Workers in the capital city brave the cold weather to make a living.

Northern Vietnam is experiencing a verstärkt cold front, with temperatures plummeting to as low as 8 degrees Celsius. Despite the freezing weather, laborers continue to work tirelessly to make a living.

On Le Thanh Tong street, Nguyen Hoang Huy (residing in Ba Dinh ward, Hanoi ), 37 years old, a ride-hailing motorbike driver, was waiting for customers in his protective clothing. He shared that from the moment he stepped out of his house early on the morning of January 22nd, he clearly felt the temperature drop sharply compared to previous days. Due to the nature of his job, which requires constant travel on the road, early morning rides expose him directly to the cold wind. A slight oversight due to haste caused him to forget his driving gloves at home, resulting in his hands becoming numb after each long trip. Furthermore, sitting in the cold air for too long also caused numbness in his neck and shoulders, leading to considerable discomfort.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Huy is standing and waiting for customers, completely covered up in his outfit.

Despite the extreme weather, Huy maintained a very positive attitude and never considered taking time off to avoid the cold. To adapt to the sharply dropping temperatures, he wore more layers of clothing than usual. When there were no customers, he would often seek warmth from small fires lit by other workers on the sidewalk, and these were precious moments of rest. When he received a ride request on his phone, he would quickly set off.

In the Co Tan flower garden area, Mr. Pham Duc Tan (residing in Vinh Tuy ward, Hanoi), 65 years old this year, is still sitting beside his familiar cyclo. Having been a cyclo driver for over 30 years, he says that today's weather is much colder than in previous days. However, instead of complaining, Mr. Tan sees things quite simply. He believes that the job of a cyclo driver requires constant physical activity, and this activity helps the body generate heat and stay warm, so he doesn't find the cold weather too much of a problem.

Mr. Pham Duc Tan said that the weather today is much colder than in the past few days.

With over three decades of experience navigating the streets of Hanoi, Mr. Tan knows how to cope with the cold spells. He consciously wears warm clothes to protect his health. When there are no customers, he and his colleagues often find sheltered corners of the street and rest on their cyclos.

Despite the bitter cold, luck was still on his side as he had already secured two customers that morning. For Mr. Tan, the cyclo is his main source of income, so no matter how cold it gets, he wouldn't dare take a day off.

As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, the atmosphere in Hanoi's flower and ornamental plant markets is busier than ever. For flower and plant vendors, the biting cold is not only a health hazard but also affects customer numbers, but that doesn't diminish their enthusiasm for their work.

Ms. Le Thi Phuong Nam, 54 years old, owner of a bonsai shop in Tay Ho ward, is busy rearranging small potted plants. She said that due to the impact of the deep cold air mass, the number of people coming to view plants in person at her garden has decreased compared to normal days. However, her family still receives many orders from regular customers via phone and social media. Home delivery has become the main method helping her shop maintain revenue during these cold days.

Despite the harsh weather, Ms. Le Thi Phuong Nam still maintains the habit of opening her shop regularly.

Despite the harsh weather, Ms. Phuong Nam maintains her regular opening schedule, only adjusting the time slightly later than usual to ensure her health. While she normally starts at 6 a.m., during these intensely cold days, she delays opening to around 7:30 a.m. To protect herself from the cold wind, Ms. Nam has equipped herself with plenty of warm clothing and hats.

Ms. Phuong Nam confided that selling plants and advising customers on choosing beautiful ornamental plants to decorate their homes during Tet (Lunar New Year) brings her a feeling of excitement and joy. That joy seems greater than the cold outside. For her, each plant sold is not just income, but also a way of conveying hope for a prosperous new year to everyone. Therefore, no matter how cold it gets, she will still try to keep her shop open to serve customers.

This severe cold spell in Hanoi poses a significant challenge for outdoor workers. However, from motorbike taxi drivers and cyclo drivers to small-scale plant vendors we met, everyone is still striving to make a living, proactively adapting to and overcoming the harsh weather in their own way.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/nguoi-lao-dong-thu-do-vuot-gia-ret-de-muu-sinh-20260122153957957.htm