Stories of lottery ticket sellers in Vietnam are oftentimes of disadvantaged people seeking a means to overcome hardship, just as in the case of one elderly woman from south-central Vietnam and her disabled nephew.

At an age when most other people would be enjoying retirement, 70-year-old Nguyen Thi Sen continues to sell lottery tickets on a daily basis in order to put food on the table for her 30-year-old disabled nephew Huynh Do.

Do, who lost both of his parents to cancer, contracted a disease as a child that has left him mute and paralyzed, and was taken in by his single aunt Nguyen Thi Sen who has raised him as her own.

Not earning enough to live on from the field in their hometown Hoa Xuan Dong Commune in Tuy Hoa District, Phu Yen Province, the two moved to the coastal city of Nha Trang in search of new opportunities.

The aunt and nephew live in a three-square-meter room rented out by Sen’s lottery agent in a battered old house on Phan Dinh Giot Street that they share with other people in similar circumstances.

Every day, Do is seated in his wheelchair, keeping Sen company through countless streets, markets, bus stations, pubs, and coffee shops they sell lottery tickets in, regardless of the weather.

Selling lottery tickets provides their only source of income to pay for food, medicine, and bus tickets to revisit their hometown once in a while.

“The tickets don’t sell well because people stop buying after failing to win so many times. Most people buy a couple of tickets because they’re touched by our story. We’re miserable,” Sen said.

In front of their house is an altar for ‘Ong Dia’, the Lord of the Ground, whom they pray to at the start of each day in the hope of a miracle to change their lives for the better.

The sight of the 70-year-old woman carrying her crippled nephew from his battered wheelchair to their cramped room, looking at him with eyes full of kindness as the fragile man clings to her neck like a child, is enough to pull at the strings of even the coldest hearts.

Below are a series of photos by Nguyen Dong featuring how Sen and her nephew struggle for life.

These photos were one of the entries to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper's year-long competition themed “Vietnam – Country – People" concluding in October last year.

The entry won the competition's consolation prize.

Moving through an afternoon market to sell lottery tickets

Sen carries her nephew Huynh Do from his wheelchair to their room after a hard day.

Two men buy lottery tickets and offer the two a drink.

Moving through traffic late at night to sell tickets

Crossing the street early in the morning to begin their day of work

Sen takes care of her nephew Do while he is sick.

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