Restaurant fined after customers paid for their seats
A restaurant in Hai Phong City has been fined VND2m (USD80) on May 28 after asking customers to pay for their seats in addition to their meals.
When being questioned, the restaurant owner only said, "It's the rule here."
Another customer was upset that they weren't informed about this extra fee before calling the meals. "If we had known that we'd be charged to sit when eating seafood, no-one would come here," she said.
Many people, including the locals at Do Son, have expressed anger and disappointment at the services.
Vice Chairman of Do Son District Hoang Trung Hien said the local authorities and the inspectorate from the Department of Tourism had investigated the case and confirmed that the restaurant owner Duong Thi Nhung had charged for seating. However, Nhung said they already made a deal with the customers.
Hieu said, "According to Nhung, a group of 30 came to her restaurant at 1.45 pm. They made a deal that if the total cost were below VND2m then Nhung would collect VND20,000 per person a place. She said she collected VND500,000 for the seats."
Son said it was illegal to collect such a charge and restaurants are banned from placing tables and chairs on the sand like Nhung's restaurant. Pham Van Luat, chief inspector at the Department of Tourism said they had worked with Nhung on May 25. She was ordered to return VND500,000 and was fined VND2m (USD20) for forcing customers to use her service.
The group made to pay for the seats at a restaurant in Hai Phong on May 25
When being questioned, the restaurant owner only said, "It's the rule here."
Another customer was upset that they weren't informed about this extra fee before calling the meals. "If we had known that we'd be charged to sit when eating seafood, no-one would come here," she said.
Many people, including the locals at Do Son, have expressed anger and disappointment at the services.
Vice Chairman of Do Son District Hoang Trung Hien said the local authorities and the inspectorate from the Department of Tourism had investigated the case and confirmed that the restaurant owner Duong Thi Nhung had charged for seating. However, Nhung said they already made a deal with the customers.
Hieu said, "According to Nhung, a group of 30 came to her restaurant at 1.45 pm. They made a deal that if the total cost were below VND2m then Nhung would collect VND20,000 per person a place. She said she collected VND500,000 for the seats."
Son said it was illegal to collect such a charge and restaurants are banned from placing tables and chairs on the sand like Nhung's restaurant. Pham Van Luat, chief inspector at the Department of Tourism said they had worked with Nhung on May 25. She was ordered to return VND500,000 and was fined VND2m (USD20) for forcing customers to use her service.
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