Accused of "ripping off" a charity group, what did the restaurant owner in Yen Bai say?

After a social media account's post accusing Hien Anh restaurant in Yen Bai of overcharging a flood relief group caused a stir in public opinion, local authorities stepped in to verify.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Long - Deputy Head of Market Management Team No. 2 (Yen Bai Market Management Department) said that immediately after receiving information that a restaurant in Yen Bai was accused of overcharging a flood charity group, the leaders of Yen Bai City directed relevant departments and offices to verify.

On the morning of September 19, the inspection team including Market Management Team No. 2 (Yen Bai Market Management Department) and Gioi Phien Commune Police, Yen Bai City came to work with Hien Anh restaurant about the content of the reflection.

Authorities work with the restaurant to verify information. Photo: Tien Phong

At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Quoc An - Owner of Hien Anh restaurant said that at around 10am on September 18, a group of guests in a 16-seat car with a volunteer car banner hanging in front, with 12 people in the car, came to the restaurant for lunch.

Upon arrival, the people on the bus asked about the dishes. The restaurant introduced and gave the menu and price list. After the selection process, the group chose to eat the river catfish specialty.

The restaurant owner explained that according to the price list, river catfish prepared in dishes is 1.2 million VND/kg. Because the car belongs to the volunteer group, the restaurant reduced the price by 30%, with the price of 900,000 VND/kg, the fish weighed 4.5kg, the total cost is 4,050,000 VND.

“The restaurant guarantees that the catfish is wild, not farmed. The total cost of the meal was 4,765,000 VND, divided equally among 12 people, which is less than 400,000 VND/person, which is not considered a rip-off. The restaurant did nothing wrong, if it did, it will be held responsible before the law and the authorities,” said Mr. An.

Regarding this issue, the leader of Market Management Team No. 2 said that the unit is currently in the process of verifying information and clarifying related issues such as food sources, staff, etc. Only then will there be an official conclusion about the incident.

Previously, on the evening of September 18, an account shared information on social media and claimed to have been ripped off at a restaurant in Yen Bai.

This account said that a charity group of 12 people went to Yen Bai to provide relief to people after the flood. At noon, the group stopped at a restaurant and had lunch.

Specifically, the group of 12 guests ordered 4.5kg of river catfish (VND900,000/kg), 2 plates of fried meat (VND180,000/plate), 9 cans of beer (VND25,000/can), 6 cans of soft drinks (VND15,000/can) and 2 bowls of rice (VND20,000/bowl).

When paying, the bill for the whole group was 4,765,000 VND. The guest said that this price was "unacceptable" when the groups went to Yen Bai to do charity work for the people.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bi-to-chat-chem-doan-tu-thien-chu-nha-hang-o-yen-bai-noi-gi-post313130.html