"Tân tiến" is progressive, so here we have the Progressive Barbershop and Progressive Roast Pork (sandwich stand). Both businesses are owned by the same family, with one operating on the sidewalk. This is ubiquitous in Vietnam, but almost never seen in much of the West, nor in Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Allowing sidewalk businesses, though, makes it much easier for people to survive, and this will become much more common everywhere as the global economy runs into deep trouble.
2 comments:
“This is ubiquitous in Vietnam, but almost never seen in much of the West, “
Because in the west the government owns the sidewalk, and they rule it by decree. The adjacent property owner is responsible for trash removal, snow removal, general cleaning, but he can never utilize it. If he wants to put even a sign out front he must ask/beg for permission and pay rent. It’s a totalitarian system in all but name.
I remember in 2004 seeing the Thai police in Bangkok shaking down all the restaurants along one street who had outside, sidewalk, dining. They were flipping over the small tables and chairs letting the owners know who's boss. The next evening everything was back in order, I guess the "proper" payments to the police were back on an acceptable track.
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