Street Vendors in Vietnam

Street Merchants

They are mostly women and are part of, in some way, the soul of this country. Their presence is especially marked in Hanoi, as the street vendor walks the streets in search of a potential customer, and only returns to rest once her merchandise is exhausted.

They are most often on bicycles or on foot and transport their products using a wooden pole that supports two baskets.

You will perhaps be won over by their smile when they offer you to carry their load for the time of a photo, and it will then be very tactful to refuse to buy them something small. Don’t be annoyed, it’s quite normal, you won’t have paid a lot for your purchase at the moment, and you’ll have a nice photo!

One must be tolerant and empathetic with these vendors, as they do not have an easy life. Many of them come from rather distant villages, leave their families, often their children, to earn some money in the city because life in the countryside is not enough to feed everyone.

It is a life of sacrifice, they sleep in dormitories in cities, wake up very early to go to the wholesaler, then walk the streets until their merchandise is exhausted; they return to see their families only once a month, at best…

These are retail sellers of fruit and vegetables, flowers, small tools… that are present everywhere. Small shops and small stores sell tea, beverages, etc… So there’s no shortage problem!

As for fruit vendors, you will certainly recognize the banana, but the other more exotic fruits might be unfamiliar to you: mango, mangosteen, dragon fruit, rambutan, papaya… so if you feel up to it, don’t hesitate to buy a fruit. With a little bargaining, you’re sure not to break your budget and discover an original flavor while making someone happy at the same time.

Another type of original street vendor is the vendor of unusual small tools, like Mary Poppins’ bag, her basket hides many surprises: nail clippers, file, lighter, cotton swabs, tissues… it’s hard to imagine how this type of commerce was born, but you have to admit that sometimes it can be very practical.

For the romantics, you will also find the flower vendor, she will offer you a multitude of varieties that can make you happy. In Hanoi, she goes to the flower market, near the great western lake, to stock up for the day.

Going to the flower market at dawn allows you to appreciate a very particular atmosphere, the contrast between the rising day and human activity is surprising!

The striking point in common between all these vendors is their radiant smile that lights up their face marked by their life experience.

Now, you know a bit more about the lives of these women with a difficult destiny, so if you cross their smile, don’t hesitate to return it, it will surely warm their hearts.

You will find a section dedicated to the daily lives of these women, street vendors, at the Hanoi Women’s Museum, located on Ly Thuong Kiet Street.