Vietnamese taxi driver accused of tricking South Korean tourist with banknote swap

Earlier, an 11-second video clip circulated widely on local social media under the title ‘Beware of the magicians in Nha Trang!’

The caption alleged that the driver took a VND200,000 (US$7.6) note with his left hand and pulled out a VND10,000 ($0.4) note with his right hand.

According to the clip, the taxi driver was carrying a group of foreign tourists to an area in front of Dam Market in Nha Trang Ward.

When a male tourist handed over a VND200,000 note to pay the fare, the driver swiftly accepted the money with his left hand while using his right hand to return a VND10,000 note, claiming the passenger had underpaid.

The incident was recorded on a mobile phone by a female tourist sitting in the back seat and later posted on social media.

Police identified the driver in the clip as N.A.T., 33, temporarily residing in Tay Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa Province.

T. admitted that he was the taxi driver shown in the video, saying the incident occurred around early November 2025.

At that time, T. was carrying two South Korean tourists, and carried out the banknote-switching act.

Police are continuing to work with the relevant parties to handle the case in accordance with the law.