Merchants of Vietnam
The pillars of community connection
Many travel far from their home villages to make money in the city, leaving behind their family and farms to converse and sell their goods to locals and tourists, hoping to make just enough money to bring back home so they can keep going another week. It’s survival to them.
There is the famous “Obama” Noodle Shop in Hanoi, where most tourists flock to. I mean, it is ridiculous that we go to one place just because a celebrity went there. There are other noodle shops in the same street and we should also be giving them a chance. We follow hotel brochures and TikTok trends to the same overcrowded overpriced hotspots, often walking right past the local vendors who actually anchor this community. As tourists, are we travelling so that we can connect and support the local economy? Or rather just following a digital map of trends to add to our social media for more likes and views.
We must also keep in mind the health and safety standards of street food. Vietnam has recently tightened its street food safety rules.
Published on: 2026-04-27
Taking a rest in the Train Street. Watching as tourists walk by.
A local buying produce from a merchant
A street vendor grabs his back while moving his produce around his shoulders
A seller patiently hand-painting each product in his local shop
Another merchant travelling with his goods through the city
Merchant carrying her produce on the her bike, waiting for customers.
Steet merchants walking and selling their produce to the community. A couple of locals stop by for a chit-chat.
Getting flowers ready for the day.
A street shop just outside the local market.
Carrying goods on a motorcycle.
Street vendor sets up shop outside a corporate building.
A local lantern seller outside her shop. Happily talking to a tourist.