In the Mekong Delta, the job of carrying rice sacks is a common one: 'If anyone gets tired, the others help.'

The rice fields in Tan Long commune, Can Tho city (formerly Nga Nam town, Soc Trang province) are in the midst of the winter-spring rice harvest. Workers brave the sun, carrying heavy loads of rice, yet remain cheerful because they have work to do.

Báo Thanh niên•18/04/2026

The peak of the rice harvest season is also when the job of carrying rice comes into full swing. Along the canals in Tan Long commune, boats and vehicles bustle. Workers toil to make a living under the hot sun.

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 1. — Dozens of laborers gathered to shovel rice into sacks for loading onto trucks to be transported to the milling factory.

After harvesting, the rice is carried from the fields to the canal bank for weighing by traders, then transferred to boats or trucks for transport to milling factories. This stage relies entirely on human labor, creating a characteristic labor "assembly chain" of the harvest season in the Mekong Delta.

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 2. — The work atmosphere was bustling from early morning until late evening.

Amidst the scorching heat of 37 to nearly 40 degrees Celsius, the rice-carrying teams (15-20 people per team) continue to work diligently. Each day, a team can transport 150-170 tons of rice. Sacks of rice weighing 45-50 kg are continuously carried on shoulders in a hurried rhythm and with coordinated effort.

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 3. — For the job of carrying rice, each male laborer earns between 500,000 and 600,000 VND per day.

A young worker shared: "The work is hard, but the atmosphere is always lively with laughter and conversation. Whether strong or weak, we all carry the same load, and if anyone gets tired, we help each other. This mutual support helps us get through the working hours from early morning until late evening, sometimes without a lunch break."

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 4. — Thanks to their coordinated efforts, each rice-carrying team (15-20 people) can transport 150-170 tons of rice per day.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

At midday, under the scorching sun, sweat drenched their shirts as many people took turns helping out. Scratches from sacks of rice rubbing against their shoulders and necks were all too familiar. In return, the income from this job was quite stable during the harvest season.

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 5. — Workers quickly passed each sack of rice, weighing 45-50 kg, onto the truck.

On average, each person earns 500,000 - 600,000 VND per day. The work is irregular, and anyone who quits risk losing business, so most people try their best to work.

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 6. — Women are responsible for scooping rice, holding sacks, and tying the sack openings in the harvesting line.

Not only men, but women also play an important role in the harvest season. In the rice fields, women nimbly scoop rice, hold sacks, and tie the mouths of the sacks.

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 7. — Normally, women are paid 280,000 VND per day.

From 6 am to around 4 pm, they work continuously. Each day they are paid approximately 280,000 VND, and if they work overtime, their income is calculated based on output at a rate of 2,500 VND per sack of rice.

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 8. — If working overtime, each sack of rice will be paid 2,500 dong.

Ms. Thach Hong (42 years old, from Tan Long commune) confided: "This job is extremely hard, standing in the sun all day, my hands and feet never rest. But having work to do is fortunate, and earning that much money during the harvest season is a great joy."

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 9. — For many laborers, life is tied to the seasons.

The harvest season not only brings income but also creates a vibrant working atmosphere and strengthens community bonds. The sounds of harvesting machines, people calling out to each other, and the cheerful laughter and conversations create a lively picture of the countryside during harvest time.

Nghề vác lúa ở miền Tây, 'ai mệt thì anh em đỡ cho'- Ảnh 10. — The rice is carried from the fields to the canal bank for traders to weigh, then transferred to boats for transport to milling factories.

For many laborers, life is tied to the seasons. After the rice harvest, they switch to planting, replanting, or working as hired laborers to maintain their income.

Despite the hardships, this seasonal work has provided the people of Tan Long with an additional source of livelihood. Each sack of rice carried is not only the fruit of the farmers' labor but also the result of the silent efforts of the unsung heroes behind the scenes.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-nang-vac-lua-mua-gat-lao-dong-mien-tay-ai-met-thi-anh-em-do-cho-185260416111035458.htm