A complaint surfaced on a Cua Lo tourism forum on 20/7, featuring a bill totaling 720,000 VND and the restaurant's menu. This post prompted numerous calls for authorities to investigate the establishment's pricing practices.

Following the complaint, Cua Lo ward police dispatched officers to investigate, engaging with the restaurant owner, staff, and the individual who made the online post.

Authorities initially identified the incident as occurring just after midnight on 20/7 at Minh Kiem late-night eatery, located in Thu Thuy 1. A group of about 15 customers ordered two large eel porridges, two oyster porridges, two plates of fried bread, and two pitchers of iced tea.

The restaurant owner and serving staff stated that no price was discussed when the initial order was placed. Subsequently, a customer from the group entered the kitchen to request more eel. The kitchen staff then quoted 200,000 VND for a standard large eel porridge, a price the customer accepted for the added eel.

The restaurant prepared two bowls of porridge with an increased amount of eel, charging 250,000 VND per bowl. However, "due to an oversight," the staff did not inform the customers of this price adjustment. Approximately one hour later, the group settled a bill of 720,000 VND and departed without raising any immediate concerns.

Cua Lo ward leaders assessed the 250,000 VND price for a large eel porridge as "reasonable," given that small bowls of porridge in this tourist area typically range from 50,000 to 80,000 VND.

Nghe An eel porridge. *Photo: Department of Cultural Heritage*

Authorities have not yet released details of their meeting with the individual who posted the complaint on social media.

Cua Lo ward leaders indicated that if the original post contained unverified information that negatively impacted local tourism, authorities would consider taking action. The customer's post has since been removed.

Eel is a staple in Nghe An cuisine, meticulously cleaned and prepared with characteristic spices such as shallots, turmeric, and chili, imparting a distinct spicy flavor. The most popular preparations are eel porridge and eel soup, often accompanied by bread or steamed rice rolls. At casual eateries, a bowl of eel porridge or soup typically costs between 30,000 and 80,000 VND, varying by establishment and portion.

In early 2026, the culinary tradition of preparing eel dishes in Nghe An was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Cua Lo beach, situated over 10 km from Vinh city center and more than 300 km from Hanoi, stands as a renowned Central Vietnam destination, attracting millions of domestic and international tourists each summer. While many visitors observe a recent upward trend in food and tourism service prices in Cua Lo, most businesses now publicly display their prices, thereby mitigating issues of overcharging.

Duc Hung