World Food Policy Volume/Issue 2-2/3-1 Fall 2015/Spring 2016 | Page 71

World Food Policy

helped the local authorities see that they
had grounds to continue their support
for street vending activities.

In this article, we highlight
the updated data on the economic
contribution made by street vendors.
We also present the results achieved
by the stakeholder dialogue in Dong
Da District and discuss the benefits of
applying a stakeholder approach to the
issue of street vending in Hanoi. This
makes the article complementary to
our previously published work on street
vending in Hanoi (Moustier et al. 2007;
2009; Nguyen Thi Tan Loc et al. 2013).

to consumers, compared to 58% for
retail markets, 9% for shops, and 1% for
supermarkets. Until 2009, the number
of vegetable street vendors increased
at a higher rate than that of the city’s
population.

In 2014, we estimated that ~45%
of vegetables were sold by street vendors,
49% at retail markets, with a limited
volume being sold at stores (3%) and
supermarkets (3%). This suggests an
increase in the number of vendors and
the volume they sell. We explain it by
the movement of vendors from official
markets to unofficial markets, especially
along the road sides near factories,
schools, or in front of someone’s house or
Selected results
a store to avoid having to pay increasingly
e first present the results high fees in renovated official markets.
of our studies aimed at
quantifying the economic and The importance of street vending for the
social role of fruit and vegetables street livelihoods of the poor
vending in Hanoi. Then we describe
The importance of street
the successful experience in Kim Lien
involving a street vendors’ temporary vendors in terms of poverty alleviation
market. This evidence served as the basis is both to the ones they serve and to
for stakeholder dialogue in Dong Da the vendors themselves. Street vending
District, which will be presented at the not only contributes to delivering fruits
and vegetables to low- and mediumend of this sec tion.
income consumers, but also improves
The importance of street vending in urban the livelihood of urban and periurban residents with limited income
food distribution
opportunities. Street vendors are

Consumer’s surveys have shown mostly female residents of Hanoi or
that poor residents of Hanoi purchase neighboring provinces. They may once
produce mainly from street vendors due have been involved in agriculture, but
to its low price, freshness, and proximity to their fields have been reduced in size
their homes (Figuié and Moustier 2009). due to urban development. They may
Street vendors source vegetables mostly still be able to grow some vegetables or
from wholesale markets (in urban areas) buy vegetables from neighbors to sell in
and partly from their own production. In order to supplement their family income.
2009, vegetable street vendors supplied With low qualifications, street vendors
32% of the total vegetable volume sold have limited options for employment

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