From every early morning, a group of women gathers at Lao Bao international border gate in the central province of Quang Tri to be employed to transport a wide range of goods using hand-pulled rickshaws.

From Wikipedia, hand-pulled rickshaw is defined as a mode of human-powered transport by which a runner draws a two-wheeled cart which seats one or two persons. In fact, this kind of rickshaw is no longer in use in Vietnam and has been mainly replaced by cycle rickshaw or xích-lô (pedicab).

However, everyone can see the hand-pulled two-wheeled cart at Lao Bao international border gate that connects Vietnam and Laos. Different from the traditional rickshaw, the latter is mainly used for transporting goods and pulled by the weaker sex.

Every 7:00am, a group of women, most of them hail from Van Kieu ethnic minority, gathers at the gate to be hired to transport a wide range of goods from Quang Tri to Karol market in Laos and conversely in order to eke out a living.

They are paid from VND40,000 (US$2) to VND100,000 ($5) for each delivery.

Among the pullers is Ho Thi Tem, who is eight months pregnant. Tem’s husband abandoned her and four their children to get married with another woman.

Despite her late-term pregnancy, the 28-year-old daily draws rickshaw to feed her children, the eldest of whom is about nine year olds.

After school, three children pictured in this photo help their mother earn a living running barefoot, pulling goods through Lao Bao international border gate. Photo: Tuoi Tre

28-year-old Ho Thi Tem, who is eight months pregnant, daily draws rickshaw to feed her four children, the eldest of whom is about nine year olds. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The workers are waiting to be hired to transport goods. When it rains, it’s very hard for them to find employers. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The two little boys wear a happy smile on their face when they are on board a two-wheeled cart that is pulled by their mother. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Rickshaw puller Ho Thi Gai, 42, often carries goods to earn some extra money. Photo: Tuoi Tre

These workers gather together and chat while waiting to be employed. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Ho Thi Nu, who has worked as a rickshaw puller for 10 years, takes a short rest after doing a “heavy” delivery. Photo: Tuoi Tre

During the lunchtime, a woman still waits patiently for employers. Photo: Tuoi Tre