Clean Streets of Huê (7 pix)

[Comanche]

Western visitors sometimes think Huê is trashy – until they see that the system is just different. Tourists observe locals throw trash on the street and see small piles of garbage at the curb. They cluck their tongues because the Vietnamese don’t put trash in nice little containers as people do back home. They assume the city is full of litterers.



Not so.

In reality, the city is quite clean. There is a very good sanitation system. During the day, the trash carts are neatly lined up waiting for duty at dusk.



Around 5:30 PM (or so), workers unlock the carts, and await their work partners before going on their assigned routes.




As she moves up the street, the worker does two things: first, she sweeps the street while picking up the trash. But, notice the bell on the cart handle silhouetted against the white bag – she rings that bell to tell business owners to bring out their trash, which they dump into the cart.



How about recycling? Its done at the same time, though not formally a part of the sanitation program. Most of the workers have a friend come along with them. The friends are not in uniform, but they not only help with the work but they sort through the trash to find anything resalable: cardboard, aluminum cans, old clothes – whatever. Notice the sack on the side of the card. The woman emptying the can into the cart will sort through trash and put the “good stuff” into the sack.




The following day, it will be sorted through for possible resale. Keep in mind that in a poor country like Việt Nam, labor is cheap and nothing goes to waste. There is always someone who is willing to work hard to make a living doing what requires massive government programs in more developed countries.




The streets get cleaned and the trashed emptied every night, not once a week. I’d say that makes Huê a nice clean city.

These shots were taken over a period of 2 days and nights with a hodge-podge of lenses. The night shots were taken with my 85mm f 1.8, as was the daytime pix of the trash in the street, the shot of the "recycling center" with a 28-135 f 3.5 - 5.6 IS, and the rest with a 17-40 f4L.

[atnlegacy]

Doug~
I've greatly enjoyed all of your posts and commentary along with the photos -- it's taught me a lot! Thank you and keep sharing...are you in Vietnam for much longer?

Anh

[markfh]

Last time I was there I was armed and trusted no one.

[ladydiva]

Very nice and informative. Great pictures too!
Thank you for sharing!

[Comanche]

Thanx to all for following my trip. I am on the way home as I write this, but have a few more posts.

Mark - I too was in Viet Nam a long time ago - two tours in the Infantry. As you can tell, things are very very different now. Its like World War II vets taking a vacation to Germany. Come with me to see the real Viet Nam - the country, not the war.

And, bring your camera!

[bburton]

It's been a great trip, Doug. Thanks again. Maybe, you could post all your shots re: Vietnam in an online album with your insightful commentary (please include the commentary ).