Street vendors are doing everything they can to try to sell as much as they can on highways despite the dangers, especially with Tet approaching.
Selling goods right in front of a container truck
With Tet coming, there are a lot of vehicles on the roads carrying labourers to visit their homes. Traffic is heavier than normal because so many people are traveling home. This is also the “hot season” for vendors. The busiest place could be National Road 1A starting at Binh Phuoc intersection to Linh Xuan flyover bridge, at Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, because it’s the gateway to the city centre.
Lorries, container trucks, passenger cars and many other kinds of vehicles flock through this place daily. That’s why traffic jams occur all the time. While passengers feel upset due to the heavy traffic, street vendors jump at the opportunity and love to see all the potential sales.
They can't wait to have the chance to sell items during a traffic jam or at red-lights.
Some people stand in middle of the roads or right in front of vehicles and some even jump up onto cabins, climbing around like acrobats.
They often sell tobacco, beverages, candies, newspapers, lottery tickets and anything else you can imagine.
“I have to jump here and there, weaving my way through vehicles to sell things. I know it’s dangerous, but I can’t sell my goods if I don’t do that. Traffic jams help me to sell more and are actually safer,” said Tho, a vendor.
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However actions of these “acrobats” can scare many drivers because it’s difficult to know where they are and when they might suddenly show up right in front of their vehicle.
“When I was driving through Binh Phuoc flyover bridge, a vendor showed up unexpectedly in front of my car. I tried to brake urgently. Luckily the truck behind me was driving slowly otherwise there would have been an accident,” said Son, a driver.
“Sometimes I feel very angry with their dangerous actions but sometimes I thank them because it’s not easy to park the car by the road to buy water when I feel thirsty,” said Chinh, another driver.
Vendors often conduct their business at petrol stations and parking places but some carry their goods with a bicycle along the roads.
“I did not go to school. I don’t have a job. I know it’s dangerous but I have no other way to earn a living for myself,” said Thinh, a vendor.
Stopping traffic to sell goods
“My health is weak but I have to make money to raise my two children. I make about VND40,000 ($2.1) per day,” said one female vendor.
All vendors here are very poor. They come from different areas nationwide. They are just trying to make some money for their livings and for their families at home, especially when Tet is near.
