On the afternoon of February 25, Trinh Hoang Tung, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoan Kiem ward in Hanoi, said the ward authorities had directed Hoan Kiem ward police to urgently investigate a complaint from a female American tourist who reported being taken on a detour and charged an excessive fare on February 24.

Following verification, authorities identified the driver as Pham Van Lich, born in 1964 and residing in Nghia Do ward, Hanoi. Working with Hoan Kiem ward police, Lich admitted that he had picked up the tourist, deliberately taken her to locations outside the agreed route and charged VND1 million (US$41) for the trip.

Lich committed not to repeat the violation, refunded the money and apologized to the tourist. Authorities are completing procedures to impose an administrative penalty in accordance with regulations.

On the same day, the American tourist, Clarissa, received the returned VND1 million (US$41). However, she paid Lich VND200,000 (US$8) for the ride and accepted VND800,000 (US$33) as reimbursement.

Clarissa expressed her appreciation for the prompt support from the police and hoped authorities would continue raising awareness to prevent similar incidents. She is scheduled to return to the US on the evening of February 25 as originally planned.

Earlier, a social media account identified as N.T.D. posted that a friend of his, a US national, had been charged VND1 million (US$41) by a motorbike taxi driver for a roughly 7km journey from the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology on Nguyen Van Huyen Street in Quan Hoa ward to a restaurant on Trang Tien Street in Hoan Kiem ward.

Hanoi has previously recorded similar cases involving allegations of overcharging foreign visitors.

In September 2025, tourist P.D., an Australian national, and his family hired two men to take them on a cyclo tour around Hanoi’s Old Quarter. At the end of the trip, the two drivers collected VND1.2 million (US$49). After receiving the information, Hoan Kiem ward police summoned the drivers. At the station, they admitted wrongdoing and refunded the full amount to the tourists. Authorities issued reports and required written commitments not to repeat the behavior.

In May 2024, two French tourists reported that a taxi driver charged them VND500,000 (US$20) for a trip from Tran Nhat Duat Street to Cho Gao Street. When the passengers accidentally left their passports in the vehicle, the driver returned them and demanded an additional VND500,000 (US$20). The incident was later shared on social media and drew significant public attention. The driver was summoned and handled in accordance with regulations.

While authorities have responded promptly to these cases, the incidents continue to underscore the need for stricter management of passenger transport services to ensure Hanoi maintains its image as a safe and welcoming destination for international visitors.

Linh Trang