In the last months of 2025, Sa Pa National Tourism Area is bustling with domestic and international tourists coming for sightseeing and relaxation. Especially, on weekends, the number of visitors to Sa Pa is significantly higher. At the stone church area located in the center of Sa Pa ward, a lot of tourists gather. 

Foreign tourists experiencing cultural space in Sa Pa.

Previously, this area often saw a situation where ethnic minorities, especially the elderly and children from villages, came here to peddle, cling to, and solicit tourists to buy goods or beg for money, causing a loss of the beautiful image of Sa Pa. Currently, this situation has significantly decreased; tourists can comfortably stroll on the streets and sit and relax in public places without being disturbed.

Ms. Marzena, a tourist from Poland said: This is my first time in Sa Pa, the most attractive tourist destination in Vietnam. This place has bustling cafes and shops. Sa Pa also has pristine mountain ranges, beautiful natural scenery, and the people are very friendly and hospitable. I feel very happy and will return to this place if I have the chance in the future.

Coming to Sa Pa, along with visiting the center area of Sa Pa ward, many tourists also like to go to villages to experience and explore the cultural space imbued with ethnic identity. In particular, Cat Cat Tourism Area is an ideal destination, attracting thousands of visitors.

Cat Cat Tourism Area creates jobs for many local laborers.

It is worth mentioning that tourists coming here do not worry about being clung to, solicited, or begged for money by locals, but also get to learn about the cultural identity of ethnic groups, watch ethnic minorities perform traditional handicrafts, and perform musical items. For many women, mostly elderly Mong people and children, they no longer think about peddling or clinging to tourists because they have jobs and stable incomes.

Elderly Mong women are arranged to sell souvenirs at Cat Cat Tourism Area.

Previously, Mrs. Lu Thi May, living in Y Linh Ho village, Sa Pa ward, mainly stayed at home farming and working in the fields. Her life was very difficult. On some weekends, Mrs. May went up to Sa Pa to peddle to tourists to earn extra income. Since being invited to work at Cat Cat Tourism Area, she has been doing the familiar and favorite job of beeswax painting, and simultaneously selling souvenirs to tourists, earning an income of 3 - 4 million VND per month.

Mrs. Lu Thi May shared: My grandchildren also participate in cultural identity preservation classes right at Cat Cat Tourism Area, so they do not think about going to the streets to peddle to tourists anymore.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien - Deputy Director of Cat Cat Travel One Member Company Limited said: The life of the majority of elderly Mong women is very difficult; to make a living, they have to go to Sa Pa or other tourist routes and spots. Meanwhile, the elderly often preserve indigenous cultural knowledge such as beeswax painting art and traditional handicrafts. Therefore, to both create jobs and promote cultural values, the Company invited them to demonstrate for tourists to experience at the tourist area. Depending on each person's ability, they participate in the art team, beeswax painting, flax spinning for fabric weaving, corn wine brewing, etc.

Indigenous people perform arts to serve visiting tourists.

Along with creating jobs for about 50 women and elderly people, Cat Cat Travel One Member Company Limited also opens classes to preserve Mong culture for children, inviting experts who understand Mong culture, history, writing, and tangible and intangible culture to teach and transmit cultural identity to children. Currently, Cat Cat Tourism Area has 150 children participating in Mong culture preservation classes on weekends, contributing to reducing the situation of children peddling and clinging to tourists in Sa Pa. These actions have contributed to building a tourism business community with responsibility towards the community and society.

Beside enterprises, accommodation service businesses such as motels, hotels, homestays, and the team of tour guides, drivers, restaurant and hotel staff, etc. also significantly contribute to building a community of friendly, hospitable tourism operators in Sa Pa.

Ms. Ly May Lai's family runs a homestay service in Ta Phin commune. Recently, many domestic and foreign tourists have come to visit, experience, and stay at her family's place. To serve tourists better, Ms. Ly May Lai learns more English and French to talk with tourists.

Ms. Ly May Lai, owner of Ta Phin homestay shared: I always remind homestay workers and local guides not to cling to, solicit, or beg for money from tourists; when receiving visitors, always be cheerful and enthusiastically guide them so that tourists are satisfied and will return to the homestay next time. Recently, I participated in a training class on behavioral skills with tourists organized by the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and learned many useful knowledge about communication skills with foreign visitors.

Exchanging with us about solutions to solve the situation of peddling and soliciting visitors at Sa Pa National Tourism Area, Mr. Tran Son Binh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said: Recently, the Department organized 2 training classes on behavioral skills with tourists, aiming to raise awareness about tourism and reduce soliciting and peddling, with the participation of 70 trainees.

At the training class, trainees were provided with knowledge about the importance and basic elements when communicating with tourists; practiced behavioral skills with tourists, and skills to handle practical situations when communicating with tourists, thereby, improving communication and behavioral skills of the tourism workforce towards tourists, contributing to reducing soliciting and clinging to visitors at Sa Pa National Tourism Area.

Mr. Tran Son Binh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also believed that currently, the situation of people peddling, soliciting, and clinging to tourists at Sa Pa National Tourism Area has decreased significantly.

One of the very important solutions that the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector, local authorities, and the Tourism Association have implemented is coordinating with businesses in solving employment, creating livelihoods and sustainable income sources for people. This is one of the root solutions to the problem.

In the coming time, these solutions need to be carried out synchronously and drastically, letting no situation of people and children peddling, clinging to, and soliciting tourists at Sa Pa National Tourism Area recur. This contributes to building an image of a beautiful, friendly, hospitable Sa Pa rich in ethnic identity.

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