On days when the tide recedes, the coastal alluvial area in Hung Yen province is bustling with the sound of people harvesting clams.
From early morning, dozens of workers are busy going to the alluvial ground carrying bags of clams weighing dozens of kilograms from the farming ground to transport to the gathering point.
The work is hard and arduous under the sun and wind of the coastal region, but in return, many workers can earn several hundred thousand to millions of VND per day (depending on each person's health, they can earn more).
According to reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper, the profession of carrying clams is very hard, workers have to wade through water, carrying on their shoulders net bags containing clams weighing from 60 - 80kg/bag from the farming yard to the boat and then transporting them to the gathering place.
The work mainly takes place according to the tide, many people have to wake up from early morning and work continuously for many hours to be able to harvest in time.
Under the harsh early summer sun, groups of workers are still diligently working. Many people have to wade through water for many hours under the seawater, their shoulders are red with the weight of clam sacks.
With shoulder pain after many hours of carrying clams, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (in Nam Cuong commune, Hung Yen province) shared: "The clam carrying profession is hard, but the income is quite stable, especially during the harvest season. On busy days, I can carry a few tons of clams. The yard owner pays according to output, averaging about 800,000 VND to more than 1 million VND per day. The work is heavy, so anyone who is not used to it will find it difficult to survive.
Also taking advantage of earning income from carrying clams, Mr. Bui Cong Thanh (in Hung Phu commune, Hung Yen province) said that this job, although hard, helps many local workers have an additional stable income source. Doing this job requires good health and must be used to the mudflat, if anyone is not used to it, it is easy to lose strength.
Not only men, many local women also participate in this profession to increase income for their families. The main job is to pick clams, rake clams and pack them.
According to local people, people who carry clams are mainly seasonal workers. They take advantage of going to work to earn extra income.
However, the profession of carrying clams also hides many hardships and risks. Workers who regularly have to work in the harsh sun, soaking in seawater for many hours are prone to skin diseases, joint pain. Many people slip and fall on mudflats or become exhausted after many hours of continuous labor.
