“A street vendor is broadly defined as a person who offers goods for sale to the public without having a permanent built-up structure from which to sell” (Bhowmik, 2005). A street vendor has the flexibility to be stationary by means of occupying a space or mobile from moving from one spot to the next. An occupation that can be packed-up and taken away once the day is over. In this study, the term “street vendor” includes both stationary as well as mobile and all other local terms for this practice. “Street vendor” is interchangeably used with the term “Food peddler”, which has the same meaning, but sells dominantly food. This occupation reappeared and blossomed during the Doi Moi Economic reform system in the 1980s. The practice has become custom to many bustling cities in Asia. In Vietnam, this occupation has become a means of living for many citizens of the working class in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
The government in recent years has taken strides to modernize the city through campaigns like “Modernization” (hien dai hoa) and “Civilization” (van minh). The government defines street vending as an occupation that is backwards, unsanitary, a safety violation, environmentally unfriendly, a bad image and an overall “bad habit” that should be weeded out through modernization. Many scholars and members of communities that work as or buy from a street vendor would argue that the vendor provides economic security, products for cheaper costs, cultural traditions, and beneficial community awareness. These contrasting views of street vending spark the debate of whether this practice is harmful or helpful for HCMC.
Research Purpose and Question:
There are many pros and cons to the practice of street vending. My goal is to look at the cons of street vending from laws and campaigns implemented by the national government of Vietnam down to the ward officials in HCMC. And also to look at the pros of street vending from scholarly debates as well as community reactions on a daily basis. My main research question are: What are the pros and cons of street vending in HCMC, and are they more of a hindrance or benefit to the community structure of their neighborhood? Why does the government view street vending as an obstacle to becoming a modernized city? How are street vendors helping or hurting the community structure around them?