VietNamNet Bridge – These sounds are not only sweet melodies but they consist of fragrance, taste, amd color that excites all senses of listeners.

The sound of peddlers makes Vietnamese streets become lively. It is very interesting for foreigners but they do not understand.

To ‘decode’ these sounds, a French author, F. Fenis, published a think book titled “Peddlers and their sounds on Hanoi streets” (Les marchands ambulants et les cris de la rue à Hanoi).

The 40-page book describes forms of peddled wares and corresponding advertising sound through pictures and staves. Illustration photos in the book were drawn by students of the Indochina Art College, including To Ngoc Van, who became a great painter of Vietnam later.

Below are some pages in the book:

“Ai dau chin cua nha ra mua”, the advertising sound by a strawberry peddler.

‘Banh gio banh day’ (Vietnamese rice dumplings)

‘Se cau se cau’ (vanilla ice cream)

“Ai banh chung banh com ra mua” (square glutinous rice cake and green rice flake cake).

“Chum chau bat su vo han khong” (Welding broken pottery jars, bowls, etc.)

“Ai gie rach sat vun ban khong nao” (Purchasing scraps).

“Ai banh tay ra mua’ (sweet cake).

“Nuoc voi nong an thuoc khong” (Hot Eugenia tea).

“Ai mua ngo rang hat de ra mua” (popcorn and chestnut).

“Ai mua banh vung khong” (sesame cake).

Che hat sen (Lotus seed compote).

“Ai  mia ra mua” (sugarcane).

“Ai co chai coc vo ban khong” (Purchasing broken bottles and glasses).

“Ai keo vung keo lac keo bot tram o mai ra mua” (sesame candy, peanut candy, salted dry fruit).

“Ai lac rang ra mua” (roasted peanut).

“Ai nem sot mua, Ai nem mua di” (meat roll).

“Trung Bac, Thuc Nghiep, Khai Hoa” (the names of three newspapers).

“Ai chao dau xanh, che dau den ra mua” (green bean soup, black bean compote).


PV