Tran Thi Yen, 24, from Son La, purchased a five-day, four-night tour to Fenghuang Ancient Town and Zhangjiajie for nearly 9 million VND from an acquaintance. The tour, which included her mother and husband, began on 27/5. She described the experience as "disappointing," citing frequent detours to shopping destinations she considered "subpar" and unauthorized itinerary changes by the tour operator.

Yen stated that she initially received a reasonable itinerary, but upon commencement, the tour operator presented a different schedule, attributing it to a "typing error." The shopping stops were not specified for each day but mentioned at the end of the 12-page itinerary and guide, stating: "This is a subsidized shopping tour. If you don't want to participate, you must pay 450 CNY per person. Purchases are not mandatory: gemstone shop, traditional Chinese medicine and specialty tea shop, duty-free shop, or other shops depending on the specific situation.".

The revised itinerary shortened the time at key destinations like Fenghuang Ancient Town and omitted the Seventy-Two Peaks scenic spot to accommodate more shopping. Yen didn't sign a contract, relying on trust as others from her hometown had used the same seller. Upon arrival in China, she was placed in a group from various companies, a common practice to consolidate travelers from multiple sellers for sufficient departure numbers.

The first night was spent in Changsha. On Tuesday morning, the group traveled 500 km, arriving at Fenghuang Ancient Town around 5 p.m. On Wednesday morning, they were asked to wake up at 6 a.m. to depart for Miao Stockaded Village.

"Fenghuang Ancient Town was the highlight, but we only had 12 hours there, including sleep," she said.

According to Yen, the initial itinerary indicated they'd stay in Fenghuang Ancient Town until Wednesday morning, not leave at 6 a.m. for Miao Stockaded Village. She added that they only visited Tuojiang River, missing Miao Miao Tower, North Gate Ancient City Wall, and Cuihong Tower listed in the itinerary.

Yen at Tianmen Mountain. Photo: *NVCC*

Contrary to the advertised visit to an ancient village and immersion in local life, Yen reported being taken to a silver shop.

Thao Vy, from Hanoi, who paid 10 million VND for the same tour, also expressed frustration about the early departure from Fenghuang Ancient Town for Miao Stockaded Village. "We spent a considerable amount of time at the silver shop," Vy said.

After Miao Stockaded Village, they traveled to Zhangjiajie, stopping at a medicine shop. The owner greeted them with cough drops and offered foot massages. Staff then presented various medicines, including cough drops at approximately 190,000 VND per bottle and "one pill, healthy all year" pills at 3 million VND each, sold in sets of three.

Next, they traveled about 20 km to a silk shop, totaling approximately 300 km since that morning. Yen said a Vietnamese staff member greeted them, offering a 50% discount and potential buy-one-get-three deals. Products included scented blankets and "mutant" silk duvet covers priced between 3.5 and 7 million VND per set (one blanket, two pillowcases).

That evening, they stayed at a supposedly four-star hotel in Wulingyuan, which Yen estimated to be two-star quality. Staff repeatedly knocked, offering massages initially priced at 60 CNY (about 220,000 VND) but ultimately charging 120 CNY (about 440,000 VND).

"The hotel service was poor, and breakfast vouchers were only good for one boiled egg," Thao Vy said.

The following day, they returned to Zhangjiajie to visit Tianmen Mountain and a scheduled jade shop. Products were presented as jadeite and Hetian/Myanmar jade, ranging from 3 to 17 million VND.

Yen's mother bought a 24K gold-plated jadeite product for 3 million VND. Yen noticed separate areas for different nationalities; staff prevented her from entering the sections for Korean and Singaporean tourists. "They led us into small rooms, gave persuasive presentations, and many people eagerly bought items," she said.

The jade product Yen's mother bought for 3 million VND. Photo: *NVCC*

China tours are increasingly popular among Vietnamese tourists. To reduce costs, many China land tours incorporate shopping stops, potentially saving 3-4 million VND. Reputable companies typically list daily destinations clearly.

Representatives from several China tour agencies confirmed that alliances of three to 10 agencies selling and combining tour groups are common. This practice reduces financial risk and allows for frequent departures.

Nguyen Ngoc Tung, Director of Danh Nam Travel, which specializes in China tours and participates in such alliances, advises potential customers to clarify whether a tour includes shopping. Reputable agencies always list shopping stops in the itinerary, allowing customers to opt out for an additional fee.

Inside a jade shop. Photo: *NVCC*

According to Tung, shopping destinations in China are "not entirely scams." For example, Beijing-Shanghai tours often include quality shops suitable for Vietnamese tourists, such as Tong Ren Tang pharmacy and the renowned Longjing tea shop. Many Chinese silk shops also offer high-quality products popular with Vietnamese customers.

However, the Danh Nam Travel representative cautioned tourists to be discerning when purchasing at these shops, as there are always exceptions. Customers should retain all documentation to file complaints with the tour operator if product quality doesn't match advertised claims.

Tung added that many agencies and alliances offer Fenghuang Ancient Town tours, sometimes resorting to drastic price reductions to attract customers, which can compromise quality. The average market price for a similar tour to Yen's is around 11 million VND, but with steep discounts, it can drop to 7-8 million VND. Therefore, tourists should research thoroughly and choose reputable agencies.

Tu Nguyen