Tourist Abandonment Case in Thailand: Threatened if Reporting to Embassy!

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On the evening of June 17th, Ms. Doan Hong Nhung disclosed that her sister had called to convey that the tour organizers prohibited anyone from reporting to the Embassy, threatening dire consequences otherwise.

Related to 500 Vietnamese tourists participating in a tour combined with attending a conference organized by Herbalife Vietnam Company in Thailand, Ms. Doan Hong Nhung (residing in Thai Ha Swimming Alley, Dong Da District, Hanoi) revealed that her family, including her sister and four other relatives, had joined this trip. 'Contacting everyone there was very difficult; everyone had to constantly change SIM cards and speak very quickly before hanging up' - Ms. Nhung said.

'My sister reported that someone had attempted to seek help from the Embassy here. However, immediately after, the tour company representative threatened that if anyone sought help from the Embassy, they would be killed, so no one intends to seek help anymore. And by the evening of June 17th, my sister was also uncertain whether our family members would return to Vietnam on June 18th or 19th' - Ms. Doan Hong Nhung added.

Ms. Nhung also stated that by the morning of June 17th, the situation of the entire group had been addressed by the northern team leader, who managed to gather some money to cover the price difference. Additionally, $145 USD for transportation over 2 days during the conference had been refunded, allowing the entire group to rest at the hotel.

However, services such as sightseeing, dining, etc., required each member to pay out of pocket, unlike other typical tours. 'Up to this point, my sister reported that the trip had completely fallen apart' - Ms. Doan Hong Nhung recounted.

Ms. Doan Hong Nhung also informed that immediately after the incident, her sister contacted home and informed the Hanoi office for Ms. Nhung to inquire about the situation. However, upon Ms. Nhung's arrival, the office was deserted and closed. Subsequently, Ms. Nhung had to search extensively online to find the name of the tour organizing company.

Among dozens of phone numbers from directors, deputy directors, employees, and guides of Travel Life company with headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Nhung called all the numbers with dozens of phone calls, only to have one male voice, answering Ms. Nhung's call and claiming to be a representative of Travel Life company.

When Ms. Nhung questioned why such an incident occurred, this representative explained the reason. Those who signed tour contracts with Travel Life company signed at very low prices but later sold them to tourists at very high prices. And Travel Life company has divided into many branches for tours due to the large number of participants from both the North and the South, reaching up to 500 people.

Unfortunately, Ms. Nhung's relatives were in a branch that signed a contract at a low price but were unaware and still had to purchase at the usual high fees. Therefore, when the tourists of this branch arrived at the hotel in Thailand, they were rejected by the Thai hotel because the price was too low, so they were definitely not served.

'I requested the person answering the phone to give me a mobile number so I could easily contact my 5 relatives in Thailand. The representative with a Southern accent read out the mobile phone number and introduced himself as Trung. However, by the afternoon of June 17th, I was anxious about the situation of my family in Thailand because I couldn't make any calls. I pressed the mobile number in the morning, but it was answered by someone else with a Northern accent also claiming to be Trung, but completely unaware of this incident. I am truly worried and frustrated and don't know what to do,' Ms. Nhung shared.

Earlier, Ms. Doan Hong Nhung said that there was chaos in the tour before departure, from booking rooms, arranging accommodations, to arranging the trip. From the first trip, there was waiting and delay in the next trip, and the subsequent trips continued to be delayed. Two relatives of Ms. Nhung in this trip had to spend a night at Noi Bai airport.

Several months ago, Ms. Nhung's family had to submit 7,000,000 VND for the entire trip costs. 'Currently, my sister, along with my family and others in the group, are feeling very exhausted and anxious,' expressed Ms. Doan Hong Nhung.

***

Source: Travel guide Mytour - Via: Dân Việt

MytourJuly 1, 2013

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the Vietnamese tourists in Thailand during the Herbalife conference?

A group of 500 Vietnamese tourists faced dire threats from tour organizers, prohibiting contact with the Embassy and causing panic among travelers about their safety and return.

Why were the Vietnamese tourists rejected by the hotel in Thailand?

The tourists were rejected by the hotel because the tour contracts were signed at low prices, which the hotel deemed unacceptable, leading to their denial of service.

How did Ms. Nhung manage to communicate with her family in Thailand?

Ms. Nhung faced significant challenges in communication, resorting to numerous calls to the tour company, but struggled to reach her relatives due to constant SIM card changes.

What difficulties did Ms. Nhung’s family encounter during the trip?

Ms. Nhung's family faced multiple difficulties, including chaotic arrangements, unexpected expenses, and a lack of proper accommodation, leading to exhaustion and anxiety during their trip.

What were the financial implications for the tourists on this trip?

The tourists had to pay extra out-of-pocket for dining and sightseeing, despite having already paid 7,000,000 VND for the tour, which added to their frustration.