In Vietnam, cases of tourists refusing to pay for services are being discussed
In Vietnam, cases are being discussed in which foreign tourists refuse to pay the bill after receiving services. The reason for the discussion was an incident in Da Nang: a passenger from India, after a taxi ride, told the driver that he had no money and refused to pay for the trip. The story spread on social media in Vietnam and India.
According to Tuoi Tre, such situations arise not only with taxis. In one recently surfaced video, two foreign tourists, after filling their motorcycles at a gas station, also allegedly refused to pay for the fuel. As a result, a Vietnamese man who was nearby intervened and paid the bill.
At the same time, drivers note that in many cases the amounts involved are relatively small. One ride-hailing driver in Da Nang said that he had encountered a foreign passenger refusing to pay. According to him, drivers sometimes prefer not to contact the police because of the time involved and simply accept the loss.
Former manager of a major taxi company Le Viet Chai recommends first calmly finding out the cause of the problem. If a tourist cannot pay for the trip in cash, a bank card, transfer, or another electronic payment method can be offered. If there is a language barrier, a translation app may help the driver.
If the tourist really has a payment problem, the specialist suggests contacting his relatives, hotel, or travel company. However, helping to resolve the situation, he says, does not mean that the driver is obliged to pay for the service on behalf of the client.
If the person continues to refuse payment, service workers are advised not to threaten, use force, or hold the tourist’s passport or luggage. Instead, they should keep information about the trip or service — the amount, time, place, and the client’s details, if available — and, if necessary, contact the transport company or law enforcement authorities.
At the same time, Vietnamese legislation directly establishes the obligation of tourists to pay for services in accordance with the contract and established rules. This provision is set out in Article 36 of the Law on Tourism.
Thus, in the event of a disputed situation between a tourist and a service provider, it is recommended to first try to resolve the issue peacefully and check the available payment methods. If an agreement cannot be reached, the matter may be referred to the competent authorities.
Source: https://news.tuoitre.vn/foreign-tourists-refuse-to-pay-how-should-vietnamese-service-workers-respond-103260908154351133.htm Source: https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?docid=32495&pageid=27160
