Owner of renowned restaurant in Hanoi charged with tax evasion

The Hanoi People’s Procuracy has issued an indictment against Tung, 33, and his accomplice Nguyen Do Nguyet Anh, a 33-year-old resident of Phuc Loi Ward, Hanoi for tax evasion.

Tung was once celebrated as a rising star in Vietnam’s food and beverage scene – even earning a place in Forbes Vietnam’s ‘Under 30’ list in 2022.

The prosecution followed an investigation that uncovered systematic tax violations at Tung Dining Restaurant Company in March 2024.

The Hanoi Tax Department found that the company had failed to issue invoices for sales, kept off-the-books revenue, and did not declare taxes as required by law.

Official data from the Hanoi Business Registration Office indicated that the restaurant was established in September 2018 under the legal name Truong Hoang Tran Nguyen Co., Ltd., with registered capital of VND2.4 billion (US$91,110).

Tung held a 57.3-percent stake, while Anh owned 31.66 percent of the entity.

Two other shareholders, Tran Thanh Long and Truong Quang Dung, held smaller stakes, 10 percent and one percent, respectively.

After a few months of its operation, the company increased its capital to VND4 billion ($151,840) and restructured ownership, introducing two new shareholders, including Doan Bao Linh and Le Thu Quyen.

Accordingly, the ownership stakes of the founding shareholders decreased compared to the time of establishment.

In early 2022, the company officially changed its name to Tung Dining Co., Ltd.

According to updated records, as of March 2025, Tung and Anh each had held a 27.78 percent stake in the company.

Meanwhile, Dung, Linh, and Quyen owned stakes of 11.1 percent, 16.67 percent, and 16.67 percent, respectively.

Investigators determined that only Tung and Anh were actively involved in managing the company's finances and accounting.

They directly oversaw revenue tracking, expenses, bookkeeping, and profit distribution, while the other shareholders were not involved in tax declarations or financial reporting.

The investigation revealed that the company’s actual revenue exceeded VND53 billion ($2 million).

However, only VND29.4 billion ($1.1 million) was reported for tax purposes.

As a result, more than VND23.5 billion ($892,140) in revenue went undeclared.

On March 19, 2024, the city’s tax department discovered the firm had evaded over VND2.4 billion ($91,110) in taxes, including over VND2.1 billion ($79,715) in value-added tax and VND335 million ($12,705) in personal income tax.

Both Tung and Anh repaid the full amount during the investigation process.

From culinary pioneer to legal troubles

Tung's downfall comes as a shock to many, given his previously celebrated achievements.

T.U.N.G Dining earned a spot among Asia's 100 best restaurants in 2021 and was featured in La Liste 2023.

The restaurant was also included in the Michelin Guide for three consecutive years – 2023, 2024, and 2025.

In June 2023, Tung served as the head chef for the inaugural Michelin Guide Award & Gala Dinner in Hanoi.

All four restaurants under his management, including T.U.N.G Dining, Å by TUNG, Khoi Restaurant, and Tanh Tach Seafood Society, have been recognized by the Michelin Guide, spanning both high-end and casual dining.

In 2022, Tung was lauded by Forbes Vietnam for bringing creative, contemporary Vietnamese fine dining to the global stage.

Meanwhile, Anh holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Birmingham (UK) and a background in international business from Finland.

A law expert emphasized the importance of full transparency in revenue reporting and the proper use of electronic invoicing.

All business income must go through official corporate channels, not personal accounts, he said.

To remain compliant and sustainable, businesses are advised to implement robust internal accounting systems, conduct regular audits, and seek ongoing tax advisory support to prevent violations.