Soon to be brides and grooms in Da Nang City and the central region who signed contracts with Mai Wedding were left feeling betrayed and frustrated as their big day approaches, unable to obtain engagement photos, gowns, or tuxedos.
Reasons for the sudden closure of the company, which has outlets in Da Nang and the central provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, and Quang Binh, are unknown.
Many had paid tens of millions of Vietnamese dong (VND10 million= $414) for a package including a wedding reception.
Earlier this week, Phan Tuan Hung wrote on Facebook that he had booked and paid a deposit for wedding photography on Oct. 7, but the shop closed down and didn't send him engagement photos.
Thai Thanh, another client of Mai Wedding, shared her story online, saying after signing a contract for wedding photography, she transferred VND19 million, or 100% of the service cost, to the company.
"I am frightened that I may lose my money for good," she lamented, indicating in her post that this was a sizable amount for her.
On Oct. 13, some of the staff at Mai Wedding apologized to customers still waiting for their photos on the store's official Facebook page. The employees wrote that they have been working without pay for the past 1.5 months.
Colonel Tran Phuoc Huong, chief of Da Nang's Hai Chau District Police told Tuoi Tre Newspaper a large number of people flocked to the store, so the district police sent ward officers to ensure safety and order. So far, no one has filed a complaint with Hai Chau District Public Security Agency about the case.