A taxi driver in Vietnam was left stunned after a foreign tourist allegedly refused to pay his fare and offered him nothing more than a “thank you” instead.
The incident, which was captured on video, has since gone viral and sparked anger among netizens.
‘I only have a thank you’
According to the viral footage, the taxi driver, identified as Kwan, had picked up an Indian tourist and driven him to his requested destination.
Upon arriving, Kwan informed the passenger of the amount he needed to pay.
However, instead of handing over the fare, the tourist allegedly told him that he had no money.
“I don’t have money to pay the fare. I only have a thank you to give you,” the tourist was heard saying.
The man then exited the vehicle and walked away, leaving Kwan staring at him in disbelief.
Despite what happened, Kwan did not chase after the passenger or respond aggressively.
Netizens questioned why he let the tourist leave
The video quickly drew mixed reactions online, with many expressing sympathy for the taxi driver.
Some criticised Kwan for being too soft and questioned why he allowed the passenger to leave without paying.
Others claimed that similar cases involving foreign tourists refusing to pay taxi fares had allegedly happened in Vietnam before.
Several netizens were particularly upset as the tourist appeared able to go shopping but supposedly did not have enough money to pay for his ride.
Kwan reportedly chose to drive away as he did not want to leave his taxi parked at the location for too long and inconvenience other drivers.
Fellow driver says Kwan may have been exhausted
A fellow taxi driver later defended Kwan, saying he might have been too physically and mentally exhausted to process what had just happened.
“As a taxi driver, I understand what he may have felt at that moment,” he said.
He explained that drivers often spend the entire day on the road, paying for fuel and thinking about the money they need to bring home to their families.
“When the passenger suddenly says ‘thank you’ and walks away, your mind can go completely blank.
“You want to get angry, chase after him or ask whether he is joking, but you are too shocked to react.”
He added that Kwan’s lack of response did not mean he was weak, but that he may have been stunned by the passenger’s actions.
“A thank you cannot provide for your wife and children, my friend,” he said.
