.
The family, comprising 23 adults and eight children, visited Halong on July 5. They said the restaurant had sent a menu via a messaging app before their arrival, but it did not include individual prices.
After selecting seafood at the restaurant, the group received a bill of VND 27.143 million, which was discounted to VND 27 million. The meal included crab, prawns, fish, squid, clams, rice, porridge, beer, spirits and soft drinks.
The customer said the food quality was acceptable but believed some seafood items were overpriced.
The restaurant said all prices had been quoted in advance and the group had chosen premium seafood, including large black tiger prawns, crabs and clams.
It said customers selected the seafood, watched it being weighed and approved the prices before cooking, adding that the same procedure had been followed for the Hanoi group.
Inspectors confirmed the group had dined at the restaurant on July 5 and that the order matched the receipt provided.
The inspection found the restaurant held valid business and food safety licences, food supply contracts and employee health records. Its electronic scales were also found to be accurate and within their certification period.
However, inspectors found that some seafood items with daily changing prices were not clearly displayed and the seafood counter lacked a visible price board. The restaurant was also cited for violations related to food inspection procedures and the storage of raw and cooked food.
Authorities imposed a VND 10.75 million fine for the violations.
The inspection results were later shared with the tourist group, which accepted the findings and the administrative penalties imposed on the restaurant.