The 19-year-old has a petite frame and a sweet Mekong Delta accent. She looks tough, especially when steering a tractor skillfully to plow fields.

Nhu is the youngest in a family with two siblings. Her father has driven tractors for decades, and her brother later followed the family trade.

Growing up, Nhu was used to seeing her father and brother plow fields, and as she matured, she tried sitting on the tractor—first observing her father, then learning to drive.

"Seeing Dad work day and night so hard, I wanted to learn to drive a tractor to help him. Plus, I love fieldwork, so I chose to follow the family trade.

“At first, my parents fiercely opposed my decision, saying that this is a hard job. Dad said: ‘A girl driving a tractor will get ugly—who’ll marry you?’ I didn’t care—ugly or not, I’d help ease his burden. Later, they agreed," Nhu recalled.

She was trained for a year, mastering simple to complex tasks: operating the machine, boarding and disembarking ferries, handling mud traps. Her father taught her meticulously.

At 16, Huynh Nhu was able to drive tractors proficiently. She has spent three years doing work usually meant for men.

Every year, she, her father, and brother grow three crops, each of which lasts 1.5 months. Off-season, she helps her mother and sister-in-law with chores, sewing doormats or tablecloths.

Nhu said driving a tractor isn’t just tough—it demands high skill.

"People think it’s easy, but after three years, I know it’s not. When sowing or tilling, if you lack skill, you’ll sink into ditches, stall, get stuck in mud, or waste fuel," she explained.

The job requires precision for even plowing, deep tilling, and proper blade alignment. Early on, she trailed her father, mimicking his moves bit by bit.

Worth any hardship

During the crop time, Nhu spends more time in fields than at home. Daily, the trio plows over 100 cong (each nearly 1,300 m²), totaling over 2,000 cong per crop.

They work from 5am till late every day, sleeping a few hours before resuming. Often, they eat one meal daily, limiting water to avoid stopping for breaks.

"I’m not shy—I just don’t want delays. I fear night work, so I push in the daytime to rest at night," Nhu explained.

Rain or shine, Nhu and her tractor charge through fields. Only after finishing the day’s assigned land can she rest.

Once, her tractor broke down at midnight. She, her father, and brother fumbled to fix it. Mosquitos bit them raw, but they kept working.

Another time, stuck in mud, Nhu dug out sludge, too exhausted to stand. She sat in the muck and burst to tears. But the self-pity passed quickly—she stood up and carried on.

"Some days, finishing work early, I saw girls in white ao dai riding by or dressed up for outings. I wished I could be pretty and carefree like them.

“But seeing Dad and brother muddy and toiling, I couldn’t bear enjoying comfort while they struggled," Nhu said.

Her family is her biggest source of her drive, erasing fatigue. She’s proud of her healthy, loving parents and a supportive brother and sister-in-law who spoil her. They are why she perseveres.

"If I seek comfort, who’ll bear the hardship?" she said.

At home, Nhu is called ‘keo’ (Candy) " for her petite and cute look. Neighbors, seeing a tiny girl handle a massive tractor, admire and cheer her on.

At 16 and 17, she braved sun and rain. Now, she cares for herself—applying sunscreen before work, cleaning and moisturizing afterward.

"All family members love me. In the fields, Dad handles everything—I just drive tractor and do my work. At home, Mom and sister-in-law manage chores—I just eat and rest.

“Dad worries I’ll struggle to marry, but I’m not scared. As long as my parents are happy, any hardship’s worth it," Nhu said, smiling.

Thanh Minh