This article explores the life, roles and contributions of informal waste workers (IWWs) in Viet Nam during COVID-19. This article indicates that the pandemic has impacted the work of IWWs in Vietnam where many had to return to their hometown for other jobs or face unemployment. Many IWWs expressed that they felt left out and unsupported by social welfare policies during COVID-19. The article also highlights the significant contribution of IWWs to waste collection coverage in the city, including increasing the waste recovery works through recycling.