The scorching sun beats down on those struggling to make a living.

Amidst Hanoi's consistently high outdoor temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius, many freelance workers and sanitation workers continue to silently toil under the scorching sun. Each drop of sweat falling onto the burning pavement represents a struggle for survival, a heavy burden of providing for their families, a weight placed upon the shoulders of people who already have few other options.

Making a living in the sweltering heat.

At 10 a.m., the surface of Pham Tu Street ( Hanoi ) radiated scorching heat. Under the shade of a tree along the roadside, Nguyen Thi Hang (26 years old) sat resting beside her mobile coffee cart. The sun-protective scarf wrapped around her face was soaked with sweat.

Ms. Hang is from Dan Hoa commune, Hanoi. After leaving her hometown and renting a room in the city center, she chose to make a living selling coffee on the street. Her day starts at 6 a.m. While many people are still asleep, she is busy brewing and preparing drinks before traveling along the streets.

"Normally, I sell until around 3 PM and then go home. But on hot days like these, there are far fewer people on the streets, so sales are very slow. Some days I spend the whole afternoon and only sell a few cups," she said, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

At midday, there were hardly any customers. She took a few minutes to rest under a tree before continuing her journey. Selling a few dozen cups of coffee each day was enough to cover rent, utilities, and living expenses. On slow days due to the heat, her income dropped sharply, but she still had to stick with the job. "If I don't go out to sell, I won't have money. No matter how hot it is, I have to keep going," she said with a forced smile.

It's not just street vendors like Ms. Hang; many other manual laborers are also struggling in the intense heat to earn a living.

At 62 years old, she should be resting with her children and grandchildren, but due to the demands of making a living, she still has to continue working under the scorching sun.

On a stretch of road in southern Hanoi, Ms. Do Thi Ngu (62 years old), an environmental worker, is still diligently sweeping under the high heat. The tanned face of this woman in her sixties clearly shows the marks of years of hard labor.

She said she starts her shift at 6 a.m. and works until 1 p.m. The work is mostly outdoors, exposing her to the heat, dust, and the risk of traffic accidents. Yet, her daily income is only about 300,000 VND. Previously, it was even lower, around 200,000 VND per day. When asked about any support during extreme heat, she shook her head: "Nothing at all!"

At 62 years old, she should be at an age to rest with her children and grandchildren, but due to the demands of making a living, she still has to continue working under the scorching sun.

On Linh Duong Street in Hoang Liet Ward, Hanoi, a bustling atmosphere of work prevails under the scorching sun as people rush to reinforce the sidewalks. Trinh Xuan Duong (44 years old), a freelance worker from Ninh Binh , recently moved to Hanoi half a month ago to work alongside other laborers from his village.

Every day, he starts work at 5:30 a.m. and works until around 11 a.m. His income ranges from 400,000 to 500,000 VND per day, but there is no special allowance for hot weather. "I know it's hot, but the work still has to be done on schedule. If I take a day off, I lose money," he shared.

Behind those simple words lies the pressure of making ends meet, a pressure that is not easily expressed. For many migrant workers, the money they earn must be sent back home to support their children's education, care for elderly parents, or cover the increasingly expensive cost of living.

Mr. Trinh Xuan Duong works as a construction laborer.

Sacrificing health to maintain income.

Medical experts have repeatedly warned that working outdoors in high temperatures for extended periods can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, sunstroke, heat exhaustion, and even heatstroke if not treated promptly.

However, for many workers, choosing to take time off to protect their health sometimes means losing a source of income that is already limited.

At a construction site in Hanoi, Ms. Bui Thi Hoan (45 years old), originally from Phu Tho province, came to Hanoi to work for familiar construction workers as a laborer. Her shift lasted from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and then continued from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

"My daily wage is about 350,000 VND. On hot days, the contractor gives me an extra 30,000 VND, bringing my total income to about 380,000 VND," Ms. Hoan said.

Ms. Bui Thi Hoan shared that her shift lasts from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and then continues from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

While the allowance is valuable, it's not enough to compensate for the pressures the workers face. The work of carrying materials, mixing mortar, and transporting goods under the scorching sun erodes their health day by day. "This job is already hard, but it's even harder in the sun," said Ms. Hoan.

Many workers report experiencing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and muscle cramps after long hours of working outdoors. However, most only take short breaks before continuing their work because they don't want to affect their income.

Bottles of water, cold towels, or shade along the roadside have become familiar "heat-relief devices" for poor laborers. Many take advantage of lunch breaks to rest under bridges, eaves, or trees to regain their strength before continuing their shift.

The already arduous work becomes even more challenging when faced with extreme heat, dust, and the added risk of traffic accidents.

Besides those working directly on the streets or construction sites, many other freelance workers are also struggling to make a living under the scorching sun with precarious incomes.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong (60 years old), originally from Thanh Hoa province, said that in recent days she and many others have been going to the land clearance area along the 2.5 Ring Road to collect and buy scrap materials. Under the scorching sun in the open field, amidst the dust and smoke from the demolition work, their main job is collecting scrap iron, old electrical wires, and discarded materials to sell to collection points.

Construction site under the scorching sun, nearly 40 degrees Celsius.

"The work is hard, involving a lot of walking and constant carrying, so it's very tiring, but if I don't do it, I won't have money to make ends meet," Ms. Hong shared. With her job collecting and buying scrap metal, her income only ranges from 200,000 to 300,000 VND per day, depending on the amount of scrap metal collected.

The picture of workers toiling in the heat reveals a reality: low-income earners are often the group most directly and severely affected by extreme weather events. While many can choose to work in air-conditioned environments, adjust working hours, or take breaks as needed, for many unskilled laborers, stopping work means losing their livelihood.

The money earned in the near-40°C heat is not only the result of hard work but also the price paid in terms of health, time, and sometimes even safety.

Amidst the hurried crowds on the streets, the image of a diligent sanitation worker sweeping garbage, a construction worker bustling on a project, or a street vendor quietly resting under a tree during lunchtime is easily overlooked. Yet, it is they who are contributing to maintaining the rhythm of city life every day.

The summer heat will eventually pass, but the stories of those struggling to make a living under the harsh sun serve as a reminder of the need for better care and protection for the workforce who work tirelessly under the scorching sun every day.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nang-do-lua-บน-nhung-phan-muu-sinh-238260525123627062.htm