Up to 600 liters of free iced tea offered daily to outdoor workers amid scorching heat in Ho Chi Minh City

They either drink it on the spot or fill their bottles to take with them as they continue working in the intense heat.

Over the past few days, Ho Chi Minh City has experienced sweltering heat, especially around midday.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, temperatures in Ho Chi Minh City ranged from 25 to 36 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. 

Humidity levels were quite low during the day, causing a stuffy and uncomfortable feeling.

Actual outdoor temperatures may be two to four degrees Celsius higher than forecast, and even higher in areas with lots of concrete.

At noon on Monday, under the blazing sun, Tran Ngoc Lam, a delivery man, drenched in sweat, stopped his motorbike near a stainless steel container set beneath a small thatched shelter in front of Mac Ty Nho Church on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. He poured himself a glass of iced tea to cool down.

“It’s too hot—without water, I can’t keep going," Lam said.

"The iced tea here is really good. 

"I usually drink it whenever I pass by. 

"I always say thank you to the people who refill it."

Similarly, Pham Hoang Quy, another delivery man, from Binh Thanh District, also dropped by to fill his bottle with the cold drink.

“It’s so hot! When I pass through this area, I always stop for a bottle of iced tea,” he said.

Nguyen Cuong, who was pushing a basket of mangoes to sell on the streets, also pulled over to fill up a bottle. 

“I often drink iced tea here. It’s really good,” he said.

On Monday afternoon, dozens of people, mostly delivery drivers, street vendors, and scrap collectors, halted at the two stainless steel containers along the roadside to either drink tea or fill up their bottles.

Cao Thi Hoa, a volunteer, shared that for over two years now, she and several other parishioners from Mac Ty Nho Church have been brewing tea, washing glasses, and refilling ice to provide free iced tea to passers-by. 

The initiative began with a suggestion from the church’s priest.

On scorching days, the stand supplies up to 600 liters of iced tea daily, while on cooler days, it serves 300–400 liters.

“People say the tea is tasty and clean. That makes me really happy,” said Hoa.

Nguyen Thi Nguyet, another volunteer, added that she is usually on duty from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm every day to refill water, tea, and ice.

“Lots of people stop by, including delivery men, lottery ticket sellers, scrap collectors. Seeing them happily drinking the tea brings me joy,” Nguyet stated.