My friend’s holiday to Sa Pa ruined as nothing changes after five years

My friend’s family visited Sa Pa, a northern highlands tourist town, for three days at the end of June. The trip would have been very fun if they didn’t have to witness kids chasing after tourists to sell their wares.

This was the second time he had visited to Sa Pa after five years, but the issue of local children being pressed to pester tourists, begging or selling trinkets and other items still continued, causing frustration for tourists and negatively affecting the town.

When visiting the stone church area, or the tourist areas of Cat Cat and Ta Van, it is not difficult to see children holding a few souvenirs in their hands. As soon as they see visitors, they immediately beg the tourists to buy goods.

Young women carrying months-old babies on their backs are also seen chasing after tourists to get them to buy goods or ask for money.

Children who should have been cared for by adults at home, now have to follow their parents to sell despite the harsh weather. If we don’t buy goods for such children, they keep following us, affecting our trip.

I myself went to Sa Pa in 2013 and 2019 and witnessed the same thing, little girls holding brocades, bracelets and souvenirs and chasing after tourists.

Many kids just follow a group of tourists all day and always hold up their items hoping to be noticed and bought by tourists.

Kids stalking tourists to hawk goods in Sa Pa results in negative consequences, especially risks for children.

Many measures have been applied but they have not been able to completely resolve the problem. I hope tourism authorities and competent authorities should join forces to deal with the long-standing issue.

I will certainly return to Sa Pa for the third time, but hopefully I will not have to witness such unsightly images again. I hope Sa Pa will change for the better.