Anticipating rain, she also paid 100,000 dong to have a large umbrella delivered when needed. Lunch for her family was taken care of with boxed meals at 100,000 dong each and pre-made instant noodles at 50,000 dong a box.

In total, the family of four spent about two million dong for their parade viewing experience. "Everything is available here; I don't have to worry about bringing anything," the 27-year-old Minh Anh said.

Some people hired placeholders or bought plastic chairs for 40,000 dong each, delivered to Tran Phu street, Hanoi, on the afternoon of 29/8. Photo: Quynh Nguyen

Some people hired placeholders or bought plastic chairs for 40,000 dong each, delivered to Tran Phu street, Hanoi, on the afternoon of 29/8. Photo: Quynh Nguyen

Thanh Lan, 40, and her friends from Nghe An, arriving in Hanoi, were also surprised by the bustling informal economy. Reaching Hung Vuong street on the night of 28/8, Lan was exhausted from carrying 3 to 4 bags of food, drinks, and folding chairs. She noticed that others had rented mats for 100,000 to 200,000 dong, or opted for cheaper cardboard sheets at 20,000 to 30,000 dong. All necessities were available for purchase on-site. "If I had known, I wouldn't have carried everything from home. Buying here costs a little more, but it's much less tiring," Lan said.

According to a VnExpress survey, an informal business ecosystem has sprung up along the parade route since 21/8. Place-holding services for groups ranged from 500,000 dong to two million dong, depending on the location and the number of people. Street vendors were everywhere, selling everything from paper fans and flags for 5,000 to 10,000 dong to plastic chairs and raincoats for 20,000 to 40,000 dong each.

Many storefronts also quickly adapted. Shops selling paintings and sporting goods on Nguyen Thai Hoc street switched to selling flags, clothes with the national flag, mats, and cardboard sheets. Nearby residents offered boxed meals, instant noodles, and motorbike parking for 50,000 to 100,000 dong, depending on the duration.

A street vendor selling hats, fans, and caps with the national flag on Dien Bien street, morning of 29/8. Photo: Nga Thanh

A street vendor selling hats, fans, and caps with the national flag on Dien Bien street, morning of 29/8. Photo: Nga Thanh

Phan Huong, the owner of a beef noodle shop on Nguyen Thai Hoc street, said that for the past few days, she has switched to selling beverages due to soaring demand. Instead of serving a maximum of 20 dine-in customers, she sold over 100 glasses of juice per session, averaging 50,000 dong each, generating a revenue of around five million dong.

"The price is higher than usual because ingredient costs have also increased; I'm not trying to rip off customers," Huong explained. She observed that the entire neighborhood had shifted to selling goods and services for parade viewers, from snacks like corn, fried sweet potatoes, and bread to chair rentals.

Streets like Trang Tien, Hang Bai, Le Duan, and Lieu Giai-Van Cao also saw a surge in related services. Hong, the owner of a cafe near Quan Ngua Sports Palace (Ba Dinh ward), set out about 70 plastic chairs for rent starting from the rehearsal on 24/8. At 20,000 to 50,000 dong per chair, she earned about two million dong per session, not including beverage sales. Explaining the use of the sidewalk, Hong said she was only "charging for the use of the chairs".

Even "pay-to-pee" services emerged, charging 20,000 dong for adults and 10,000 dong for children at some shops on Lieu Giai street. Staff explained the fee was to offset water and cleaning costs. With public restrooms largely inaccessible due to barricades and crowds, many had no choice. "You'd need wings to get to a public restroom now," said Quynh, 30, from Tu Liem.

A shop on Le Truc street selling cardboard sheets for those wanting to sit overnight for the parade rehearsal, afternoon of 29/8. Photo: Nga Thanh

A shop on Le Truc street selling cardboard sheets for those wanting to sit overnight for the parade rehearsal, afternoon of 29/8. Photo: Nga Thanh

This informal business boom has drawn mixed reactions. Some view it as a natural response to supply and demand, demonstrating business acumen. However, many criticize the inflated prices.

According to Associate Professor Pham Ngoc Trung, former Head of the Development Culture Department at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, major events like the 80th National Day attract many tourists to Hanoi, boosting various service sectors, from formal establishments like hotels and restaurants to informal ones. "But doubling or tripling market prices is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. Moreover, renting out chairs and ladders disrupts urban order," Trung stated.

Hanoi authorities have taken action. On the afternoon of 27/8, O Cho Dua ward police dealt with a man renting out 10 plastic chairs on the sidewalk of Nguyen Thai Hoc street. On the same day, five similar cases were also addressed. These actions are considered inappropriate, exploiting the event for personal gain.

A shop on Nguyen Thai Hoc street renting chairs and spots for 100,000 dong/person, afternoon of 27/8. Source: Pham An

To avoid relying on informal services, many families chose to be prepared. Anh Trang, 27, from Hai Phong, said her family would arrive in Hanoi early, prioritizing locations near public restrooms or businesses offering free restroom use. They packed folding chairs, food, drinks, and even considered diapers for the elderly and young children.

"My family prefers to be self-sufficient, but we are also prepared to use outside services if necessary," Trang said.

Nga Thanh - Quynh Nguyen