{"id":6230,"date":"2021-04-06T16:32:19","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T08:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=6230"},"modified":"2021-07-08T11:36:11","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T03:36:11","slug":"balloon-seller-passes-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/balloon-seller-passes-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoan Kiem Lake\u2019s Iconic Balloon Seller Passes Away From Cancer, Netizens Pay Tribute To Him"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hoan Kiem Lake\u2019s balloon seller passes away<\/h2>\n
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Hanoians are probably familiar with the image of a rugged man riding an old bicycle around the Hoan Kiem Lake, carrying along a huge cluster of balloons that delighted any child passing by. No one knows when he started doing what he did, but we only know that he seems to have been around for as long as we can remember.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, last weekend, it was reported that this beloved figure has passed away from cancer, so thousands of netizens have flocked to online forums to pay tribute to him.<\/p>\n

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Netizens show their respect to the iconic figure<\/h3>\n
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\nImage credit: Huy L\u00f4<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

For countless Hanoian millennials and zoomers, this smiling uncle figure that we only ever knew as the endearing nickname b\u1ed1 gi\u00e0<\/em> or \u201cold pop\u201d was part of our childhoods.<\/p>\n

Funnily enough, many of us can remember buying a balloon from him, giving him a nod and a smile as we walked past, or simply seeing him on the streets, yet it never crossed our minds to ask for his name.<\/p>\n

Still, in our hearts, his image is as synonymous to Hanoi as the charming Hoan Kiem Lake and the timeworn buildings of the Old Quarter<\/a> themselves.<\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: Nguy\u1ec5n Vi\u1ec7t Anh<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Following news of his passing, thousands of netizens have taken to Facebook to pay tribute to him. Some, such as netizen \u0110\u1ed7 V\u0169 Quang Hi\u1ebfu<\/a>, have anecdotes of the fond memories they had with the man. According to Hi\u1ebfu, the balloon uncle once helped him after he was caught in a traffic accident.<\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: \u0110\u1ed7 V\u0169 Quang Hi\u1ebfu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Others shared pictures they had taken with the old man\u2019s iconic bicycle and balloons. According to them, he was always willing to lend these items to shutter-happy folks.<\/p>\n

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\nImage adapted from Quang Huy<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

But most commonly, people had photos they randomly snapped of him on the streets.<\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: T\u00f9ng<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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Iconic balloon seller around Hoan Kiem Lake passes away from cancer<\/h3>\n
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While we are saddened by the passing of our \u201cballoon uncle\u201d, it is wholesome in a way to know that he\u2019s touched the lives of so many people. He lived a full life, and now, may he rest in peace.<\/p>\n

For more stories, check out:<\/p>\n