In early June, Hoa Binh province entered a period of severe heat in the early season. The outside temperature sometimes reaches 39-40 degrees Celsius. The streets are burning, people limit going out, but somewhere there are still people who are quiet and make a living - not because they don't feel hot, but because life doesn't allow them to stop.
At around 1pm, when most people were looking for a place to avoid the sun, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu (43 years old, Tan Thinh ward, Hoa Binh city) was still quietly pushing a sweet soup along Tran Hung Dao street.
A thin shirt stuck tightly to the back, a colorful conical hat to temporarily cover the sunlight. "No one blames me for my break this week, but if I'm done a lot, I can't take care of my children's education," she said, then scooped out tea for the customers.
Under the tree on the side of the road, Mr. Lam - a motorbike taxi driver - took the opportunity to clean the water, wip the sweat and then start the engine. The mask was soaked, her eyes wide-opened from the sun. Normally, there are few visitors, but there are often buses from Hanoi coming and going, taking advantage of any route, he said.
Not only motorbike taxi drivers or street vendors, many construction workers are also "faking fire" to make a living in the top sunshine.
To reduce the risk of heatstroke, they had to change their work schedule. "Before, we started working at 6:30 a.m., now we go from 5 a.m., work early and take a break early. In the afternoon, work until late at night, said Mr. Bui Van Hai, a construction worker at the construction site in Huu Nghi ward. "It's easy to drop blood pressure and get dizzy in the sun like this, but if you don't work, your salary will be deducted. I just tried to drink a lot of water and wrap a cold towel.
At the entrance to Hoa Binh General Hospital, Ms. Huong (45 years old, from An Thi, Hung Yen) is still diligently pushing a street vendor - a homemade vehicle filled with needles, straps, cool glasses, toys... After 20 years of living in Hoa Binh, she said she is used to the sun and wind, but every summer comes more and more discouraged: "If you are too tired, just sit under the shade, but if you stay at home, where can you get money to study for your children".
Her husband also sells goods, traveling around districts every day, earning a few hundred thousand VND in profit. That street vendor has raised two children - one of whom has just graduated from Hanoi University of Science and Technology, the other is a student. She smiled gently: "I also plan to return to my hometown early. At home, there is land, industrial parks, and job seekers are more stable, but pushing a car like this is unable to do, especially in the hot summer".
At Bas Market (Tay Phong Commune, Cao Phong District), summerua cannot stop traders from sticking to stalls. Ms. Thu - a sugarcane seller - said that every day she squeezes tens of liters of sugarcane juice, a specialty of the mountainous region. "Standing near the road, hot and bustling, there were days when the eyes were blooming, but now is the time to sell sugarcane best. The whole family planted more than 3,000m2, if not sold, there would be a fee for the whole crop".
Doctors at Hoa Binh General Hospital warn that prolonged hot weather can easily cause burnout and stroke, especially for outdoor workers. People are advised to avoid going out during the 11-15 hours, wear light-colored clothes, drink plenty of water and rest reasonably.
Although making a living in the hot sun, many workers are still more aware of protecting their health. Because only when they are healthy, do they continue to carry food and clothing and nurture hope for a better life.
