On June 22, local authorities in Sầm Sơn, Thanh Hóa Province, reported an incident involving a tour bus driver who was approached by two women demanding a fee for parking services that were not utilized. The driver was waiting to pick up tourists visiting the Hòn Trống Mái site when the women insisted he pay a fee of 40,000 VND.

The driver refused to pay, arguing that he was not using the parking service as he was merely waiting for passengers. In response, the women demanded that he pay 20,000 VND to leave the area. When the driver continued to resist, the women blocked his vehicle and threatened to damage it with a wooden stick.

To avoid further conflict, a tourist in the group paid the demanded amount, allowing the driver to depart. The incident, which occurred on June 21, was captured on video and subsequently shared on social media, drawing significant public attention.

Following the incident, the Sầm Sơn police have begun an investigation and are working with the involved parties to address the situation. The police have also urged the management of the parking area to improve service standards and ensure compliance with regulations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

This incident is part of a broader concern regarding tourist experiences in Sầm Sơn, as authorities have previously implemented measures to combat unfair practices against visitors, including the installation of weighing scales at seafood markets to prevent fraudulent pricing.