STREET BARBERS - SKILLFUL HANDS BETWEEN A CHANGING CITY
Sidewalk barbershops used to be a familiar way to make a living for many urban workers, associated with a simple image in the middle of the city. However, in the context of urbanization and tightening sidewalk management, this profession is increasingly shrinking, leaving open questions about the future of barbers who have spent their lives with a folding chair and a makeshift mirror.
Paths to the sidewalk barber’s chair
The profession of sidewalk barbering appeared decades ago, associated with the livelihood of many freelance workers in urban areas. Many people who work in offices, ordinary workers or retire early have come to this profession as a way to make a living when the main income is not enough to cover it.
Mr. Truong, a hairdresser on Luong The Vinh Street, said that he also had a decent workplace, but because of the escalating economic prices, he had to give up and choose haircutting as his main profession.
There are also other colleagues of his, who used to work as a helper, a motorbike taxi driver, and then because of their precarious job, they switched to barbering. No need for a store, no need for large capital, just a folding chair and a wall-mounted mirror are enough. That "fate" sounds simple, but it also helps barbers stick to the profession for more than 20 years.
Mr Truong, a barber with 20 years experience on Luong The Vinh street.
Source: Zeigeist Newspaper
Scissors, combs and the skillful hands
With a simple set of tools under a tarpaulin, this sidewalk barbershop serves modest customers who aren’t particular about hairstyles. Source: Zeigeit (newspaper)
The tools of a sidewalk hairdresser usually consist of only a small mirror, a few plastic chairs, scissors, a comb, a trimmer, and a razor. Mr. Truong said: "Cutting outdoors, there is wind and dust, so the tools must be compact and easy to move. This profession is only a secondary tool, the skill is the main one." It is the skillful hands that are the factor that keeps customers, not sophisticated facilities.
On the sidewalk, each pull is an affirmation of ingenuity, patience and attachment to a profession that not many people are interested in. Every street corner and sidewalk has therefore become a field barbershop, simple but enough to meet the needs of many classes of customers.
The customers of this profession are quite diverse: students, workers, ordinary workers, and even civil servants because of its simplicity and affordable prices that can be suitable for all classes of society. Many people have become patrons for decades, creating a specific form of social cohesion. Since then, sidewalk barbershops are both a place to provide cheap services and a simple community living space in the middle of the street.
Some people have been loyal to this street barber’s chair for nearly a decade. Customers often remark that the cuts are stylish and the service attentive, no less than what they would find in upscale salons. What keeps them coming back is not only the skill of the barber, but also the sense of familiarity and trust built over the years. For many, a simple haircut here feels warmer and more genuine than in any polished shop.
Mr. Binh, a regular customer, shared: "I’ve been getting my haircut here since 2018. The prices are very reasonable, which is great for working people like us. The barbers here are cheerful and friendly. Coming here isn't just for a haircut; it's for a chat. It feels very comfortable."
A sidewalk barbershop's sign with welcome lines.
Source: Zeigeist Newspaper
A lively working day in a sidewalk barbershop. Source: Zeigeist Newspaper
Unstable skies and precarious livelihoods
Sidewalk barbers face all sorts of risks. On hot sunny days, sitting outside is like roasting a person; on rainy days, the tools get wet and no customers come. Not to mention the police come to check and clear the shop because sitting on the sidewalk is a violation, making them constantly face the risk of being punished.
Mr Dung, who is also a barber on Luong The Vinh street, said: “There was a time when I had just finished setting up the chair, but before I could open the drawer, I had to move away. Every time that happens, I lose customers and income. But what can I do? This job doesn’t require any capital. If I quit, how will I feed my children?” However, many people, including Mr. Dung, still stick with it because this is the only source of income for their families.
Behind the folding chair and makeshift mirror, there is the daily worry of making ends meet. It is a real struggle to survive, with many struggles to hold on.
Behind the chair and mirror on the sidewalk is not only a haircut, but also a daily struggle for survival. Source: Zeigeist Newspaper
In the context of urbanization and tightening of urban order management, the campaigns to “return the sidewalk to pedestrians” are becoming more and more fierce, causing sidewalk barber shops to become increasingly scarce. The push to preserve urban order and beautify the sidewalks has made the trade increasingly precarious. Regular inspections and clearance campaigns often force these barbers to pack up and move, disrupting their livelihood and unsettling the long-standing bond between barber and community. Outdoor barber shops, once a familiar image, are gradually disappearing.
Mr. Truong and many other workers do not know what tomorrow will bring. Renting a shop is not enough capital, and quitting the job is no other choice.
People talk about street barbering as a part of old Hanoi, but for those involved, it is not just the “soul of the street” – it is a meal, a lifetime of hard work. Once a popular livelihood for a segment of urban workers, this profession is at risk of disappearing from street life. The question is: when the sidewalks no longer have a place for them, where will barbers find a new livelihood?
The sidewalk barber trade in Vietnam emerged in the early 20th century, when Western-style hairdressing culture was introduced during the French colonial period. Before that, Vietnamese people mostly cut their own hair at home or relied on itinerant barbers, so sidewalks with tree trunks or walls quickly became convenient workplaces. During the subsidy period (1945–1986), this trade thrived because people needed a cheap, quick service suitable for the difficult living conditions of the time. With just a chair, a mirror hung on a wall, scissors, a razor, and a towel, a “sidewalk barbershop” could serve a wide range of customers. After the Doi Moi economic reforms in 1986, although modern salons have become increasingly popular, sidewalk barbers have continued to exist thanks to their low cost, convenience, and the trust of longtime regulars. Today, the image of these street-side “barber corners” is not only a means of livelihood for workers but also a distinctive aspect of urban culture, evoking memories of old city life and attracting the attention of international visitors.