Portrait of toddler standing between knees of man caring for her at Mai Chau

A toddler stands between the knees and outstretched arms of a squatting man, probably her father, who tends her at the highland village of Mai Chau. The child wears a broad-brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirt, but no footwear. The man wears long dark pants and a green, long-sleeved shirt with rubber thong sandals.

Throughout Southeast Asia, but especially in highland farming areas, children of both sexes are considered precious and vulnerable. Adults and teens of both sexes and all ages generally enjoy caring for young children. They find it an amusing and relaxing task compared to the physical labor of farming. Southeast Asian men often spend some hours each day caring for their youngest children while their wives perform heavier farm tasks or household chores.