The move follows recent complaints by tourists to the municipal agencies after they were charged nearly VND17 million (USD811) for a meal for seven people.
According to their complaint, on March 26, a group of tourists including four Japanese and three Vietnamese people were taken by taxi to the Huong Viet restaurant in the city.
They ordered a meal including 6.1 kilos of small lobsters, 3.5 kilos of crabs, 1.7 kilos of cuttlefish and some oysters. They were terribly shocked when seeing the bill asking for up to VND16.6 million (USD792.55).
Being greatly distressed, the tourists lodged a complaint to denounce the restaurant to the city’s authorities.
Crowded beach in Vung Tau City
Apart from being overcharged, they claimed that the taxi driver acted as a mediator for the restaurant and staff at the restaurants added some dishes without any knowledge from the guests in advance.
A joint working group of the city’s tourism and service sectors worked with Nguyen Nhu Khanh, owner of the restaurant and officials from the Petro taxi firm. They all admitted their wrongdoings and Khanh returned the guests over VND4.8 million (USD229.17).
The restaurant was fined VND12.5 million (USD596.8) and had their business licence temporarily revoked for failing to declare any bills to demonstrate the origins of the food they served those guests.
Huong Viet Restaurant fined for overcharging tourists
Overcharging is regarded as a big issue in Vung Tau City.
In order to improve the situation, municipal authorities have established eight hotlines at several places citywide.
Tourists are encouraged to make complaints to 0989.217.417 for municipal interdisciplinary inspection group, or 0913.947.870 for police head in Thang Tam Ward, or 0918. 581.755 for chairman of Thang Tam ward People’s Committee, or 0643.852.264 for Thang Tam ward police.
They can also call at 0913.758.658 for police head in Ward 2 or 0643.524.088 for police in Ward 2, or 0918.010.963 for chairman of Ward 2 People’s Committee, or 0918.221.661 for vice chairman of People’s Committee of the same ward.
