The “Bottle” Couple - Two Decades, Two Wheels, An Intersection

Over 20 years, the shabby bike has transported hundreds of bottles, scraps and also carries the heartwarming story of their owners - an elderly couple.

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“Passing by and seeing it is dirty, I just pick it up”

Unlike other business people, who start the day when the sun rises, Mr Thanh and his wife rise with the sun and embark on their journey to the wholesales market in a thick blanket of predawn darkness. At 2 a.m, their day begins, not with coffee and news, but for the low rumble of their shabby bike engine and the earthy perfume of wholesale markets. With practiced ease, they go through the maze-like aisles, their eyes casting beams on towers of mangoes, glistening tomato baskets, and overflowing sacks of vegetables.

Wholesale market ( Taken by Uyen Nhi)

But their journey is not a straightforward one. As they navigate the quiet streets, they keep an eye out for something else – discarded bottles and scraps of metal lying forgotten on the roadside.

“Passing by and seeing it is dirty, I just pick it up” - Mr Thanh said. The job came to an old couple randomly, but they have done this for more than 20 years whether it is rainy or sunny. Later, they see each bottle and scrap as a potential resource, a chance to earn a bit extra and contribute a little effort to make a positive impact on the environment. With practiced hands, they gather their finds, carefully separating them into different piles. 

Collected bottles and cans ( Taken by Uyen Nhi)

Ms. Vui picked up a plastic bottle that had been thrown away on the side of the road

( Taken by Uyen Nhi)

After importing agricultural goods in the wholesale market, they drive for over ten kilometers to reach their corner in Hoàng Mai, a tiny haven carved from the city's vibrant heart. With practiced hands, they arrange their bounty: vibrant greens tumble from woven baskets, mangoes dance like fireflies against the gray concrete, and the air fresh with the vegetables. As the city stretches and yawns awake, their corner transforms into a bustling marketplace. Each sale is a conversation, a shared smile, a thread woven into the fabric of the community. The fatigue in their eyes is veiled by the warmth of their greetings, and the quiet pride in their offerings. For Mr. Thanh and his wife, this isn't just a way to make ends meet, it's a testament to the quiet resilience that blossoms in the city's corners. As Mr. Thành said: "Everyone is born with a purpose, doing their own thing, no one's the same, but I believe that no matter what the job is, no matter what kind of job it is, I'll give it my all."

Ms. Vui prepares the store and awaits customers ( Photo taken by Minh Thu)

Ms. Vui's small stall (Photo taken by Minh Thu)

“Shouldering the weight, sharing the journey”

Before, Ms Vui had a lone echo with an old bicycle through Hanoi's dawn streets. She navigated bustling junctions and shadowed alleys through the city's waking pulse. However, her journey changed its tune one crisp morning when Mr. Thanh decided to accompany his wife. She shared with us: “Seeing she worked hard, tired and going alone at midnight, I want to help her shoulder the weight and share the journey with her''. Moreover, Mr Thanh quitted his previous job in order to be the driver of his wife. He knew the weight she carried, not just in the sidecar, but in the loneliness that sometimes cloaked her like a silent shadow. So, with a quiet hand on her shoulder and a heart brimming with love, Mr. Thanh uses his shabby bike to accompany his wife through the journey. 

The couple of spouses are on their way to a place of trade ( Taken by Uyen Nhi)

The burden didn't vanish like magic, but it felt lighter. Ms.Vui's solo journey may have ended, but a far richer rhythm now defined their path. It was a dance of shared resilience, where love lightened the load and laughter paved the way. And on the streets of Hanoi, under the watchful gaze of the rising sun, their little sidecar caravan became a testament to the simple truth - sometimes, the greatest treasures aren't found in discarded bottles, but in the hands that reach out to share the burden.

Content: Truong Nguyen Le, Tran Thi Tra Giang,

Nguyen Hoang Anh

Photos: Chu Uyen Nhi, Dang Minh Thu

In your opinion, what is the hidden message of the "intersection" mentioned in the headline?

• The intersection of the two tasks that the couple are doing
• The interaction between the soul of two the couple
• The intersection between the couple's work and life
• Another idea