Street Vendors in Vietnam

Pavement business contributes the vibrancy to urban life and is also considered as a cornerstone of historical and cultural heritage in many places. The street vendor can be divided into 2 kinds such as those have a stable stand in the street and those move around either by bike or on foot.

How do street vendors work?

Daily every early morning, the vendors got up and head to the street. They offer easy access to a wide range of goods and services on the pavements or on their skinny shoulders at reasonable prices. They sell everything from fresh vegetables to prepared food, from building materials to garments and crafts, from consumer electronics to auto pairs and haircuts. Some vendors are on the move from one lane to others by bike or on foot and call out to attract buyers. Explore Hanoi, you should taste some street food from vendors, however, the bargain is a must if you are a tourist and a foreigner at the same time.

Street Vendor – a prominent symbol of Vietnamese localities

Attractiveness and Vitality of Street Vendors

The vendors together with their mixture of products make Hanoi more colorful. For example, various flowers follow vendors to every corner of the street and their alluring perfume seems to mingle into the air, which not only makes us more pleasant but also reminds the unique beauty of Hanoi. Another nice image that hawkers with bamboo frames take their family’s living – products on their skinny shoulders to every customer.

Simple and Friendly Characteristics

The hawkers are always open, friendly and easy to talk to. We will be attracted by various stories of their struggles touching our heart or origin of their products. Especially, they are never deceitful, conversely, they always help everyone by showing the ways for instance.

Hard-working Characteristic

The vendors always work every day irrespective of the heat, rain, and cold or even some pedlars sit on the sidewalk until midnight, hoping to sell a few products. Although they are so industrious, they still only earn a small amount of money. This shows an encumbrance as they are carrying the life of their whole families on the skinny shoulders and work from day to night. Every hawker has his/her own story of the struggling life.
Note: Food hygiene and safety is a concern for everyone. It is suggested that you should go to the store with more people eating rather than a quiet one, for it is obvious that good business comes together with good quality.