Carrying ice is a job at the pier of Ngu Loc commune, Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province. Most of the ice porters are widows.

Their job is carrying blocks of ice to fishing boats before the vessels go out to sea.

Those women are aged from 40 to 60. Their husbands died or went missing at sea. Brushing away the pain, they work very hard every day to support their children.

Mrs. Bui Thi Vuong, 60, is one of the oldest female porters. Her husband died 28 years ago in a shipwreck at sea. For over 30 years, she has earned her income from catching fish and oysters and ice carrying. "Although the income is not high it is stable. It is enough to feed my four children,"she said.

Vuong said this job appeared more than 40 years ago. As fishing boats cannot dock near the shore, ship owners have to hire workers to carry boat and fishing tools to the boats.

This hard work is full of dangers, which come from sharp oysters or foot slips.

The feet of these women turn pale, and the skin peels after a day of hard work.

Carrying a block of ice weighing 35kg, they only earn VND3,000/block. Their average daily income is VND40,000 to VND50,000 ($1.8-$2.3).

After one morning, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Cay, 51, earns VND55,000.