Phu Quoc crackdown on dubious businesses nets just one shop

Inspectors let away the owner of Duc Thanh specialty shop, which sells sim wine made from rice wine, sim fruit and pepper, in Duong To Commune with a warning and instructed them to fully list their prices and not repeat the offense.

No violations were detected elsewhere.

The inspection team led by Huynh Thanh Minh, head of the city’s Economic Department, is checking for quality and listing of prices at business establishments in what will be a week-long campaign.

The inspectors are also checking tour guides, taxis, canoes, tourist boats, and other means of transport for quality and fares.

Vietnam’s largest island has been suffering a recent slump in visitor numbers as tourists voted with their feet amid soaring airfares, exorbitantly priced hotels and various scams.

The number of visitors was 160,000-170,000 a day in the first half of this year, but the figure has decreased by 30-50% in the last three months.

In fact, the slump in demand has caused the suspension of flights from Da Nang, Nha Trang and Can Tho to the island.