The Women Who Surprised Me In Vietnam

By Author: ak
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When I visited Vietnam from Kerala, I expected many things to surprise me — the busy roads, endless motorbikes, beautiful places, amazing food and friendly people.

But one thing I did not expect was to see so many women running shops, cafés and small businesses.

From small coffee shops to street food stalls, local markets and little stores, I often saw women sitting behind the counter, serving customers, taking payments and managing the business.

At first, I thought it was just something I noticed in one area.

Then I travelled to different places.

And I kept seeing the same thing.

That made me curious.

Why are so many women running small businesses in Vietnam?

It Was More Than Just a Shop

One morning, I stopped at a small café. A woman was preparing coffee, taking orders and handling the customers.

Later that day, I saw another woman selling food from a small street stall.

In the evening, women were managing shops and selling products in local markets.

It felt very normal there.

Nobody seemed surprised to see women running businesses. ...
... It was simply part of everyday life.

Coming from Kerala, I found this interesting because we also have many family businesses and small shops. But seeing this so often in Vietnam made me want to understand the reason behind it.

The Family Business Culture

One of the main reasons is Vietnam's strong family and household business culture.

Many small businesses in Vietnam are run by families. A shop can be connected to a person's home, and different members of the family may help with the business.

Women have traditionally played an important role in these businesses.

They may take care of customers, prepare food, manage money, buy supplies or look after the shop.

So what looks like a simple street shop to a tourist can actually be an important source of income for an entire family.

Women and Everyday Business

Another thing I noticed was how comfortable women seemed in these roles.

They were not only helping someone else.

Many were clearly running the business themselves.

A woman could be the person deciding prices, talking to customers, buying products and managing the day's income.

Small businesses also give people a way to earn money while staying close to their homes and families.

This is especially important in a country where household businesses and informal work are a major part of everyday economic life.

Vietnam's History Also Matters

There is also a historical reason behind the growth of small businesses in Vietnam.

Vietnam introduced major economic reforms known as Đổi Mới in 1986. These reforms helped open the economy and created more opportunities for private businesses.

Over the years, small household businesses became an important part of Vietnamese life.

That is one reason you can find so many small shops, cafés, food stalls and market businesses today.

And women have become a very visible part of this world.

What I Took Away From It

The interesting thing is that I went to Vietnam to see famous places.

I wanted to see beautiful landscapes, taste Vietnamese food and experience a different culture.

But one of the things I remember most is actually much simpler.

The people behind the shops.

The woman making my morning coffee.

The lady selling food on the street.

The woman managing a small shop late in the evening.

They made me realize that travel is not always about famous monuments or beautiful photographs.

Sometimes, you learn the most by simply watching how ordinary people live and work.

As someone travelling from Kerala to Vietnam , I found this especially interesting because there were some familiar feelings — family, food, small businesses and hardworking people — but the way they came together in Vietnam felt different.

I arrived in Vietnam looking for new places.

But I left with a new appreciation for something I had never really thought about before:

the women behind the little shops.

And perhaps that is one of the best things about travelling.

You don't always come home remembering every place you visited.

Sometimes, you remember one small moment, one person, or one simple observation that makes you see another culture differently.