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Wastes:

Yek! Like many other developing countries, managing trash and rubbish is a real problem. In Hanoi, everyone simply leaves their rubbish on the pavement in small plastic bags or as is. Restaurants have far too much rubbish to use small plastic bags; no problem: they throw their garbage as is on the pavement (but on the other side of the street, not on their side!)

Women pushing small metallic carts, regularly shovel or pick up the garbage; they ring bells and everyone runs out of their houses to add a few small plastic bags! They then push their carts down to a proper garbage truck waiting a few streets away…

      

Traffic :

This is an incredible choreography! No obvious order, no rules! Everyone moves the way they want and chose, walking, driving, bicycling…Nobody follows a straight line but everybody goes very slowly and calmly so no accidents and no fear! Horns have an important role: just to let others know you are near them… The moto-taxis are very useful: waiting at every  street corner with a helmet for you, they avoid traffic jams taking narrow streets; of course, you’d better negotiate your price before you start your journey!

         

   

Street dealers and costermongers:

Mainly women who carries their products in 2 big cane or bamboo baskets hanging from a wooden bar on their shoulders. Weights are impressive: from to 10 to 15 kilos in each basket. They stroll about endlessly to sell their products; sometimes stopping at a corner for a few minutes and then walking again. Those baskets are very nice and products are nicely and artistically arranged: fruits are especially spectacular shining in the sun. Pineapples are the most beautiful products in those baskets. Some baskets contain meat, fish, sugar cane, mineral water bottles, lunches, nems or pastries. Sometimes fights may happen between these women if one is taking the “street corner” of another!