Total bill 4.7 million VND, charity group accuses restaurant in Yen Bai of overcharging

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.

This establishment specializes in serving dishes such as hill chicken, wild boar, and stream fish (Photo: Hien Anh Restaurant).

Immediately, the article attracted a large number of interactions with many mixed opinions. Most said that the above price was much higher than the average.

In addition, many people commented that, in the context of people in the Northern provinces struggling to overcome the consequences after the storm, many restaurants invite volunteer groups to eat for free, the appearance of establishments showing signs of overcharging is unacceptable.

"We hope local authorities will quickly step in to verify whether this establishment is ripping off customers or not," Thu Minh commented.

Dan Tri reporters conducted a quick survey at a number of restaurants specializing in selling catfish (including farmed catfish and catfish living naturally in rivers) to find out the price.

The owner of a restaurant specializing in catfish in Phuc Loc, Yen Bai city, said that river catfish weighing less than 5kg cost from 700,000 VND to 800,000 VND/kg at the boat.

Natural catfish weighing over 5kg, depending on the time, is purchased from the boat for 800,000 VND - 900,000 VND/kg.

"If a restaurant sells processed wild catfish for 1.1 million VND - 1.2 million VND/kg, it is processed wild catfish. In the market, farmed catfish will sell for 150,000 VND - 170,000 VND/kg. Restaurants sell processed fish for 400,000 VND - 500,000 VND/kg," said a restaurant owner in Yen Bai.

On the afternoon of September 19, speaking with Dan Tri reporter, the leader of Gioi Phien Commune People's Committee (Yen Bai City) said that on the morning of the same day, a working group including Market Management Team No. 2 - Yen Bai Market Management Department, Gioi Phien Commune Police came to work with Hien Anh restaurant about the content reflected on social networks.

At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Quoc An - Owner of Hien Anh restaurant said that at around 10:00 a.m. 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 the menu and gave a 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, which is more than 4 million VND.

Authorities work with the owner of Hien Anh restaurant (Photo: Hoang Duc).

"The restaurant guarantees that the catfish is natural, 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 anything wrong, it will be responsible before the law and the authorities," Mr. An explained to the working group.

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

The leader of the People's Committee of Gioi Phien commune said that normally, river catfish costs more than one million VND/kg. Through asking the owner of Hien Anh restaurant, we learned that when the above mentioned group of guests entered, the restaurant showed them the publicly posted price list.

When the group finished eating, they did not react, but when they got home, they posted on social media.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/tong-hoa-don-47-trieu-dong-doan-tu-thien-to-nha-hang-o-yen-bai-chat-chem-20240919162620347.htm