BackSociety » [Photos] Former Street Kid Reveals the Reality of Hanoi’s Homeless Youth

[Photos] Former Street Kid Reveals the Reality of Hanoi’s Homeless Youth

I grew up in a very poor family in Nam Dinh Province. When I was 14, I traveled to Hanoi to shine shoes, in the hope that I could earn money and support my family. But after a year and a half working on the streets, I grew to really understand how hard life can be – we were beaten, exploited and abused.

A local NGO, Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, helped me get off the street and go to school. My life improved. I was able to get an education and eventually find work as a supervisor in a five-star hotel, but I couldn’t help thinking about other young kids who were still struggling.

In 2009, I started working for Blue Dragon, and I now run a crisis care team. We go out at night searching for kids who need support. Over the years, I’ve also developed as a photographer, and I use the images I take to show the reality of youth homelessness in Vietnam.

Many kids, known as "Children of the Dust," gravitate to Long Bien Bridge, searching for somewhere to sleep beneath the railway track and risking a 15-meter fall into the river below. Others sneak into land on the outskirts of Hanoi and set up small communities or gangs, living together in tents where they are at risk of exploitation.

One girl, who suffers from heart problems, followed her mom to work on the streets and ended up traveling across numerous provinces with her. She disappeared for a few years, only to reappear in Hanoi with a new sibling.

We’ve now been able to support her to go to school too, and this step, along with providing counseling, nutrition and shelter, is arguably the most important in breaking the cycle of poverty and getting kids off the streets.

A young boy collects recyclables to sell, his only means of making money.

Some of Hanoi's homeless live in semi-rural areas on the outskirts of the city.

Searching for a place to sleep.

Attempting to climb under the bridge.

A bedroom beneath the railway.

A girl in one of Hanoi's poorest communities.

One girl returned to Hanoi after years away, and now studies at school.

A girl combs her hair in a guava plantation on the outskirts of the city.

A boy smiles after playing in the rain.

The area where kids sleep under the Long Bien Bridge is around 15 meters above the river.

A social worker meets with homeless kids and offers support.


Related Articles:

Hanoi’s Motorcycle Rescue Team Saves Motorists From Nighttime Breakdowns

[Video] Powerful, Atmospheric Short Film Explores the Lives of Hanoi’s Street Kids

In Vietnam, Taboo and Tradition Hinder Contraception Awareness


Related Articles

in Society

'Void' Event to Raise Funds for New Mental Health Hotline

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and tomorrow brings an event to Hanoi aiming to raise funds for a new mental health hotline for Hanoi and Vietnam.

in Society

Hanoi’s Motorcycle Rescue Team Saves Motorists From Nighttime Breakdowns

Ever wanted someone to rescue you when you get a flat tire on a dark, rainy night?

Chris Humphrey

in Society

Q&A: New British Ambassador Gareth Ward on Improving Education, Inspire Me Festival and Human Trafficking

Gareth Ward took up his role as the British Ambassador this July. He’s already enamored himself to the Vietnamese public on social media through his Vietnamese language skills, and photos of him havin...

Chris Humphrey

in Society

The Rustic Beauty of Hanoi's Red River Brick Factories

Living in a city as culturally rich and absorbing as Hanoi, it’s not unusual to discover new secrets in a place you thought you knew completely. The depth of the capital really is astounding. And yet,...

in Society

The Unseen Layers of Donkey Bakery

I almost missed the entrance to the bakery as its sign was partly obscured by a leafy tree. I skidded to a stop and hurried in to my appointment. Behind the counter, a manager was speaking in hushed, ...

in Hanoi

$600,000 Lunar Rock to Be Displayed in Pagoda Complex Near Hanoi

The meteorite, which was recently bought for US$612,500, will be put on display in Tam Chuc Pagoda Complex, only 1.5 hours south of the capital.

Partner Content