Ho Chi Minh City parking lot operator fined over $1,200 for overcharging

The fine was imposed on Van Trung Trading - Service Co. Ltd., headquartered in Binh Thanh District, with a branch located at 199 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3.

The company was penalized for two violations: charging parking fees higher than the regulated pricing framework and failing to publicly display its parking fees.

On May 1, a video circulated widely on social media showing a parking lot price gouging customers by charging VND100,000 ($3.85) per motorbike, 10-20 times the normal rate for the downtown district.

The video drew significant attention and comments from users online.

In the video, a woman was seen quoting VND100,000 ($3.85) to a customer who had just retrieved his motorbike.

Police officers visited the scene.

According to reports, people had parked their motorbikes in the lot to attend a military parade on the morning of April 30. 

Upon returning, they were reportedly charged the inflated price of VND100,000 per vehicle.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on May 1 afternoon, a leader of the Vo Thi Sau Ward People's Committee said that at around 9:30 am on April 30, the ward police received a report about the parking lot at 199-201 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street overcharging customers.

Authorities conducted an inspection and reported to the ward government, which then coordinated efforts to address the violations.