In-depth
A coconut mom
  • | Tuoi tre |

When asked about Vo Thi Thom’s home address, residents in Song Khanh hamlet, Hoai Xuan commune, Hoai Nhon district in the central province of Binh Dinh told Tuoi Tre: “No need to ask since she often lives on top of coconut trees.”

The 47-year-old woman has to daily climb up about 20 coconut trees to earn money to support her two children who are attending university

There are some days she has to live on the top of coconut trees more often than on the ground.

Thom was spotted precariously climbing up a tall coconut tree.

She has to travel long distances everyday to pick coconuts directly from trees.

After plucking, she along with her ‘colleagues’ peddle the fresh coconuts on the streets.

Thom and a woman who purchased her coconuts share together coconut water.

When Thom has no coconuts to pick, she works as a construction worker to earn extra money.

No matter how the weather is, Thom regularly climbs up for a living.

To save money, she fixes her broken bicycle by herself.

A plain meal is always enough for her and her family. She is now the breadwinner since her husband could not work now.

She takes care of her 80-year-old mother-in-law.

Thom has recently collected enough money from selling coconuts to redeem her paddy field that she had to mortgage 10 years ago to afford her children’s school fees in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Thi Tien and Nguyen Van Thuan, Thom’s children, have been studying and working in Ho Chi Minh City. A calligraphy paper on the wall on the right-hand side in their rented room reads “Hiếu” or “Filial Love”.

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