HCMC tourism authority steps in after Taiwanese tourist overcharged by coconut vendor

The incident came to the light after the tourist Becky Chan posted a video on her TikTok on Tuesday saying she had been charged VND150,000 (US$6) for a coconut, more than 10 times the normal price.

While she was walking along the sidewalk in front of Ho Chi Minh City Museum on Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1, a coconut vendor approached her and showed her the entrance to the museum.

Then, the man took out a coconut from his foam box and charged her VND150,000.

When the tourist hesitated, he quickly reduced the price to VND50,000, saying "such a price was also for Vietnamese."

Normally, a coconut on Saigon streets ranges from VND10,000-15,000.

However, she refused and walked away.

Inspectors would work with police officers to clarify the incident and tighten crackdown on scams at tourist attractions and museums across the city, Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the municipal tourism department, said as cited by Vietnam News Agency.

Overcharging foreign tourists has become a headache for the tourism industry.

Last August, a clothes seller in Ben Thanh Market was prohibited from doing business for a week after charging a Japanese tourist 12 times the normal price for socks.

The incident was widely shared on social media and YouTube channels, with many leaving negative comments about tourism in Vietnam.