The Nha Trang City People’s Committee in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam has asked a market surveillance team to work with relevant agencies to address a complaint that some foreign tourists were overcharged by a seafood restaurant in the coastal city.

Nguyen Sy Khanh, chairman of the Nha Trang People’s Committee, said on Monday that the agency was notified of a claim made on social media about overcharging at the Nha Be seafood restaurant on Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward in the famous beach city.

The foreign diners were required to pay a bill of over VND8.7 million (US$372) for 11.8 kilograms of seafood, according to a Facebook user.

The provincial People’s Committee ordered the verification result to be submitted prior to 10:00 am on Wednesday.

At 11:00 am on Monday, a Facebook account named Le Thai Son posted a story claiming that three Chinese nationals were ripped off after having a dinner at the seafood eatery in Nha Trang City.

According to the post, Son’s boss and two other Chinese nationals went to the Nha Be seafood eatery for dinner. After asking for a bill, they were shocked at the total, so his boss called him to the eatery.

The VND8.7-million bill includes VND1.2 million ($51.3) for 2.8 kilograms of first-rate crab, VND950,000 ($40.6) for two kilograms of squid, VND420,000 ($18) for 3.5 kilograms of diamond shell clams, and VND580,000 ($24.8) for 3.5 kilograms of sea urchin.

“These Chinese diners said that they were not informed of menu prices and did not check the weight of these sea creatures," the Facebook user wrote in doubt.

"Due to not noticing the menu prices, they had to pay for the bill.

"It is acceptable. However, it is unbelievable that three people could eat as much as 11.8 kilograms of seafood.”

The eatery has no bank account and asked for a cash payment. The bill excluded the value-added tax, he recounted.

V.Q.K., the manager of the Nha Be seafood eatery, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday that he had just been informed of the case as on that day, when these diners had a meal there, he was not present.

He said he would check it again.

Many eatery owners in Nha Trang City said that the prices of the seafood listed in the bill were higher than those at some others, but they were not overpriced.

The prices were calculated based on fresh materials and space rent. The eatery sits on the crowded Tran Phu Street.

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