Tourism, poverty alleviation, and the informal economy: the street vendors of Hanoi, Vietnam

ABSTRACT

Although increased attention is given to the tourism–poverty alleviation linkage, limited research considers the views of poor people, including street vendors, who constitute the informal economy. This article examines the perspectives and experiences of street vendors in Hanoi with respect to tourism and poverty alleviation. Interview results suggest that most vendors migrate from rural areas. Reasons for street vending include low farm output, limited farming land, declined non-farm jobs, and other family-related situations. Although street vending improves the living conditions of some vendors, it generates meagre incomes for others. The most critical obstacle facing them is the government’s ban on street vending, leading to reduced incomes and increased conflicts. Most vendors do not have a specific future plan, but some intend to become taxi drivers, shop owners or to retire. In Hanoi and elsewhere, street vending is depicted as either a distinct characteristic of destination areas or a problem affecting the image of tourist cities. This study argues that such views overlook street vendors’ hard work and challenges. It suggests that by understanding the realities on the ground and giving voice to poor vendors, potential approaches to poverty alleviation and street vending management through tourism may become clearer.

KEYWORDS:

• Street vending
• poverty
• informal sector
• pro-poor tourism
• quality of life
• Vietnam

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

V. Dao Truong is a fellow in Tourism Research in Economic Environs & Society at North-West University (South Africa) and a lecturer in the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management, National Economics University (Vietnam). Dao serves on the board of Current Issues in Asian Tourism. His research has appeared in Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Journal of Macromarketing, Consumption Markets & Culture, and Journal of Social Marketing.