collecting bottles
Former soldiers of the "Vietnam War", or as it is called in Vietnam: the "American War" are honored as heroes. Everywhere you look advertising indicates their courage and fearlessness.
But in fact, they get very low benefits from the state at present time. Many of them therefore live under simple conditions and try to earn their livelihood with simple activities.
Under the famous Long Bien bridge down in the Red River there lives one of the old vetereans and earns his living by collecting plastic bottles.
"I work every night from 11:00pm to 4am in the morning. My merit it is about 2-3 dollars a night " he told me. With the money he buys rice and batteries for his radio so he can hear the storm warnings.
During the day he is fishing a few fish and crabs in the Red River to get a hot meal per day.
" For collecting bottles at the market, I need a permission from the market guard" he said and "If I could take me a day free, I would like to just walk around, doing nothing! My children live in the province, too far away to see them often. Despite everything, I like my life and am glad to live here, on the river and around the city."
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| The houseboat, with a living and a bedroom |
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| The old soldier with many time for tea, discussions and ... |
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| ...pipes! |
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| at night collecting plastic bottles |
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| in his buisness time is money: "first come, first get" makes him hurry |
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| 3 Dollar for 5 hours work |
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| the ending of a "good night" |
