In recent years, the situation of solicitation, hunting, and street vending in Sa Pa town has been complicated for a long time.
According to statistics in 2024, there were about 100 cases of children and 50-60 cases of adults participating in solicitation, hunting, street vending and begging on holidays and Tet.
In particular, every Friday and Saturday, this number ranges from 60-70 children and 40-50 adults.
The main subjects are the H'Mong ethnic group from communes and wards such as Trung Chai, Hoang Lien, Muong Hoa, Ta Van, Sa Pa...
This not only affects the tourism image of the locality but also causes discomfort to tourists when visiting and relaxing in this famous land.
Present in Sa Pa town in mid-March, according to Lao Dong, most places such as central parks and Quan yard were hung signs prohibiting street vendors, markets and soliciting tourists to buy goods...
Even the practice of letting local children dance to music to attract tourists has been strongly eliminated by the authorities.
Mr. Nguyen Dang Tung, a tourist to Hanoi, shared: "This is the second time our family has traveled to Sa Pa. Because the town's functional departments have taken drastic measures, the situation of soliciting and following to invite tourists to buy goods is much less".
Similarly, Ms. Bui Dieu Huong (a tourist in Phu Tho) said that Sa Pa is a famous tourist destination for its beautiful scenery and cool air. Therefore, the situation of solicitation causing dissatisfaction with tourists has been eliminated, which is a good thing.
On March 11, speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Do Van Tan - Vice Chairman of Sa Pa Town People's Committee said: "We have directed units to develop internal regulations and rules on begging, street vending, and performing arts in the city center. Along with that, it is necessary to promote propaganda to people and tourists not to give money to children, to buy goods from street vendors on all media and social networking platforms".
According to Mr. Do Van Tan, in the coming time, Sa Pa will build systematic, rich and attractive weekend art programs and activities to attract tourists.
In addition, the town is reviewing the streets to arrange sales points for people who can actually produce handicrafts. Communes and wards will promote people to learn a job, change jobs, and work at businesses, restaurants, and hotels to earn income.
Mr. Do Van Tan affirmed that if there is a situation of taking advantage of and gathering young people to go begging and performing, Sa Pa town will consolidate information and identification to hand over to the police for consideration and handling according to the provisions of law.
Previously, the Working Group of Sa Pa Ward, Sa Pa Town discovered two children named T.T.P. (born in 2013) and T.M.B. (born in 2020, both residing in Hoang Lien commune, Sa Pa town) brought a lock to sell to tourists.
Through verification, the mother of the two children, Ms. L.T.M. (born in 1995) often forced his children to sell street vendors on the central streets of Sa Pa town on weekends to earn money for their mother.
Based on the above, the People's Committee of Sa Pa town issued a decision to administratively fine Ms. M. 22 million VND for violations in the field of protection, social assistance and children.
