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Reader Le Phuong recounted: "A few days ago, I was shocked to see young children dancing provocatively near my hotel in Sa Pa. It was nearly 9 p.m., the temperature had dropped to 6 degrees Celsius, and thick fog covered the area. The sight was heartbreaking, especially knowing adults were behind it."
Two kids dance near Sa Pa’s Stone Church in February 2025. Video by VnExpress/Thu Hoai
These children, aged 5 to 10, wear ethnic costumes and dance to loud music played from portable speakers near Sa Pa's Stone Church. On weekdays, four or five of them are typically seen. On weekends, when they are off school, the number can exceed 10. Their parents often sit nearby, instructing them on how to dance and approach tourists for money.
For some, this scene is deeply unsettling.
Reader Binh Luan expressed frustration: "Adorable? Talented? Trendy? I see none of that. The whole thing is simply disturbing. Are these kids really helping their families make a living? They are at an age where they should be learning and playing, not working. There's no justifiable reason they should be out on the street begging. Their parents sit right behind them, telling them what to do. In other places, kids may sell souvenirs or offer paid photo opportunities, and tourists can choose whether to buy their products. But here in Sa Pa, children are being blatantly exploited for tourists' money."
Others argue that tourists themselves play a key role in enabling this.
Reader Bao pointed out: "As long as visitors find their performance entertaining and keep giving the children money, this situation will continue. The only way to stop it is for tourists to stop handing out cash or gifts to the children."
Reader Dan.mani agreed: "I never gave money or bought anything from children, not just in Sa Pa but anywhere I went. Raising a child is a parent's responsibility. No excuse justifies using their own children as tools to exploit tourists' sympathy and money."
