Michelin-recommended Hanoi restaurateur charged with $94,000 tax evasion

Authorities say the pair underreported the restaurant's revenue by nearly half, declaring only VND29 billion out of an actual VND53 billion, and received payments worth VND23 billion through personal bank accounts.

According to the Hanoi People's Procuracy, Hoang Tung, 33, the restaurant's founder who also serves as its director and legal representative, and shareholder Nguyen Do Nguyet Anh, 33, used their personal accounts to collect customer payments without issuing invoices or declaring taxes between 2019 and 2023. The hidden revenue, prosecutors said, was used partly for distributing dividends and partly for restaurant operations.

The scheme was uncovered during an inspection in March 2024 by the Hanoi Tax Department. Investigators found that while the restaurant's official accounts showed VND29.5 billion in income, the real figure exceeded VND53 billion. The undeclared portion amounted to VND23.5 billion in sales and more than VND2.4 billion in unpaid tax.

Prosecutors said the pair later repaid the owed amount before being indicted. Four other shareholders were not charged, as they were not involved in the company's daily management and had unsuccessfully requested an audit when they suspected irregularities.

Both Tung and Anh are currently out on bail. The case will be heard by the Hanoi People's Court in the coming weeks.

Tung Dining, established in 2018, has been recognized among Asia's top 100 restaurants by The World's 50 Best Restaurants and received a Bib Gourmand distinction from Michelin in June 2024 for serving refined yet affordable dishes. Tung himself was named to the 2022 edition of Forbes Vietnam's "Under 30" list, which recognizes young entrepreneurs and leaders under the age of 30 who are making significant impacts.