Western tourists caught begging for money in Vietnam have been heavily criticised by both tourism officials and locals.

A picture of a tourist meditating in Phu Quoc with a sign asking for donations has gone viral on social media.

In response, the tourism chief of Kien Giang province told a local newspaper that street begging was banned in Vietnam, and that there were no exceptions for foreigners no matter how politely they behaved.

Recent photos by social media users show foreigners performing, selling goods or meditating on the street while begging for money.

The practice has been called “beg-packing” as foreigners are often asking for others to fund their travels across developing countries.

The director of Kien Giang’s department of foreign affairs told the state run Tuoi Tre newspaper that his office had been directing foreign beggars to their respective embassies for assistance.