The sandwich sold at the airport for $7.90. Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Ngọc Trà My.

HÀ NỘI — Nội Bài International Airport has responded to public criticism over the price of a pork sandwich that recently made headlines for costing nearly US$7.90, saying it is priced in line with current regulations and reflects the quality of its imported ingredients.

The controversy began when a traveller posted on social media that she paid VNĐ208,000 (around US$7.90) for a bánh mì - a Vietnamese-style sandwich - at a restaurant inside the airport’s international terminal.

The post quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate and prompting an official inquiry from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

In a written explanation submitted to the aviation authority, airport officials confirmed that the sandwich in question was sold by BigBowl, a well-known food chain with outlets at major airports nationwide.

According to the report, the sandwich includes 200 grams of Brazilian-imported pork, and its price is publicly and clearly displayed at the counter, as required by law.

The restaurant is located on the third floor of Terminal T2, inside the airside area after security checks. In addition to the $7.90 sandwich, BigBowl offers other items starting at $2.10 to cater to a range of passenger needs.

The airport also noted that Terminal T2 currently has 24 food and beverage vendors serving everything from essential items, such as instant noodles and plain bread, to full meals including phở, rice dishes and pastries.

Prices start at VNĐ20,000 (about $0.80) in public areas and $1.50 in the restricted zone.

"All food and beverage vendors at the airport are required to clearly display their prices and ensure product quality and traceability," airport authorities said.

"We remain committed to complying with all regulations to ensure service quality for our passengers."

The backlash was triggered by a post from traveller Nguyễn Ngọc Trà My, who described the sandwich as 'ordinary' and said the price was higher than what she had paid at many international airports abroad.

"It had a bit of pork, some vegetables and pickles - nothing special," she wrote.

"I know airport food is expensive, but I didn’t have any other option after waiting for so long."

My added that she had previously paid VNĐ560,000 (about $21) for a bowl of phở and a chicken rice dish at Tân Sơn Nhất Airport in HCM City, calling both meals disappointing.

Her post drew several thousand comments, with many travellers echoing her concerns. Some noted that food and drink prices at Việt Nam’s two largest airports often come as a shock, especially in the international zones, where costs are significantly higher than average market rates.

CAAV has directed Nội Bài Airport and relevant agencies to review all non-aviation services within the terminal, ensuring vendors follow rules on pricing transparency and service quality. — VNS