Ta Lung border gate is 75km from the city of Cao Bang. This is one of three border gates between Vietnam and China in Cao Bang province. At this border gate, goods are transported by homemade tricycles.

As stipulated by China, goods from Vietnam must not be transported into China by trucks. Therefore, trucks have to stop in front of the border gate and goods are then carried through the border by tricycles.

Hundreds of three-wheeled bikes loaded with goods wait for customs clearance.

The tricycle is made based on Phoenix bikes, a famous Chinese brand in Vietnam decades ago. An iron bracket and a third wheel is added.

To carry cargo weighing several hundreds of kilos, the frame is reinforced with iron bars.

The pedals and chains are removed, so the vehicles move entirely by the pull and push of the porter.

The distance is only a few hundred meters but it is a hard job as the volume of goods is very heavy.

Women also do this hard job.

Porters work in teams and are managed by cooperatives. The total number of porters at Ta Lung is over 2,000 people. They earn a stable income of VND4-5 million ($200-250) per month.

Up to nearly 40,000 tons of goods are transported via Ta Lung each month. The monthly import-export turnover is about $6 million.