VietNamNet Bridge - Begging in Hanoi has been restricted thanks to the local government’s efforts, but the number of homeless foreigners has doubled after three years.

An official from the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Hanoi said that the number of beggars has fallen from over 10,000 in the 1980s to less than 1,000 at present.

However, the majority of beggars are "professional" and "semi-professional" so they have many tricks to cope with the authorities. Last year, 730 beggars were admitted to social centers.

The official said the number of foreign beggars has increased in recent years. These people will be sent to a social patronage center and handed over to the Immigration Department to handle.

Under the provisions of Hanoi, beggars and homeless mental patients will be brought to social centers or mental hospitals for treatment and care and then given back to their families.

Le Ha