Beating the heat: Saigon's good Samaritans provide relief to overheated workers

"I feel sorry for them when they have to drive around in this hot weather all day long," Hang said.

The cafe spans 35 square meters and can seat 25 people, usually bustling from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. With few patrons around noon and located amidst delivery drivers and vendors, Hang decided to offer her space as a rest spot for these workers, serving free iced tea.

On the evening of April 24, she posted a message on her local district’s online group, announcing: "My shop is spacious and cool, delivery drivers can stop by for some rest, no need to order water, I will serve tea for free."

After just a few hours, the post had already received hundreds of likes and comments."A place to sit for lunch or a cup of water is not much, but it helps them a lot," Hang said.

Ever since the end of March, HCMC in specific, and the southern region in general, have endured an indefatigably severe heatwave.

Temperatures have consistently exceeded 35 degrees Celsius - a threshold for heatwaves, according to meteorological classifications.

In reality, the perceived outdoor temperature may be 3-5 degrees higher.

Thuy Hang prepares tables and chairs for delivery drivers stopping taking breaks at her cafe in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, at noon on April 25, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Ngan

About 10km down the road, a noodle shop on Nguyen Bieu Street, District 5 owned by Do Thanh Long, 36, had dozens of shippers lining up to take orders. Before leaving, many people stopped by a plastic bin containing bottles of free chilled water for take away.

Long's water bottle bin has been a feature of the shop for more than a week as the pavement outside gets blasted by the scorching sun.

Temperatures in this section of the heat-absorbing concrete jungle peak at 38-40 degrees Celsius at noon, which is the shop’s rush hour. Between 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day, the shop has about 60 delivery drivers picking up deliveries.

Last week, Long bought two boxes of bottled water, as well as ice, and placed them where the delivery drivers usually queue. "It's already hot where I’m standing and selling, I can’t imagine them driving continuously in this heat," Long said.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warns that prolonged exposure to heat and a high UV index can cause various health issues, particularly for those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities.

Delivery drivers stop by Do Thanh Long's noodle shop in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, to pick up free water at noon on April 25, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Ngan

Long said that if he only placed a pitcher of iced tea by the road, which is a common good Samaritan act around HCMC, many people don’t carry bottles or containers to take the hydration with them.

And some are also too shy to ask for water from his shop. To solve this problem, he wrote a sign: "Delivery drivers, please take a bottle before you leave for work!"

Now the whole neighborhood, and passersby, know that the liquid is a gift from his shop. Everyone is free to take one or more bottles from the box.

Hundreds water bottles have been dispensed to thirsty delivery drivers and other sun-scorched citizens in just a week.

One noodle shop customer posted a photo of people lining up for the free cold bottles on social media and it went immediately viral. Not only delivery drivers, but many street vendors are now visiting Long’s establishment to refresh and rehydrate with his now-famous water bottle box.

Among the people queuing for water outside the noodle shop at noon on April 25 was Thanh, 32. She’s been a delivery woman for a year and a half now and said that these summer heatwaves are the hardest time of year for her because of fatigue and dehydration.

"After driving for four hours, I have to go home to rest, use the restroom, and fill my water bottle," Thanh said.

She pointed out that another major benefit of Long’s good Samaritanism is that it saves hard working people with little money at least VND5,000 - 10,000 ($0.2-0.39) on water they would otherwise have to buy while baking out in the heat.

"It's not much," Thanh said, "but sometimes the cost of those water bottles can add up into a whole delivery order."