Street vendors and beggars solicit money, Da Nang seeks solutions, calls on tourists 'not to give money'

In response to many tourists complaining about being harassed by beggars and street vendors when traveling to Da Nang, Da Nang City is requesting agencies to coordinate to handle the situation thoroughly.

Street vendors wait for customers on the streets of Son Tra area, Da Nang city - Photo: TRUONG TRUNG

On July 10, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang City said it is coordinating with other units to inspect and handle the problem of beggars harassing tourists; and encourage tourists not to give money to avoid being taken advantage of.

Street vendors bother tourists

According to records, in shopping centers around Han market, Con Ga church (Tran Phu street, Bach Dang street...), street vending still occurs.

Vendors use pushcarts and shoulder poles to go around areas with customers to solicit their goods. Many people, even though they don’t want to buy, try to refuse, but are still persistently pursued.

On Tran Hung Dao axis, along the riverside walking paths, Love Bridge area… there are often groups of street vendors standing at the entrances. When they see tourists walking, the street vendors run after them and beg them to do so, making them uncomfortable.

At a meeting with the People's Committee of Da Nang City in early June, leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang City said that there were many street vendors along Hoang Sa Street.

Just on a short stretch of road, there are three places where tourists are often disturbed, including: the parking lot south of Linh Ung Pagoda, the tourist viewing area near the Intercontinental Hotel, and the parking area near the ranger station on Son Tra Peninsula.

Street vendors carry fruits and fast food to sell to tourists in Da Nang - Photo: TRUONG TRUNG

"Street vendors use motorbikes and pickup trucks to transport goods to places with a lot of tourists. When they detect patrols, they quickly move to another location to avoid them, and then return a while later," said a representative of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang.

In addition, on the streets with concentrated hotels and restaurants in Son Tra area such as Vo Nguyen Giap, Ha Bong, Ho Nghinh, etc., street vendors also appear densely.

The most crowded places are at beaches 1, 2, and 3 of the East Sea Park. Street vendors sell all kinds of things like fruits, fried fish balls, dumplings, key chains, glasses, etc. Many even block tourists' faces and beg them to buy something before they will "let go".

Processing to maintain the image of Da Nang tourism

Notably, the Da Nang authorities identified that street vendors are not only the elderly and children, but also university students and even foreigners (selling wooden handicrafts). These vendors are often present on main streets such as Nguyen Van Thoai, Nguyen Tat Thanh, etc.

Street vendors appear in tourist attractions - Photo: TRUONG TRUNG

Faced with the complicated situation of begging and street vendors, in March 2025, the People's Committee of Da Nang City issued a document requesting units to focus on coordinating to handle the situation, ensure security and order, and preserve the image of tourist destinations.

The People's Committee of Da Nang City requested to organize peak campaigns and arrange forces to be on duty to thoroughly handle street vendors and beggars harassing tourists.

Immediately after that, the forces focused on handling the situation. The urban disorder and soliciting had temporarily subsided but recently started to return.

Tourists should not give money to avoid being taken advantage of.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang, dealing with soliciting, street vendors, vagrants, beggars, etc. requires maintaining a constant monitoring force.

Currently, the two-level government apparatus has been improved, and the forces are closer to the grassroots, so each area will be handled more quickly.

"In addition to mobilizing forces to handle and patrol and monitor, tourists coming to Da Nang should not use products and services that do not guarantee quality or have unknown origins from street vendors.

Visitors should also not give money or goods to beggars to avoid being taken advantage of" - Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism recommends.

Thai Ba Dung

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hang-rong-an-xin-cheo-keo-da-nang-tim-cach-xu-ly-keu-goi-du-khach-dung-cho-tien-20250710163720219.htm