Price Controversy at Hanoi Crab Noodle Soup Restaurant

The local authorities in Bach Khoa Ward, Hanoi, have mobilized police and health officials to investigate a concerning report regarding a restaurant’s pricing practices.

As the inquiry unfolds, the crab noodle soup venue located at 54 Bach Mai Street remains closed amid allegations of price gouging.

Ms. Hoang Thi Tuyet Lan, Chairwoman of the People’s Committee, revealed that the restaurant owner admitted to the pricing error during discussions with authorities.

The owner claimed that charging 1.2 million VND for three bowls of noodle soup was intended as a “joke,” but their customer took it seriously and transferred the funds.

Once the misunderstanding was uncovered, the restaurant posted an apology online and sought to refund the customer. Unable to contact them directly, the owner collaborated with their bank to facilitate the refund.

This incident came to light after a customer shared their negative experience on the first night of Tet, revealing that they were shocked by the exorbitant 1.2 million VND charge after dining without prior price inquiry.

Following the incident, the customer alerted others on social media about potential price gouging during Tet, encouraging them to verify costs before placing orders.

In response to the backlash, a social media account linked to the restaurant owner claimed that the prices had only increased by 10,000 VND per bowl during the holiday, with dishes priced at a maximum of 60,000 VND.

However, after the customer provided evidence of their 1.2 million VND payment, the restaurant’s owner issued an apology and offered to return the excess funds.

Despite the apology, the customer insisted they had confirmed the price of 1.2 million VND during the transaction on two occasions.

The investigation by the authorities is still ongoing.