Hanoi verifies video of vendor attempting to sell water apples to foreigner at US$7.9/kg
Sunday, June 30, 2024, 11:07 GMT+7
Authorities in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi are verifying a video depicting a woman attempting to sell water apples, also known as Java apples or wax apples, to a foreign man at VND200,000 (US$7.9) per kilogram, which was supposedly too expensive.
A leader of the administration in Hoan Kiem District said on Friday that the administration tasked the district police with investigating the case.
The circulated video on social media platforms showed that the woman told the foreign man that a kilogram of water apples cost VND200,000 ($7.9).
She later weighed two water apples and said they weighed 200 grams and cost VND40,000 ($1.6).
The foreigner bargained the price down to VND30,000 ($1.2).
The vendor was reluctant but still agreed.
The foreign tourist said thank you, paid for the water apples, and left.
The case was supposed to happen in the renowned Ho Guom (Sword Lake) pedestrian area.
The video has caused mixed opinions on social media, with most of them saying the price was too high.
Many others questioned the authenticity of the video as the vendor still sold the water apples at such a price although she knew that the foreigner was filming the video.
The foreign man has uploaded many videos of him experiencing street food in Vietnam to TikTok. He can speak Vietnamese fluently.
Water apples are currently priced at about VND50,000-80,000 ($2-3.1) per kilogram in Hanoi.
A fruit trader at a wholesale market in the capital city said water apples were scarce over the past few days, so their price was pushed up. However, the water apple retail price does not exceed VND80,000 ($3.1) per kilogram.
The price of VND200,000 ($7.9) per kilogram was too high, the trader added.
Authorities in Hanoi are verifying a video of a vendor attempting to sell water apples to a foreigner at VND200,000 ($7.9) per kilogram.
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