Tet is one of the special occasions of the year, not just a simple holiday for many, but also an opportunity for restaurant owners, especially in the food sector, to boost their income. Simply put, it’s a time for them to raise prices 2 to even 3 times higher than usual, and this extra charge is often humorously referred to by the online community as the “Tet service fee.”
However, while it is understood that food prices can be high during Tet, the public can still tolerate a 2-3 times increase. But when hearing about the story of eating 2 bowls of mixed pho costing… 300k in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, it truly leaves most netizens feeling dizzy and disheartened. Indeed, although eateries in the Old Quarter are known for their high prices, no one expected that two bowls of mixed pho, which normally cost around 60k, would rise to 5 times that amount.
Yes, it’s known that during Tet, but a 5-fold increase in cost with service and product quality even worse than usual is indeed a valid reason for the online community to complain. Many comments also accuse this restaurant of being accustomed to “overcharging” customers, with prices already quite high during normal times, while the quality of the food does not match the price customers have to pay.
Perhaps this is also a lesson for all gamers and the online community; when eating out during Tet, it’s best to ask for the price carefully to avoid feeling disappointed when it’s time to pay.