A team of workers suspend themselves from a 17-story tower to apply a waterproof coating to the building's exterior on Jan. 24.
Among them was 32-year-old Truong Van Luu (L), who noted that the weeks leading up to Tet are the most lucrative of the year. During this pre-holiday rush, many buildings undergo extensive maintenance and major clean-ups, providing high-rise painters with their busiest and most stable period of income.
“When I first started, I took a one-week occupational safety course, but I was still terrified the first time I hung from a building, even at a low height,” said Da, an ethnic Khmer worker who, at 27, is the youngest member of the team.
Now a veteran with four years of experience, he explained that he only transitioned to skyscrapers after gradually building his confidence and skills on smaller structures.
A typical team consists of approximately five workers who rotate through the grueling shifts on the ropes. While their base pay is around VND800,000 per day, they often supplement this income by taking on additional painting and repair tasks requested directly by building residents.
Sinh, a veteran with over 10 years in the trade, noted that the demand during this period is relentless. "Tet is the busiest time for painting and window cleaning," he said. "We work nonstop every day and sometimes have to turn down jobs because there simply isn't enough time."
While cool and calm weather provides the ideal conditions for window cleaning, workers face many physical challenges when the environment shifts. They particularly dread scorching heat, which rapidly drains their stamina, and strong winds, which can cause dangerous swaying while they are suspended hundreds of feet in the air.
Their midday breaks last more than an hour. Meals typically consist of simple boxed rice, while naps are taken wherever space allows: on rooftops, stair landings, or within emergency exits.
Sinh packs away his equipment into storage after finishing work at 5 p.m. Safety regulations prohibit rope-access painters from working after dark.
Despite the inherent risks of the profession, Sinh maintains a disciplined outlook on the dangers he faces daily. “This job is dangerous for everyone who does it, but if safety rules are strictly followed, it can be safe,” he said.
