Some candy

It was 10am and Hanoi was as hot as a burning stove. Many chose to take the bus or a taxi or even decided against going outside in order to keep the suffocating heat at bay, rather than riding their own motorbikes or using the motorbike taxi service known as xe om as they usually do. Phan Thanh Tuan, a Grab xe om driver, told our correspondent: “Normally, I could earn about VND200,000-300,000 (US$9-13) or more with 10-15 rides a day but these days there are hardly any customers.” He added, “People have been making few journeys, and if they have to go outside, they will take an air conditioned cab. Previously I could run more fares in the evening to make up for the sunny daytime. But now everyone stays at home to watch the World Cup.” In order to make some income during the heat wave, many have turned to transporting goods in place of people. For those who could adapt themselves well, their incomes are relatively decent but there is only a handful of such xe om drivers. In general, most xe om drivers have fallen into disfavour these days and their incomes have also fallen substantially. On the other end of the scale are roadside vendors of iced tea, coffee and freshwater. The hotter it gets, the more money they make. Nguyen Thi Hien has been selling iced tea by the roadside for nearly 20 years. No matter the weather or the time of the day, she always settles herself under the shade of trees and serve her customers. She said “Small roadside iced tea shops began to mushroom in Hanoi around the early 2000s. Many scrambled to open stalls by the roadside to sell not only iced tea but also freshwater and other snacks. The initial investment is very small but the profit is fairly good. If you are hard-working, you could easily earn VND10 million a month.” Hien added that she has customers almost every day in both the summer and winter but her stand reaches its peak during the sizzling days like this. On a day when customers are not so plentiful, she still …

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E-cigarettes, called Vape or new-generation cigarettes, will cause serious harm to young generation in Vietnam. The use of e-cigarettes once again heated up the National Assembly agenda as policymakers emphasized the harmful effects and consequences of e-cigarettes, which are being widely circulated and used in Vietnam. E-cigarettes have been banned in many countries over the world. File Photo Giving a view at the 14th National Assembly’s final session in Hanoi on March 24, Nguyen Anh Tri, a delegate from the capital city, said there were many catastrophic accidents caused by drivers who were addicted to drug while driving vehicle. “There should be specific provisions in law,” Tri said to National Assembly delegates who were discussing draft amended Law on Drug Prevention and Control. Tri said that the use of e-cigarettes is spreading very quickly in the country, especially targeting to young people, thus causing serious harm to younger generations in the future. E-cigarettes are the fastest way leading the smokers to drugs “so it is necessary to ban it, do not let it grow and then deal with its consequences in the future.” He said many countries in the world have condemned and proposed an absolute ban of e-cigarettes due to its harmful consequences, so that the Vietnamese National Assembly and Government should immediately ban the use and trading of e-cigarettes in the country for the shake of a better living. “Please do not delay. If we are late, we will have to pay a heavy price by the people’s destroyed health and then a huge amount of money to stop such a kind of human killing called e-cigarettes,” Tri said. Delegate Pham Trong Nhan from the southern province of Binh Duong said in some cases, the decisions given by authorities, not know whether accidentally or intentionally, have created more loopholes in the legislation while the country is facing with many difficulties in the fight against drug. He showed a proof that the …

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A familiar image presents everywhere from small alleys to main streets, beside large commercial centers or luxury restaurants and cafes, which reminds everyone of Hanoi: sidewalk iced tea. Modest shops of sidewalk iced tea and groups of people enjoying their glass of the drink are an ordinary part of the capital city but memorable to many people. A simple beverage Perhaps nowhere in the country are there more sidewalk iced tea shops than in Hanoi. They might be the most popular kind of shops here. Any place in Hanoi within a few steps around, sidewalk iced tea can be easily found. From early morning until late night, sidewalk iced tea is a part of the people’s daily life. Photo: Ngoc Vu Not in an ideal location or having a fancy design, right on the sidewalk, just a teapot, some glasses and a few plastic stools, a basic sidewalk iced tea shop is set up. Some ‘more luxurious’ ones sell peanut candies, sunflower seeds, chewing-gum, bottled drinks. From early morning until late night, this is a part of the people’s daily life. It is a fresh drink after breakfast to start the day, a relaxing beverage for the office’s lunch break and a chill sip with friends after work or going out in the evening. The customers of sidewalk iced tea are very diverse. They are both men and women, young and old and do different jobs, from office workers to janitors. And no specific dress code is required. Customers come here in casual T-shirt, smart dress and suit. With only a few pennies, anyone can have a seat and enjoy the drink as long as possible. Former Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Högberg had a tea at a sidewalk tea shop in Hanoi. Photo Manh Thang A convenient pleasure However, cheap price is not the reason why sidewalk iced tea is favored by Hanoians who are known for the country’s most picky eating manner. Although fancy cafes are mushrooming, sidewalk iced tea shops still have their loyal customers who are …

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