Hanoi street vendors emerge from under sidewalk cleanup campaign

By Giang Huy   May 10, 2017 | 03:39 am PT
Under the street lights, peddlers and street vendors are slowly returning to Hanoi's sidewalks as the streetside cleanup campaign loses steam.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Noi, 83 years old, living in Dao Duy Tu street, vases alone tea tea at 1 am. Since they were cleaning the sidewalks, I left my belongings at home and did not dare to take a break, because I would not be able to spend any money living there, she said.

Living on Dao Duy Tu Street, Nguyen Thi Noi, 83, sits prepping her tea shop. "I do this everyday, regardless of the weather. Since authorities started clearing the sidewalks, I've been leaving more of my belongings at home, but I can't shut down my shop completely because there would be no money to live on," she said.

A row of goods linger on the sidewalk at 23h hoping to sell a few more food bags.

A peddler sits on a sidewalk at 11p.m. hoping to sell a few more bags of snacks.

A roasted chicken leg shop on Ngo Gach Street.

A BBQ chicken shop on Ngo Gach Street.

Many shippers have changed their careers since the authorities pushed for the restoration of the urban order, but many still remained on the sidewalks for their livelihoods.

Many shop owners have been forced to change up their business models ever since authorities started trying to regain the sidewalks for pedestrian, but many are still clinging on to the sidewalks where they make their livings.

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Some of the stalls are still spilling out onto the streets.

Street diners sit in long row along the sidewalk.

Street diners sit in a long row along the sidewalk.

Ms. Huong has been selling garment accessories on Hang Bac Street for many years: Since the campaign to clear the sidewalk, customers less gradually, mostly acquaintances.

A vendor named Huong said she has been selling garment accessories on Hang Bac Street for many years. "Since the sidewalk cleanup campaign started, my shop has been losing customers," she said.

Binh, another vendor,  sells barbecue in the walking street area. On weekdays I sell in the alleyway.

Binh, another vendor, sells barbecue skewers in the pedestrian zone. "On weekdays I sell food in the alleyway, but on the weekends I move here because it's better for business," she said.

The house in Hang Bac Lane, Ngoc sells water to sell more kinds of sandals to improve income.

Ngoc, the owner of a tea stall on Hang Bac Street, has started selling sandals to make some extra income.

A row of sugarcane juice on Hang Be Street, who stopped drinking water, must hold a plastic seat in the seated.

A sugarcane juice vendor on Hang Be Street. 

A busy shoe repair shop on Hang Dau Street.

A busy shoe repair shop on Hang Dau Street.

 
 
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