On China’s social media platform Rednote, many Chinese tourists who have been to Nha Trang, a popular tourist city in south-central Vietnam, have shared mixed experiences about the cuisine in the coastal city, especially regarding a restaurant that was recently accused of 'overcharging' by a group of Chinese tourists.

Among them, a tourist with the account name 'Ahula' recounted a bad experience at Aroma Beach Restaurant in August 2024.

This person said that upon entering the restaurant, they were attracted by a large billboard with Chinese words, thinking it was a friendly place for foreign tourists. However, the actual experience was completely the opposite.

The prices of dishes at the restaurant were unreasonably inflated, such as stir-fried water spinach costing more than 60 yuan (US$8.2). 

Most notably, a crab smaller than a hand palm cost 230 yuan ($31.6). These prices were not listed on the menu.

When this tourist questioned the prices, an employee at the restaurant immediately presented an illustration to prove that the crab was a special type of crab. However, according to the tourist, the crab was actually normal.

What made many tourists angry was that Aroma Beach Restaurant showed signs of targeting foreign tourists. On the Rednote app, many posts warned tourists about this place.

Tourists noticed that while adjacent restaurants did not have signs in Chinese, Aroma Beach Restaurant had large signs in Chinese to attract tourists.

Many tourists wondered if the restaurant deliberately deceived tourists who were not familiar with local prices.

Negative reviews about Aroma Beach have been repeatedly spread on Chinese social media, attracting the attention of many tourists who have visited Nha Trang.

Some tourists advised others to stay away from restaurants with overly large foreign language signs and failing to clearly display prices to avoid being ripped off.

Compliments about good experiences in Nha Trang

Some Chinese tourists also shared that they had good trips to Nha Trang thanks to choosing reliable restaurants introduced by local tour guides.

A tourist from Hebei who just returned from Nha Trang shared that they placed their trust in local tour guides. On February 5, they had a meal at a grill restaurant and received attentive service as staff helped them grill food with a friendly attitude, especially caring for young children.

Everything took place in a comfortable atmosphere, without any worry about the price or quality of food. They also felt a balance between price and experience and did not have to be concerned about being overcharged or encountering unwanted situations.

Language differences were no longer a barrier with the support of tour guides, ensuring the trip went smoothly and safely.

“Despite encountering problems, don't let it affect your mood as Nha Trang is truly a relaxing and comfortable place, making me feel happy and want to come back,” the tourist added.

Overcharging tourists is not a new problem in the tourism sector, but when it occurs in a famous city like Nha Trang, the incident attracts attention and strong reactions.

Some restaurants have taken advantage of the lack of knowledge about prices, language barriers, and the timidity of foreign tourists to use sophisticated tricks.

Initially, they may introduce a menu with prices that seem reasonable, but when it comes to payment, the numbers on the bill are much higher than expected, sometimes with dishes that customers have never ordered.

Those who do not check bills carefully are easy to fall into the trap. If there are questions, customers will only receive vague explanations, or even evidence prepared to justify the unreasonable prices.

What is worth mentioning is that many tourists experiencing such situations choose to remain silent or only speak out on social media when they return home.

They know that arguing on the spot does not bring results as the owner can shirk responsibility or simply deny it completely. In reality, such stories are no longer new but have gradually become a form of business based on tourists’ lack of vigilance.

Despite loving the beautiful scenery, people or culture of a place, tourists will lose their excitement after being cheated.

When similar stories spread, the reputation of a tourist destination will be damaged and difficult to recover in the eyes of foreign tourists.

Earlier, a post titled 'A restaurant in Nha Trang charges exorbitant prices, overcharges foreign tourists' went viral on Facebook.

The post claimed to be based on information circulating on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu.

It listed exorbitant prices such as VND1.89 million ($74.9) for grilled eggplant with scallion oil, VND500,000 ($19.8) for a single plate of stir-fried water spinach with garlic, VND325,000 ($12.9) for a bowl of pho (beef or chicken noodle soup), and VND200,000 ($7.9) for two cans of Coca-Cola.

The total reportedly reached VND15.724 million ($624.5), with an additional VND4.7 million ($186) as a ‘Tet holiday surcharge,’ bringing the final amount payable by the diners to over VND20.4 million ($810.5).

The post sparked widespread outrage, with many criticizing the restaurant for damaging Nha Trang's tourism reputation. Others called on authorities to investigate the pricing and surcharge policies, particularly during the holiday season.

The owner of Aroma Beach Restaurant later told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that a group of nearly 20 Chinese tourists dined at his restaurant on Monday.

When ordering, the guests requested one portion for the entire group. As the restaurant staff informed them that a standard portion was only enough for one person, the group decided to order each dish in a quantity sufficient for them all.

As a result, the bill reflected prices calculated for large portions rather than single servings.

When the restaurant presented the bill, which calculated prices based on portions meant for multiple people, the tourists objected and insisted on being charged according to the menu's single-serving prices.

The restaurant refused, leading to negotiations between the two parties. Eventually, the group agreed to pay half of the original bill, which totaled VND20.4 million ($810.5), including a Tet break surcharge.

The restaurant owner clarified that the surcharge was for alcoholic beverages and tea, which the customers had brought into the restaurant. This extra fee had been agreed upon in advance.

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!