Lieut. Col. Đinh Đức Hạnh, Chief of Police of Hàng Buồm Ward, stated that after receiving reports from the media and other channels, the People's Committee and Police of Hoàn Kiếm has directed the ward's police to urgently coordinate with relevant parties to investigate the incident.

Previously, posts were circulating on Facebook, seeking information about the taxi driver extorting Western passengers in Hà Nội, claiming that the driver charged VNĐ500,000 (US$20) from a foreign passenger for a short 200m ride by taxi from Trần Nhật Duật to Chợ Gạo Street.

Later, as the passenger accidently left their passport in the car, the driver attempted to demand an additional VNĐ500,000 to return it to the owner. The tourists reportedly told their encounter to the Vietnamese tour operator who met with them later to bring them to Cát Bà (Hải Phòng).

The photo of the licence plate was also included in these social media posts.

After working with the taxi company, the police determined that the reported vehicle had indeed operated for the company. However, it had been transferred to someone else two years ago and is no longer in service for the company. — VNS