@thedopamineroute: Seeing children in Sapa dancing in traditional costume seemed cute (at first). But the more we saw, the more it felt off. Watching them, it’s clear they don’t fully understand what they’re doing. When tourists cheer and their parents hype them up, the kids keep dancing even if they already look tired and sleepy. Our local driver explained that what began as cultural expression has become a way for families to earn, with children often encouraged to perform to get donations instead of going to school. Most kids even prefer it because they hated going to school which is why many grow up working young and with limited education. Child labor persist, since both children and parents see it as the “better option” than schooling. The sad part is, our driver said their country doesn’t explicitly forbid children from helping families earn, especially in remote ethnic areas. Even tho child explo*tation and labor are technically against international agreements Vietnam has signed, the problem is enforcement is weak in tourist-heavy areas like Sapa. That’s why many NGOs and travel groups in Vietnam encourage tourists to avoid giving money directly to children, since it unintentionally fuels the cycle. 🥲🥹 I feel so bad for these children. There were so many of them in Sapa. I hope this matter will be addressed. This isn’t normal!! #sapa #vietnam

TheDopamineRoute

Open In TikTok:

Region: PH

Thursday 26 February 2026 05:58:41 GMT