Street vendors are an integral component of urban economies around the world. They provide consumers with convenient and accessible retail options and form a vital part of the social and economic life of a city.
In the Vietnamese cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, street vendors account for over 11 per cent of total informal employment.
Street vending is one of the most significant categories of informal work for women. The low costs of entry and flexible hours make street vending an attractive option for poor women; for many, it is the only option - Hanoi (79%), Ho Chi Minh City (67%).
Women street vendors typically earn less than men -- and in many countries, less than half as much as men (average of less than a dollar per day).
Many of the working poor who enter street vending do so because they cannot find jobs in the formal economy.
Street vendors face unique kinds of livelihood risks because of the legal, physical, and socio-cultural environment in which they work.