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Few people know exactly when street vending originated. However, when discussing life in this thousand-year-old city, one cannot fail to mention street vending, as a unique aspect of Hanoi's culture.
From dawn until the city lights come on, vendors with their carrying poles diligently walk, shouldering not just goods but also life stories, breaths, and diverse destinies. Their conical hats shield their sun-tanned faces, but cannot hide their hard work and diligence. Through countless seasons of rain and sunshine, the image of these street vendors evokes not only memories of a difficult but heartwarming time but also symbolizes the connection between the past and the present, between tradition and modernity.
Street vendors have survived through the years, carrying the burden of their livelihoods amidst the bustling modern city.
Amidst the bustling city streets, the image of street vendors carrying their wares still evokes a sense of old-world nostalgia.
Originating during the feudal era, street vendors initially served as a means of livelihood for poor laborers, primarily farmers from suburban areas, who brought agricultural products and goods into the city to sell. Lacking the means to open fixed shops, they devised a method of transporting goods using carrying poles, making it easier to navigate the narrow streets and cramped passageways of old Hanoi.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, under the influence of French colonialism, Hanoi became a major commercial and trading center. However, amidst this rapid development, street vendors persisted as a testament to the perseverance and resourcefulness of the working class. These vendors increasingly developed and expanded their product offerings. Beyond simple foods like sticky rice, cakes, and fruit, they also included handicrafts, clothing, and everyday necessities, thus preserving a part of Vietnamese traditional identity.
Ms. Tran Thi Mao, 68 years old, carrying a basket of sandals.
Street vendors are not just a form of small-scale business, but also a place for preserving and spreading the folk cultural values of Hanoi. The simple dishes, handicrafts, and seasonal specialties from these street vendors are deeply rooted in the culture of the capital city. Steamed rice cakes, hot sticky rice, and refreshing cold teas are dishes that have been intertwined with the lives of Hanoians for generations, from ancient times to the present. These are not just familiar foods, but also memories and flavors that Hanoians always cherish.
Street vendors also clearly reflect the customs and traditions of the Vietnamese people. In each season, the goods carried on their shoulders change according to the season and festivals. From vibrant bouquets of fresh flowers in spring to sweet lychees and longans in summer, or glutinous rice dumplings and vegetarian cakes during the Cold Food Festival, everything carries the breath of the earth, nature, and the rhythm of Vietnamese life.
Street vendors have become a kind of "countryside soul," a simple yet beautiful feature.
Besides playing a crucial role in preserving folk cultural values, street vendors are also closely associated with the arduous and resilient lives of their owners. Behind those heavily laden carrying poles lie stories of hardship and struggle for survival; they carry not only goods but also the weight of their lives, hoping each day to earn enough to feed their families. This harsh life doesn't diminish the smiles on their faces, but it also reflects a heartbreaking truth about the difficulties they face. The image of these street vendors portrays the endurance and efforts of poor laborers, silently gliding through narrow alleys and bustling intersections day after day.
Although Mrs. Hoa was smiling, her eyes still reflected the hardships of a life of toil.
When asked about her year-round job of working in the fields, Mrs. Luong Thi Hoa, now 62 years old, said: "I'm used to the hardship; I've been selling for 10 years now. Some days I sell well, some days I sell poorly, but I have to keep going, because I don't always have money."
There are still many street vendors throughout the streets, each with its own unique characteristics, no two alike. Yet, an invisible thread connects them all: a shared fate, a life of poverty, a daily struggle to make a living. Every morning, they carry dozens of kilograms of goods, walking dozens of kilometers through every alleyway to find customers. The cries echoing in the bustling city are not just the rhythm of daily life, but also contain weariness, the sighs of worry about food, clothing, and money.
There are still many street vendors throughout the streets, each with its own unique characteristics; no two are alike.
Street vendors, once a tangible entity, have now become a value system, a measure of the times. Previously, street vendors carried simple goods on shoulder poles, transporting humble items from the countryside to the city. Today, that image remains, but it has changed to adapt to the urban pace of life. Instead of shoulder poles, many now use pushcarts or other means of transport, and the goods are more diverse and varied to meet new demands. However, amidst this modern flow, street vendors still retain the soul of tradition, serving as a historical bridge, preserving the distinctive flavor of Hanoi's people through centuries.
Street vendors take a few minutes to rest right at the intersection.
