Brian Jeffrey
In Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Nghe ward, authorities quickly acted in response to claims of unfair pricing from electric scooter rental services on Nguyen Hue Street. This follows a viral video implicating them in exploiting popular streamer IshowSpeed.
This event has sparked discussions surrounding tourist experiences and the ethical conduct of local businesses.
On the evening of September 14, amid an influx of social media commentary, local police questioned two individuals captured in a livestream with IshowSpeed.
The stream showcased a situation where the content creator was quoted an excessive rental rate for a brief scooter ride, instantly capturing public interest.
The controversy ignited when IshowSpeed, aka Darren Watkins Jr., a 19-year-old American notable for his YouTube and streaming career, was reportedly charged 100 USD for renting a scooter.
After he began to pay, another vendor insisted on a fee of 1 million VND, leading the streamer to ultimately pay this amount for just a few minutes of usage.
With the live stream attracting 169,000 viewers, the incident gained significant visibility, resulting in widespread backlash on social media.
Social media critics pointed out that such incidents could negatively affect Vietnam’s tourism image and harm the country’s reputation globally.
In response, Mr. Le Duc Thanh, chairman of the District 1 People’s Committee, voiced his concerns regarding the potential damage to the country’s reputation. He mentioned that he had instructed the Ben Nghe ward People’s Committee to contact IshowSpeed, extend an apology, and arrange for the reimbursement of the overcharged fee.
Dam De
