The People’s Committee of the southern coastal city of Vung Tau recently requested local agencies to strictly sanction rip-offs on tourists during the coming national holiday to mark Vietnam National Day (September 2).

The authorities have asked local broadcasting stations to air news about rip-offs to warn tourists visiting to the city and established a hotline for tourists to report incidents in case they become a victim of a scam.

The committee also said they will pay more attention to eateries which have been previously fined for ripping off customers.

In March, two eateries in the city were fined VND36.2 million (US$1,730) in total for overcharging tourists.

Tran Thanh Huong, who runs the Nhu Y eatery at 306 Phan Chu Trinh Street, was fined VND25 million for distributing advertising flyers without permission, and for “using food additives with dubious origins in food trading.” In February the same restaurant was found using a weight-adding scale to deceive customers. The scale, which was put near the seafood tank for customers to check food weight, would automatically add 300g to the seafood being weighed.

Meanwhile, Tran Thi Hue, owner of the Hung Phat 2 eatery at 189 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, received a VND11.2-million fine and had her business license revoked for charging customers higher prices than registered. Customers visiting the restaurant would be invited to try Thai hotpot, a dish that the eatery said cost only VND100,000 ($5), but then customers would be charged an exorbitant price when the bill came.

Vung Tau isn’t the only area with this is a problem, as many tourists visiting Hanoi’s famous Old Quarter have also complained that they have been ripped off by an army of street vendors who employ numerous tricks to take their money.