Authorities in Nha Trang, a popular tourist city in south-central Vietnam, have issued a decision to impose a total administrative fine of nearly US$3,800 on Aroma Beach restaurant for committing five violations, including overcharging a group of more than 15 Chinese tourists.

Tran Minh Chien, chairman of the Nha Trang administration, confirmed the fine on Tuesday evening to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The restaurant is located at 30 Nguyen Thien Thuat Street.

On February 4, one day after the Chinese diners visited the eatery, a Facebook post titled 'A restaurant in Nha Trang charges exorbitant prices, overcharges foreign tourists' went viral.

The post accused Aroma Beach of charging the Chinese tourist group VND1,890,000 ($74) for a simple dish of grilled eggplant with scallion oil, along with other overpriced items.

The claim was reportedly based on information circulating on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu.

Local authorities responded by forming an interagency inspection team that visited the restaurant the next day. However, they were unable to meet the owner, Ho Van Tam, as the establishment was closed, and its signboard had been removed.

A follow-up inspection was conducted on February 6.

During the examination, inspectors determined that Aroma Beach, operated by Dai Tam Phat Nha Trang Co., Ltd., with Tam as its director, had committed five violations.

Firstly, the restaurant advertised products without Vietnamese-language representation, displaying four lightboxes with advertisements in Chinese and Korean but no Vietnamese text.

Secondly, it provided food services without the required food safety certificate.

Thirdly, during the inspection, the business did not have a signboard displaying its name at its operating location.

Fourthly, the restaurant failed to list prices for several food and beverage items.

Lastly, it charged customers higher prices than those listed.

The fines for these infractions ranged from VND1.5 million ($59) to VND40 million ($1,570), totaling VND96.5 million ($3,780).

According to the penalty decision, the restaurant must rectify all violations and refund VND5.89 million ($231) to the Chinese tourist group as the overcharged amount.

If the restaurant cannot identify the customers or the refund is refused, the money must be paid into the state budget.

The inspection team has recommended that the Nha Trang City Tax Department further investigate the establishment’s tax obligations.

Additionally, Tam has been instructed to suspend Aroma Beach’s operations until all legal food safety requirements are met.

As shown in the restaurant’s bill posted on social media, in addition to the overpriced grilled eggplant dish, Aroma Beach charged the group VND500,000 ($19.6) for a plate of rau muong xao toi (stir-fried water spinach with garlic), VND250,000 ($9.8) for com trang (plain rice), VND325,000 ($12.7) for a bowl of pho (beef or chicken noodle soup), and VND200,000 ($7.8) for two cans of Coca-Cola, among other items.

The total bill amounted to VND20,441,200 ($801), including a Lunar New Year (Tet) break surcharge of VND4,717,200 ($185).

Tam later clarified that this surcharge was for the group's consumption of beer and liquor they had brought in.

When the bill was presented, the guests disputed the charges, leading to a disagreement. Eventually, the restaurant agreed to a reduced payment of 4,482 Chinese yuan ($615) instead of the full amount on the bill, according to Tam.

He also explained to Tuoi Tre that the guests had initially requested a single portion for the entire group. After the restaurant staff informed them that a standard portion was only enough for one person, they chose to order each dish in a quantity sufficient for all.

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

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