On March 4, information was shared on social networks that people using cremation services at Thanh Binh An Lac Vien funeral home (Nam Dinh) had to buy coffins or urns from Thanh Binh An Lac Vien Joint Stock Company at high prices.

Talking to VietNamNet reporter , Mr. Chu Thanh, in Nam Truc, Nam Dinh province (with permanent residence in Ho Chi Minh City), who posted the incident on social media, said: "Recently, my family and I took our loved one to be cremated at Thanh Binh An Lac Vien funeral home. The cremation service fee is 4.5 million VND, but when the deceased was put into the crematorium, the company's staff said that in order to get "beautiful bones", the family must pay an additional 3.5 million VND. In addition, we are not allowed to bring in urns and coffins containing ashes from outside, but must buy them from the company at a very high price."

According to Mr. Chu Thanh, just over a year ago, the service price here was about 3.5 million and relatives could bring in a coffin or urn with the condition of paying an additional 900,000 VND. However, currently, people are forced to buy here at the lowest price of nearly 10 million VND.

"So, the total amount our family has to pay is more than 18 million VND (the lowest level). This level is too high for many poor people. They force us like this, it's like doing business on the bodies of the deceased. I have to speak up and want the government to intervene so that people don't have to suffer like this anymore," Mr. Chu Thanh emphasized.

Immediately after the content was shared on social networks, there were many negative opinions about the regulations and fees incurred at Thanh Binh An Lac Vien funeral home.

VieNamNet reporters contacted a representative of Thanh Binh An Lac Vien Joint Stock Company, who said the company was aware of the information appearing on social networks. However, there were many inaccurate contents.

"Here, we also sell urns of ashes for 2-3 million VND. All items sold in the company have invoices. The Board of Directors is meeting and will make an announcement later," said the representative.

On the afternoon of March 4, Ms. Ha Lan Anh, Vice Chairman of Nam Dinh Provincial People's Committee, said that the cremation and transaction were an agreement between the people and Thanh Binh An Lac Vien Company.

"We have received feedback from the people about the above content. Currently, we request Thanh Binh An Lac Vien Company to fully report all the content about the people's feedback" - Vice Chairman of Nam Dinh Provincial People's Committee said.