On the morning of 10/4, Nguyen Van Hanh, Vice Chairman of Pho Bang Commune People's Committee, announced a ban on the practice of carrying flowers at Tham Ma Pass to solicit money from tourists taking photos. According to the Pho Bang Commune People's Committee, many elderly people and children recently gathered in the area, aggressively soliciting and competing for tourists.
Observations in early March showed children and the elderly often crowded Tham Ma Pass, obstructing and inconveniencing visitors who simply wished to photograph the landscape. Some individuals repeatedly pressured tourists to hold flowers for pictures, even when unwanted, then displayed annoyance. In other instances, a group of six or seven children would collectively braid a tourist's hair, requiring the visitor to pay the entire group.
"The situation is complex; if not managed well, it will harm the local tourism image," Hanh stated.
Last year, Pho Bang commune strictly prohibited direct solicitation for money. Consequently, tourists often gave candy or offered voluntary payments, typically around 10,000 VND per interaction. During peak seasons, each child could earn approximately 300,000 VND daily, though adults usually collected most of this money immediately.
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Children at Tham Ma Pass, 3/2026. *Hoang Giang* |
Local authorities have formed a task force to maintain security and order at Tham Ma Pass. They have also transferred elderly individuals, children, and women carrying babies to other communes for management. Furthermore, authorities broadcast messages via loudspeakers in three languages: English, Vietnamese, and Hmong, advising tourists not to give money or gifts and providing a hotline number.
Despite these efforts, Hanh noted the difficulty in changing the mindset of those who avoid labor and rely on pity. Many tourists continue to offer gifts and money, disregarding warnings.
"They believe they are doing good, but they are actually destroying children's futures. Children might drop out of school, leading to an illiterate, unproductive generation that becomes a societal burden," Hanh explained.
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Tham Ma Pass in March. *Hoang Giang* |
Hoang Xuan Don, Head of the Management Board of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, echoed this sentiment. He suggested that children carrying flowers reflects the market economy's supply and demand principle. When tourists feel compassion for young children, it generates higher economic returns, a phenomenon academically known as "poverty porn" – exploiting poverty to increase sympathy and generate income.
"We want tourists to cooperate with the authorities, to appreciate the land and people of the Karst Plateau in a more sustainable and structured way," he said.
Currently, Pho Bang commune is drafting a code of conduct and reorganizing these activities. Under the new regulations, participants must meet government requirements, flowers must be neatly arranged in designated areas, and solicitation is strictly prohibited. The commune also plans to establish a traditional art performance group, with proceeds from tourists to be divided equally, aiming to prevent competition among individuals.
Tu Nguyen
