BackSociety » [Video] In Saigon, the Christmas Spirit Lives in Tuan's Garbage Cart

[Video] In Saigon, the Christmas Spirit Lives in Tuan's Garbage Cart

Is this Saigon’s most festive garbage cart?

While other Saigoneers are busy posing for selfies with lavishly decorated Christmas setups at local department stores, Nguyen Minh Tuan is hard at work on his route to collect household trash bags from District 3’s residential enclaves and transport them to the city’s landfill.

However, what sets Tuan’s vehicle apart from others is an endearing set of stuffed animals, garland and baubles, the product of his sense of creativity and love for Vietnam’s festive season.

Tuan was born in 1988 in Tay Ninh, but he’s been working for a public sanitation company in Saigon as a garbage collector for almost ten years.

According to Tuan, all of the decorations on his cart were recycled from people’s unwanted stuff. After delivering the day’s load to the landfill, he carefully sifts through the discarded trash bags for any reusable trinkets to decorate the cart.

Not only does Tuan adorn his cart with Christmas decorations for the festive season, but he also gives it a makeover every Tet because he loves sharing his joyous spirit with everyone who comes across his vehicle. Saigoneers living in District 3 and Phu Nhuan District, look out for Tuan and his Christmas "carriage" when he's in your neighborhood.

Saigoneer recently had a chance to follow Tuan on one of his usual routes on the Christmas-themed cart. Check out the video below, and Merry Christmas!


Related Articles:

[Video] Finding Solace at Saigon's 'Shutterbug' Hẻm Cafe

[Video] Spirit of the Lion: Dung’s Story

[Video] Meet Saigon's Man of Poetic Photography


Related Articles

in Society

5 Vietnamese Universities Crack Top 400 Schools in Asia: QS

Five Vietnamese universities were included in this year’s QS Ranking (Quacquarelli Symonds) for Asia. However, their positions are rather humble compared to their regional counterparts.

in Society

After Alleged Hacking, Hanoi Online Poll on Wartime Loudspeaker Reopens

The saga surrounding Hanoi’s wartime loudspeakers is more complicated than meets the eye.

in Society

Banana Leaves Make Glorious Comeback in Supermarkets Across Vietnam

After straws, Vietnam’s anti-plastic movement now has a new target: plastic grocery wraps.

in Society

Ben Tre Businessman Gives Former Convicts, Addicts New Lease on Life

After reading his job posting in the local newspaper, many people thought Kieu Thanh Tam had lost his mind: “Help wanted: ex-convicts and drug addicts who want another chance at life.”

Khoi Pham

in Society

Catching 'Em All in Saigon: Pokemon GO Brings More Than Old School Nostalgia to Vietnam

One of my colleagues threatened to ban Pokemon GO in the Saigoneer office after he saw me catching a Pidgey, a bird-type Pokemon, at our desk.

Michael Tatarski

in Society

Chasing Pavements: In Defense of Saigon's Sidewalk Economy

As Doan Ngoc Hai, the leader of Saigon’s most aggressive sidewalk-clearing campaign in recent memory, takes a brief hiatus, headlines about towed cars and demolished buildings often obscure the r...

Partner Content