{"id":6708,"date":"2021-04-26T16:10:40","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T08:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=6708"},"modified":"2022-03-11T11:13:20","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T03:13:20","slug":"citizens-queue-slippers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/citizens-queue-slippers\/","title":{"rendered":"Vietnamese Citizens Reserve ID Queue Spots With Slippers & Helmets To Beat The Heat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Citizens use slippers and helmets to mark their queue spots<\/h2>\n
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Vietnam is implementing a smart ID card program that plans to replace citizens\u2019 existing ID cards with chip-integrated ones for faster information processing and more convenient data storage. As such, over the past few months, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people have flocked to government offices to apply for new ID cards.<\/p>\n

With such huge crowds, long queues are inevitable. Still, some citizens have come up with a creative idea to save themselves the hassle: they line up slippers and helmets to reserve a spot\u00a0in the queue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Personal items used to ‘queue’ and avoid the summer heat<\/h3>\n
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\"citizen
\nImage credit: Jean Tr\u1ecbnh<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In big cities, most ID application stations have implemented systems where citizens can simply take their number from a machine and wait in air-conditioned rooms for their turn. However, people from less developed areas don\u2019t have that luxury.<\/p>\n

In many cases, their only option is to queue outdoors for hours. With summer approaching, the experience is quite tiresome under the heat.<\/p>\n

\"citizens
\nImage credit: Jean Tr\u1ecbnh<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

However, citizens at an ID application station in L\u1ea1ng Giang District, B\u1eafc Giang Province reportedly had another idea. Instead of queueing themselves, they left slippers, helmets, and other personal items neatly organized in a line in front of the officers\u2019 table to reserve a spot. Meanwhile, they themselves sought shelter in the shade, away from the sun.<\/p>\n

Photos capturing the quirky phenomenon were shared by Facebook user Jean Tr\u1ecbnh<\/a> on Th\u00e1nh Riviu<\/a> \u2013 a group where people review all sorts of items. Understandably, netizens were entertained by the applicants\u2019 ingenuity.<\/p>\n

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Netizens are drawing comparisons to a simpler time<\/h3>\n
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\"citizens
\nImage credit: Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n Th\u1ee5<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Commenting on the post, many people from older generations noted that this scene reminded them of the Subsidy Period in Vietnam from\u00a0 1975-1986. Back then, people regularly had to queue to accept groceries from the government, and it was a common practice to leave their slippers or a brick to mark their spots.<\/p>\n

Indeed, even to this day, the terms \u201cl\u00f3t d\u00e9p\u201d (leaving my slippers) or \u201c\u0111\u1eb7t g\u1ea1ch\u201d (putting a brick) are still commonly used by young Vietnamese as slang terms for \u201creserving a spot\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Modern problems require classic solutions<\/h3>\n
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While pictures of the wacky incidents no doubt gave us a good laugh, they also make us city folks more aware of the luxuries we\u2019ve come to take for granted.<\/p>\n

We also have to give huge props to these ID applicants for their idea of reverting to a tried and tested method to achieve similar results. In their case, it\u2019s safe to say that modern problems require classic solutions.<\/p>\n

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