On 26/7, Tran Xuan Tay, chairman of the Nha Trang ward People's Committee, said the ward inspected Thanh Suong seafood restaurant on Tran Phu street last night after receiving complaints from tourists about the restaurant mimicking the name of the well-known Thanh Suong restaurant.
Tourists reported that the restaurant blurred the number 102 Tran Phu street on its signage and replaced it with the number 15, easily confused with the actual address of the famous Thanh Suong restaurant. They also complained that taxi and cyclo drivers intentionally brought them to the copycat restaurant instead of the intended destination.
During the inspection, the restaurant owner was absent, and a representative was present.
Authorities noted that Thanh Suong seafood restaurant did not display its issued signage completely. Food safety training certificates were incomplete for the number of staff, and fire safety documents, including regulations and instructions, were not presented. Fire extinguishers were also found to be damaged and unusable.
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The restaurant's sign with the address number blurred. Photo: Hoang Thao |
The restaurant's sign with the address number blurred. Photo: Hoang Thao
Authorities determined the restaurant "showed signs of deceiving or misleading consumers by providing false, incomplete, and inaccurate information." The restaurant also owed over 61 million VND in taxes and late payment fees.
Local authorities will continue to review the information and violations of Thanh Suong seafood restaurant as a basis for handling the infringements.
In 3/2024, Thanh Suong seafood restaurant was accused of price gouging. Nha Trang city subsequently fined the business owner over 34 million VND for violations including advertising goods without Vietnamese language display, incomplete signage according to the business registration certificate, and unclear and confusing price listings.
Thanh Suong restaurant in Nha Trang is a popular seafood destination for locals and tourists. On its website, the restaurant lists three branches at 9A and 15 Tran Phu street, and another on Hon Tre island. However, Nha Trang residents believe many restaurants intentionally copy the name, using either Thanh Suong or Thanh Suong. Many tourists report being deliberately taken to the wrong restaurants by taxi and cyclo drivers.
Bui Toan
