A woman who attempted to sell water apples to a foreign man at VND200,000 (US$7.9) per kilogram in Hanoi was fined VND150,000 ($5.9) for peddling on roadbeds, local police said on Monday.

Police in Hang Bac Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi said the fine was imposed on V.T.T., a 42-year-old vendor residing in Hoang Mai District.

According to police officers, there is no ground to conclude that T. had overcharged the tourist as the deal was made in an amicable manner.

The tourist agreed to pay VND30,000 ($1.2) for two water apples and did not express any objections afterward.

V.T.T. said she had suspended peddling for several days.

She added that the case had happened in the renowned Ho Guom (Sword Lake) pedestrian area about two weeks earlier.

The foreign tourist who could speak Vietnamese fluently came to buy water apples and said he wanted to film a video to keep the memory.

The woman explained that she set a high price because she purchased large and high-quality water apples from a supermarket at around VND80,000-90,000 ($3.20-3.60), and sometimes even VND100,000 ($4) per kilogram.

She offered the price of VND200,000 per kilogram so that buyers would bargain later, she claimed.

Earlier, a video circulated on social media platforms showing the woman telling the foreign man that a kilogram of water apples cost VND200,000.

She then weighed two water apples and claimed they were 200 grams in weight, fetching a total of VND40,000 ($1.60).

The foreigner negotiated the price down to VND30,000 ($1.20).

The vendor, though reluctant, eventually agreed. The foreign tourist thanked her, paid for the water apples, and left.

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 rate even though she knew that the foreigner was filming the video.

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