Binh Dien Wholesale Market in Binh Chanh District is the source of food supply for HCM City. There are many women working as porters in the market. In the picture: Ly Thi Nam, 58 years old, a native of Soc Trang province.

She has been working at the market for over five years. She says she is poor and illiterate but has good health, so she chooses this hard work to earn a living.

Her job, as well as many other female porters, usually begins at midnight and ends at 7am.

Previously, Nam worked as a maid for wealthy families in the city but she felt uncomfortable with this job.

Every night, she carries about 5 tons of goods.

Nam and other porters have to hire trolleys to support their job. They pay VND16,000/trolley/night. For older women like Nam, she has to pay an additional VND5,000 to have a better trolley.

The work goes on all night. For each trolley, she receives a card. Her salary is paid based on the number of cards, with VND10,000/card.

While waiting for goods, Nam talks with other female porters.

She says she earns VND200,000/night ($10).

Female porters at other markets in HCM City