Hanoi vendor fined $6 for overcharging foreign tourists

The move came after a video went viral on social media showing two foreign tourists arguing with a street vendor on Thuy Khue Street in Tay Ho District last week, Cong An Nhan Dan newspaper reported.

Initially, the two tourists were approached by the vendor selling tropical fruits from on her bicycle. After one of them tasted an Indian jujube, a small green apple, the female tourist praised the delicious flavor and asked the vendor how much a small bag would cost.

Due to language barriers, the tourist gave a VND200,000 bill, but felt she got too few fruits in exchange and asked the vendor to return the change.

However, the vendor refused, then the two sides entered into a quarrel. The incident only stopped when a nearby security guard advised the vendor, who admitted that the bag cost only VND50,000, to return the change to the tourist.

When working with authorities, the vendor admitted that her act was wrong and apologized for unintentionally creating a bad impression of Vietnam among foreign tourists.