By Nguyen Ayi
It’s no secret that Vietnam is no stranger to sweltering temperatures, but this year’s heatwave has taken everyone by surprise. With record-breaking temperatures hitting the country, people are doing everything they can to stay cool. And by everything, we mean ordering single iced milk teas in plastic bags and packaging delivered by motorbike across town.
Yes, you read that right. In the midst of a climate crisis, people are turning to plastic bags and motorbikes as their ultimate heatwave survival kit. And why not? A single iced milk tea in a plastic bag is not only refreshing but also doubles as a hand-held fan. And who needs air conditioning when you have a motorbike delivering your drink right to your doorstep?
But don’t take our word for it. Just ask any motorbike delivery driver in Vietnam and they’ll tell you that their job has never been busier. “I used to deliver food and groceries, but now it’s mostly iced milk tea and other drinks in plastic bags,” says Nguyen, a motorbike delivery driver in Ho Chi Minh City. “People will do anything to stay cool in this heat.”
And who can blame them? With temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius, it’s no wonder that people are resorting to extreme measures to stay cool. It’s a great way to cope with the heat and we can rely on our trusty motorbike drivers and plastic bags to get us through the heatwave, and isn’t always cool when we break a new record!