There are moments of sadness, but after all, it is still the spirit of responsibility, dedication to the community.
At 5 am, when the streets of the Capital are still foggy, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam (environmental sanitation worker at URENCO Hoan Kiem branch) started her working day. There was no noise, only the sound of bamboo brooms stirring steadily on the road surface, like a familiar rhythm that has been associated with her for 17 years in the profession. For her, each street corner, each row of trees at dawn is not just a working space, but has become close friends, witnessing many joys and sorrows of the profession.
The working pace of environmental workers like Ms. Tam is inherently simple but full of perseverance. Those are the cycling wheels stretching from when the street lights are still on to when dawn breaks. She walks through the streets when they are still quietest, quietly collecting what is left of the previous day. The work continues like that, from sweeping, collecting to pushing the cart to the gathering point. When the city starts to become bustling, the flow of people rushing back and forth is also when she is busier to maintain the most decent appearance for the streets.
Ms. Tam shared that both husband and wife chose the profession of "keeping clean for life". For all those years, her family rarely celebrated New Year's Eve fully together, because when he returned after the shift, it was also when she hurriedly set off for the early shift.
The closer to Tet days, the busier the working rhythm of workers like Ms. Tam becomes. While everyone is starting to dress up to celebrate Tet, they are more diligently working on their roads. Sometimes, standing in the crowded crowd, environmental workers cannot avoid a moment of self-pity. That is the feeling of sadness when they see themselves still covered in dust, while the whole city is enjoying the joy of Spring. The homesickness, missing the warm Tet Eve meal sometimes makes these silent workers feel a little sad in their eyes.
However, that private feeling is often soothed by warm colleagueship.
At 7 am, when the sun has risen, the working rhythm is a temporary break for a quick breakfast right on the sidewalk. Workers in Ms. Tam's team gather together, sharing a little food and a few everyday stories. In protective gear still soaked in sweat, they give each other radiant smiles, dispelling fatigue during the working shift. For them, joy is sometimes simply understanding from family, colleagues, or a greeting, a thank you from the people.
After a short break, Ms. Tam and other workers continued their journey on newly issued specialized electric vehicles, helping to make street cleaning less burdensome. The comb beat of environmental sanitation workers is still regular every day, as an indispensable part of the urban breath. Although the spring seasons are still hard, although family meals on Tet may not be complete, the cleanliness of the streets is the most meaningful gift they give to the city and to their own persistent efforts over the years.
