Shoeblack fined $85 for soliciting foreign tourist in Hanoi

By Hoang Phong February 15, 2023 | 04:00 am PT

People walk in the Sword Lake area in downtown Hanoi, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Authorities in Hanoi's downtown Hoan Kiem District has slapped a fine of VND2 million ($85) on a shoeblack for trying to coerce a foreign tourist to have his shoes shined.

The 36-year-old man admitted to local police that he actively shined the shoes of a foreign man while he was walking in the Sword Lake area to "ask for money," Giao Thong newspaper reported.

Earlier, a video clip shared on social media showed the shoeblack chasing the tourist to shine his shoes, though the foreigner gestured that he was not interested. The tourist then gave the shoeblack VND10,000 but he did not accept it and asked for VND20,000, the report said.

After the incident triggered public attention, local authorities stepped in to investigate the case.

Hanoi received 1.5 million foreign tourists last year, just more than a quarter of 2019. The capital aims to attract three million foreign tourists this year.