From a distance, she looked more like a bank robber taking a break than a market merchant

Woman wearing conical hat and black mask — Woman wearing a conical hat and a black mask

While walking through the market in the southern Vietnamese town of My Tho, I noticed a woman sitting at the edge of the street. She wore a large conical hat, the lower half of her face hidden behind a black mask. From a distance, she looked less like a market vendor and more like a bank robber on a break. In reality, she was simply working at a small stall, with a mountain of fresh leafy greens piled up before her.

In Vietnam, the sun is relentless, and on top of that, the exhaust from motorcycles and cars spares no face. Masks like hers are a part of daily life. The cloth ones can be washed and reused, making them economical as well. The conical hat, meanwhile, is more than just shade—it doubles as an umbrella in sudden rain. For market workers, these aren’t fashion statements; they’re essentials for survival.

When I raised my camera, she smiled with her eyes. Her mouth was hidden, but the movement of her cheeks was unmistakable. It wasn’t shyness, but more a calm, “Go ahead, take the picture if you want” sort of expression. Despite the robber-like appearance, what lingered was not a sense of danger but the quiet resilience of everyday life. I didn’t buy anything from her, but that gaze has somehow stayed with me ever since.

My Tho on Google Map

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