Begging on the rise in Vietnam's Hoi An amid administrative transition

Once known for its tranquil charm and lantern-lit alleys, the ancient city of Hoi An is facing an uptick in disorderly street scenes, with a growing number of beggars and street vendors raising concerns among tourists and residents alike.

Over the past few months, social media has become flooded with videos depicting scenes of disarray in the UNESCO World Heritage site. Some clips show individuals pretending to be disabled, crawling along sidewalks or lying on benches while aggressively soliciting donations from visitors.

"It's become increasingly chaotic," said Nguyen Van Son, chairman of the Hoi An People's Committee, in an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday.

"Both tourists and locals have sent in complaints, and I've witnessed the problem firsthand."

According to Son, the surge in begging and street vending has coincided with a period of major administrative change. Quang Nam Province is set to be merged into Da Nang City, and the local government is in the final month of its existence.

During this transitional period, city officials have been consumed with processing paperwork and preparing for the merger, which has diverted attention from on-the-ground enforcement.

"The timing is being exploited," Son admitted. "Some individuals and groups are taking advantage of the administrative vacuum to disturb the city's image. Wherever I go, the problem seems to disappear temporarily. But the moment we're gone, it resumes."

Traditionally, efforts to maintain public order in Hoi An, including the prevention of unauthorized vending and begging, have relied on coordination between city urban management teams and ward-level police. But the city's urban management force has already been dissolved as part of the merger process, and the centralized police force has been redistributed, leading to a breakdown in coordination.

   A city under construction

Compounding the problem are ongoing infrastructure upgrades in the ancient town. Contractors have been racing to finish several key projects, including a VND200 billion (US$7.7 million) fire prevention system and underground wastewater infrastructure aimed at protecting the historic core from long-term damage.

These projects have turned several of the city's iconic pedestrian streets into active construction zones, creating confusion and reducing the city's ability to manage foot traffic. These conditions have allowed street vendors and panhandlers to become more active.

"We've been working around the clock to meet our June deadlines," said Son. "But the temporary mess has unfortunately opened the door for more disruptive activity."

   Enforcement to resume post-merger

Despite the disruption, Son emphasized that order would be restored. He has already instructed local units to step up enforcement against those harassing tourists.

While the transition has created unavoidable gaps, he said, the long-term goal remains to preserve Hoi An's reputation as a peaceful and welcoming destination.

"Once the merger is complete, we'll reestablish order," Son said.

Hoi An, famous for its ancient architecture, cultural heritage, and riverside charm, has long been one of Vietnam's most visited tourist destinations. But as the city prepares for a new administrative chapter, officials are racing against the clock to ensure that its reputation doesn't suffer in the process.

Thanh Ha - Thai Ba Dung / Tuoi Tre News

(2025/05/15-17:08)