Life in Boxes

Faced with high living costs in the capital of Hanoi, migrant workers from adjacent provinces opt for makeshift boarding houses built by local residents. In a tight space that can accommodate only a bed and a few necessities, each family figures their own way to give their temporary residence a homely feel, be it placing a flat board upon some bricks to make a bed or taping a wedding photo on an unplastered wall. Without a window, the only connection between the room and the world is the entrance door. Looking from outside, I felt as if being in front of a TV screen, where every living activity was contained inside a frame, each frame having their own space, characters, and stories. Though spontaneously built up with impermanent properties, these spaces have existed for decades, along with the rapid growth of low-income worker communities. As time goes by, perhaps such spaces have become a home, not only a dwelling place but also an anchor for their lengthened stay in this city.