Porters in Hanoi wholesale market work up a sweat ahead of Tet

Long Bien wholesale market is at its busiest during the night and early in the morning, especially during Tet.

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In the lead-up to Tet, porters there are required to work harder than usual, quickly unloading goods from trucks and carrying them to kiosks.

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Hien, who has worked as a porter for 20 years, says her working day usually begins at 11 p.m. and ends at around 3 a.m. the following morning.

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“The hard work makes us forget the night's chill," she says, "Even if it's down to 10 degrees."

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Tu, 46, from the northern province of Nam Dinh, shares that normally she earns between VND200,000 and VND300,000, equal to between US$8.5 and US$12.79, a day unloading fruit crates from trucks and then carrying them to kiosks.

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Tu reveals before Tet, her income may double or even treble. “I like to go home early and spend the Tet holiday looking after my children. However, the extra work I get during these days is to hold better celebrations for Tet," she adds.