The largest segment of the world's poor consists of women and children who live in rural environments— and everyday many migrate to the larger cities in search of a better life.

They are the street vendors peddling fruits and vegetables, water, sometimes even shrimp, flowers, garbage workers, carpenters, the artisans and indigenous peoples who live on the fringes of society and whose daily struggles seldom capture attention.

They often work extra hours, even late into the evening, to earn a meagreness of income.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we hope you will take the time to pause to appreciate the daily struggles of these women.

Some photos taken in Hanoi:

Some women have to sell fruit and vegetable at the corner of a flea market           Picking up materials for recycling              Selling flowers on street                         Street vendor spends break time repairing her torn conical             Selling food on street late at night is this woman's daily work                         Carrying waste food from restaurants              Elderly woman takes bus home after selling guava to earn a meagre subsistence           Female carpenter working overtime to make ends meet

Tran Ngoc

VOV