- An Indian family allegedly damaged property at Bombay Bites HCM in Ho Chi Minh City
- The family was asked to stop their children from throwing items in the dining area
- Restaurant owner claimed staff were verbally abused and property was vandalized
An Indian restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has accused an Indian family of damaging property and threatening staff after they were asked to stop their children from throwing items around the dining area. The incident allegedly took place at Bombay Bites HCM, a popular Indian restaurant in the city's District 1 tourist area. The restaurant shared details of the confrontation on Instagram, saying the situation escalated after staff politely requested the parents to stop their child from throwing tissues around the dining area.
According to Manmeet, the owner of the restaurant, the children began throwing tissues as soon as they entered. When staff asked them to stop, they continued, and the parents allegedly handed them more tissues. He said the situation escalated after staff intervened again, prompting the family to get angry and vandalize the property. His wife Aishwarya Khanna Singh alleged that staff were verbally abused, property was damaged, and the family tried to avoid responsibility by claiming to be influencers.
"Let us be very clear: A restaurant is not a playground. Our staff are not targets for anger or entitlement. And influence does not place anyone above basic manners. Civic sense means teaching children accountability, respecting public property, and understanding that rules exist so everyone can enjoy the space safely and comfortably. When these values are ignored, it affects workers, other guests, and the business as a whole," Singh wrote on Instagram.
Watch the video here:
Manmeet said the incident has been reported to the local police, who advised the restaurant to contact them immediately if the family returns and causes any further trouble, after which a case would be registered. He also criticised the family's behaviour, saying such conduct by some tourists abroad contributes to stricter attitudes towards Indian travellers. He added that the family, who are from Delhi, has since deleted their social media profiles.
"This is the way they behave when they go out to some other country. It's not surprising Thailand is being strict about Indians now. Very soon Vietnam will also be," he told NDTV.
The allegations have sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many users debating tourist etiquette, parental responsibility in public places, and the treatment of hospitality workers.
One user wrote, "Such obnoxious behavior. As a business owner, I would definitely have this investigated. They touched the waiter aggressively, idk what the criminal code of Vietnam says but battery is punishable in India, not to mention vandalizing your property for absolutely no reason whatsoever."
Another commented, "Should have called the police and handed them over." A third said, "Teaching children good behavior is one of the first duties of parenting—do it early, before life teaches them the hard way."
