In Hanoi, it seems to be a daily ritual: when school ends, guardians arrive to pick up their children
In Hanoi, it seems to be a daily ritual: when school ends, guardians arrive to pick up their children. Grandparents and parents gather at the school gate, holding small hands as they wait. It feels almost like a quiet ceremony — as if they’re there to receive something precious at the close of each day.
The school I happened to pass that afternoon was a small primary school in the Old Quarter. With its weathered tile roof and gateposts carved with Chinese characters, it carried the weight of history. But come afternoon, the space outside the gate came alive — the hum of motorbikes, the excited voices of children, the murmur of passersby — all these sounds braided together to form the texture of a Hanoi afternoon.
A girl and a boy emerged from the gate, their hands firmly held by an elderly woman — likely their grandmother. It was such a simple moment, yet something about it felt deeply reassuring. The presence of someone waiting, someone there for you, seemed to lend the entire street a quiet warmth.
Unlike in Japan, children probably aren’t allowed to go home alone here. But beyond rules of safety, there appears to be something else — a cultural thread of connection, of shared roles. The school becomes more than just a place of learning; it becomes a knot, binding children and adults, past and present, into a single, living rhythm.
| Jun 2025 PEOPLE VIETNAM | |
| BOY CHINESE CHARACTER FLAG GIRL HANOI OLDER WOMAN SCHOOL |
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PHOTO DATA
No
12863
Shooting Date
Mar 2025
Posted On
June 22, 2025
Place
Hanoi, Vietnam
Genre
Street Photography
Camera
SONY ALPHA 7R V
Lens
ZEISS BATIS 2/40 CF
