My life as… a cashier

The highs and lows of working as a cashier How long have you been a cashier at this supermarket? I’ve been working as a cashier for about three years now. I am good at my job and love the work that I do. Describe the things you do on a typical day? A typical day

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My life as… a bus driver

From dodging erratic motorcyclists to transporting live animals, the life of a bus driver is never boring The job of a bus driver in Saigon has long been one of the most stressful and hazardous gigs in town. If staying on schedule or fighting through traffic or remaining in a seated position for hours doesn’t get

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My life as… a mobile blade sharpening man

Meet the mobile blade sharpening man “He’s one of the few left in Saigon; there’s no use for them anymore,” says 67-year-old Thuy pointing to the old man sharpening her kitchen cleaver. “I’ve been using him since I was young. Today’s society is wasteful. The young people now use something once or twice and then

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My life as… a street cleaner

Collecting waste and sweeping the roads for a better Saigon Mr. Quang spends most of his working life in the gutter. Another part involves delving into plastic bags and buckets left along sidewalks or leaned against trees, looking for recyclables to separate and sell at a later time. The rest of the time he’s pounding the

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My life as … a fruit seller

Offering daily vitamin doses fresh off the street At 3am when most of the city is in deep slumber, 25-year-old Tri heads for the sidewalk on Hai Ba Trung in District 3 where he rests his sack full of guava. It’s a 10-minute walk from his rented room. The earlier he gets there the better

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My life as… a xe ba gac driver

“I’ve been driving a xe ba gac since reunification,” says 59-year-old Ut. “I used to work for a company contracted by the government; I made saw blades that were used to cut down trees. The pay was good, but I had to move around a lot, living wherever there was work, and I didn’t like

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An analog photographer in Saigon

When I discovered how the camera allowed me to capture moments in life, I felt this rush of excitement. I’m 73 years old, and at my age most people have already retired and spend their days relaxing with their kids and grandkids. But me, I want to keep busy: not working would seem like a waste

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My Life as… a Tet flower seller

Oi discovers the seasonal peaks and troughs of life as a Tet specialist florist… My name is Vuong and I own Bao Anh Apricot Blossoms (maitetbaoanh.com). I’m gearing up for the busiest time of the year, the two weeks before and after Tet. I have more than 1000 trees spread across six nurseries in Thu Duc,

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