freelance workers make a living in the cold winter in Phu Tho

Strong cold air has affected the Northern region since January 21, causing the temperature in the Northwestern provinces, including Phu Tho, to drop sharply. The weather will turn cold, with rain in some places, the lowest temperature is generally from 10 - 12 degrees Celsius. In particular, on January 23, Phu Tho recorded some places with temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius.

In the cold, on many streets in Hoa Binh ward, it is not difficult to see the image of freelance workers wearing many layers of clothes, covering their faces, and diligently making a living.

Ms. Mai (40 years old) pushed the scrap truck slowly on a deserted road. The cold wind moved through a thin layer of clothes, making her hands numb, but she still stopped regularly at each house.

"A good day is 200,000 VND, less than 100,000 VND, but my two children are still in school so I can't take a day off," she said.

For Ms. Mai, winter means having to wake up earlier and leave longer to have enough money to cover minimum living expenses.

Not far away, on the sidewalk of Phan Boi Chau Street, Mr. Hoa (65 years old) still shows off his familiar hairdressing outfit. The old wooden chair, the next mirror and a few tools have been with the boy for many years. He said that there are fewer customers now because many people choose convenience stores.

"But for a long time, there have been regular customers coming to help me keep my job and earn more money to help my children and grandchildren," Mr. Hoa shared.

Opposite the old central bus station of Hoa Binh City, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh (nearly 70 years old) sat quietly next to a few plastic chairs and a few bottles of soft drinks. Her son died early, living alone in a small rented room, carrying water along the road was her only source of income.

"When it gets cold, I have to sit, sell a few tens of thousands and still have money to eat," she said, her hands shrinking because of the cold.

There are days when, from morning to afternoon, the small stall can only sell a few cups of tea. Sitting outside for a long time in the cold, tired, but she still did not dare to rest. What she hopes for most is to be given conditions for small business, have a stable place to sit, and not worry about being chased away.

The cold wind is coming, the streets are less crowded. However, for many freelance workers, their livelihoods cannot be interrupted. Shippers, motorbike taxi drivers, street vendors... are still working hard on the road, wearing cold-proof clothes, enduring the cold to make a living every day.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from January 24, the cold air will tend to weaken, and the temperature in the North will gradually increase. However, cold weather will continue at night and early morning, especially in the midlands and mountainous areas.

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