That is the information that Ms. Hoang Thi Tuyet Lan - Chairman of the People's Committee of Bach Khoa Ward (Hai Ba Trung District) discussed with Tien Phong reporter on January 31 about the case of the vermicelli soup restaurant at 54 Bach Mai, which was reported to have charged customers 1.2 million VND for 3 bowls of vermicelli soup on the night of January 29 (the first day of Tet).

According to Ms. Lan, after working with the authorities, the restaurant owner admitted that there was a mistake, because he was "joking" and quoted 1.2 million VND for 3 bowls of vermicelli soup. Unexpectedly, the customer thought it was real and transferred the payment of 1.2 million VND.

The owner also realized the mistake, so he posted an apology on social media and tried to contact the customer to transfer the money back. However, because he could not contact the customer, the owner contacted the bank to get the customer's account number to transfer the money back.

Suspending the operation of a vermicelli shop in Hanoi that sold 3 bowls of vermicelli for 1.2 million VND on Tet holiday photo 1

A bowl of vermicelli with crab soup for 400,000 VND that customers have experienced.

"For now, the authorities have suspended the operations of the above vermicelli shop. At the same time, we will continue to clarify whether there is any "price gouging" to handle it according to the law," Ms. Lan informed.

Ms. Lan also said that Bach Mai Street used to belong to Bach Mai Ward, but has just merged into Bach Khoa Ward. Currently, the authorities are gradually taking control of the area.

Previously, on social networks, a user shared on his personal page about his unhappy experience on the first night of Tet at the vermicelli soup restaurant at 54 Bach Mai ward (Hai Ba Trung district).

She said she went out for a late-night snack with her father and brother. Because she didn’t ask for the price first, when it came time to pay, the owner told her the price was 1.2 million VND for 3 bowls of vermicelli soup (400,000 VND/bowl), which shocked her whole family. After paying, she warned the community about the price gouging during Tet and that if you use a service, you should ask for the price first.

Suspending the operation of a vermicelli shop in Hanoi that sold 3 bowls of vermicelli for 1.2 million VND on Tet holiday photo 2

Customers warned about price gouging during Tet holiday.

Immediately after the post, a user named Nguyen Oanh, claiming to be the owner's sister, said: I am the owner of a vermicelli soup restaurant at 54 Bach Mai. If eating 3 full bowls costs 1.2 million VND, I suggest customers report it to the police. Because on Tet holiday, the restaurant only dares to increase the price by 5,000 VND to 10,000 VND for a bowl of vermicelli. Therefore, the highest price is only 60,000 VND/full bowl of vermicelli.

However, after the customer provided evidence and a transfer receipt of 1.2 million VND, the restaurant owner apologized to the customer, asked for information to reconcile and transfer the excess money. This person said that his brother often joked with the customer and perhaps the customer misunderstood, so he transferred the money like that.

However, the account owner, believed to be a customer, said that when he heard the restaurant owner demand 1.2 million VND, his family asked twice before transferring the money.

According to Tien Phong