HO CHI MINH CITY -- The Vietnamese city of Danang, known for its expansive beach, is telling tourists and locals not to give money to beggars as part of a campaign to rid the streets of panhandling by the end of 2026.

The city will use cameras for monitoring and aims to get 100% of hotels and restaurants to sign pledges that they will not allow begging on site, according to a post on its website. The move comes as Vietnamese cities grapple with how to maintain the appeal of fast-growing tourism destinations while addressing persistent social challenges.

The country as a whole is riding an upswell of tourism, with Danang now ranking first in Vietnam and sixth in Asia for repeat visitors, according to travel site Agoda. As visitor numbers rise, local governments are increasingly focused on the quality of the tourist experience in public spaces.

At the same time, while the communist country has slashed poverty rates with export-fueled growth, it is not unusual to encounter beggars in public areas, from children holding babies to veterans in wheelchairs.

Danang previously set up a hotline for people to report vagrants, beggars and street vendors who aggressively solicit customers. Cafe and restaurant patrons often sit outside in the tropical country, making it easier for hawkers to approach them to sell lottery tickets, bags of peanuts or, especially in seaside towns, clams toted by basket and bamboo pole.

This month Danang said that if beggars are found on the street, officials will take them back to their families or, for those who are homeless, connect them to social services. The municipal government aims to reduce what it calls deceptive begging by 90% to 100% by the end of 2026, focusing on urban areas, tourist attractions and commercial centers. It does not want to have areas where panhandlers congregate, especially near hospitals, bus stops, markets and tourist hubs. It is also cracking down on brokers who force others into panhandling.

"Children, the elderly, people who are disabled, and people being exploited or coerced will receive appropriate protection and support measures," the government said.

Authorities have attempted to decrease the number of people begging or living on the street before. But cases have continued to reemerge in hotspots around town, according to a site affiliated with the Danang police. The latest policy reflects a broader push by local governments to keep tourism centers orderly as visitor arrivals continue to grow. Now the city is redoubling efforts with this campaign in the final quarter of 2026. Other localities across Vietnam have tried similar measures.

The northern mountain resort of Sapa in Lao Cai province has established a task force to support people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, children and other vulnerable groups. It is also penalizing brokers, posting signs against solicitation and asking tour guides and bus drivers to discourage visitors from giving money to panhandlers. The local government warned that an increase in street vending, harassment and begging could discourage tourists from returning and undermine Sapa's sustainable development.

Visitors walk through Hoi An's historic old town in March 2026. The UNESCO-listed destination, about 30 kilometers south of Danang, is part of central Vietnam's tourism corridor.

Tay Ninh, a southern province that is home to a Cao Dai temple and Ba Den, or Black Widow, mountain, has provided health care, taken those with mental health issues to rehabilitation centers and introduced vocational training for homeless people.

But dealing with individual cases has not been enough, with people returning to the streets after being sent to shelters, for example, the government's Vietnam News reports. Organizations say a systemic approach is needed to address the interconnected issues of poverty, work, safety nets, gangs and legal matters. For instance anti-trafficking group Blue Dragon said some street children were vulnerable because they lacked official documents to go to school, while also needing long-term community support and legal rights.

The average monthly income is less than $400 in Vietnam, where the poverty rate fell from 3.7% in 2012 to 1.6% in 2022, according to the World Bank.

The Southeast Asian country has increased livelihoods through sectors like manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. Foreign visitors reached 17.7 million in the first three quarters of 2026, up 14.5% year on year, according to the statistics office. But as tourism expands, local governments are increasingly being forced to balance economic growth with social challenges that can persist despite falling poverty rates.