Unique and “extremely hot” occupations in the subsidy period-Young people

Pumping ink ballpoint pens, typewriters, traders, drawing bicycle tires … were extremely popular occupations during the subsidy period but now they are all “lost”.

The first is to pump ink ballpoint pens – a profession that has almost completely disappeared up to the present time. The refilling of ballpoint pen ink helps to make use of old pens, which have run out of ink but can still write well.

Ink supplies include a syringe with a syringe and tube to store the ink, a bit of cotton, and alcohol to remove the ink.

Although the ink injection process is simple, it also requires careful and meticulous because otherwise the ink from the ballpoint pen can leak onto the shirt, which is very difficult to clean. In addition, the ink pumper also needs to prepare a few balls with a small awl in case the ballpoint pen is damaged, there are balls to replace immediately.

Besides replacing the ink of ballpoint pens, writing for hire is also a profession bearing the imprint of the subsidy period. People who do this job are usually people who have learned letters or learned foreign languages ​​with the ability to write and possess beautiful handwriting. They receive letters of inquiry, love letters, petitions, complaints for illiterate people. For applications, letters in French, English… will cost more than written in normal Vietnamese.

Typography is no longer a profession today, but in the 1975s, it was a fairly common profession. Those who need to type papers, applications.. need to spend a few dimes for each page.

During the subsidy period, the economy was difficult, so people often had to wear clothes that had been washed and faded. Therefore, the profession of dyeing clothes has become a very popular service.

At that time, each family was only given a certain amount of fabric, enough to make a few clothes. After a period of use, the fabric fades, so people will dye it again to look newer. The dye is prepared from natural materials such as brown roots, indigo leaves. The colors that are dyed are mainly brown and black.

When bicycles are the main means of transportation and a valuable asset that not every home has, “additional” services such as removing bicycle tires during this period were also very developed.

Trader (commercial store employee) is a “hot” profession, desired by many people in the subsidy period. When rice, oil, fish sauce, salt… all depend on stamps, traders – who hold the balance to distribute goods to the people – are considered to have “power”.

The stamp worker was then considered a stable profession with a decent income, able to support the whole family.

In addition, it is impossible not to mention the casting of war materials. War scraps such as aircraft shells, bomb shells, etc. have been made into pots, pots, trays, bicycle rims, etc. to serve the daily life of the people. This product is very popular for its quality and price.

Unlike the “lost” professions mentioned above, the profession of selling ice has existed since the subsidy period and has existed until now. During the subsidy period, in Hanoi, ice was only made from state-owned factories and enterprises and was distributed very limitedly. Today, ice is still commonly sold in grocery stores. This item sells very well in the summer, when the demand for refreshments and the use of ice by consumers increases.