Before the train departs, the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation organized a warm and thoughtful Tet send-off ceremony for workers to return to their hometowns.
Thanks to the trade union, we can reunite with our families during Tet.
Ms. Dang Thi Huyen - a worker at Gia An Company - said that for the past 10 years, her family (husband, wife and two children) has never been able to return to their hometown to reunite with the extended family during Tet in Nghe An. Ms. Huyen shared: The salary of both husband and wife is only enough to cover expenses for a family of 4 people who have to rent a room, raise two children to study, while each time returning to their hometown during Tet is very expensive because of expensive train and bus fares and many other expenses. Therefore, for more than 10 years, her husband and wife have only dared to return to their hometown whenever the family has unexpected events during the year, but have never dared to think about returning to their hometown during Tet.
During this year's Binh Ngo Tet holiday, Ms. Huyen's family was given tickets by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour for 4 people, both ways. "Just counting the round-trip ticket for 4 people, if you had to buy tickets, it would have cost more than ten million VND. Thanks to being given tickets by the trade union, the whole family was able to return to their hometown to celebrate Tet and reunite with the extended family. Our family is truly very grateful to the Vietnam Trade Union organization," Ms. Huyen said emotionally.
Similarly, the family of Mr. Phan Van Trung - a worker at Minh Phuong Company - was also given round-trip train tickets for the whole family of 4 to return to their hometown for Tet. Mr. Trung shared: "Going to work far away, everyone only hopes to reunite with their families during Tet, be close to and visit their parents, siblings, and friends. For the past 4 years, my family has not been able to return to their hometown for Tet, also because of difficult circumstances and expensive travel, we have to put aside our dream of reuniting during Tet. It is really lucky that our family was given train tickets by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour to return to their hometown for Tet.
And Mr. Nguyen Van Trai, the shoe base mold manufacturing department of PouYuen Vietnam Co., Ltd., has not returned to his hometown in Hanoi for Tet for 3 years. Mr. Trai said that his parents are both in Hanoi and are over 80 years old. This year, he was given a "Trade Union Train - Spring 2026" ticket, so he only returned to his hometown alone, while his wife and children remained in Ho Chi Minh City.
My parents are both old, very much looking forward to my child returning to visit and reunite with the family during Tet. I am very grateful to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the company for creating conditions for me to reunite with my family during Tet days. I will take advantage of going back early because at that time train, bus, and plane tickets are also cheaper and there is time to rest for a few days before returning to work" - Mr. Trai expressed.
Focus resources to take care of Tet for more union members
Speaking at the send-off ceremony for workers returning to their hometowns to celebrate Tet on the "Trade Union Trains - Spring 2026" - Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation - expressed his respect and deep gratitude to the team of workers and laborers across the country who chose Ho Chi Minh City to work and live in; at the same time, he acknowledged the great contributions of the labor force to the development of the city.
Mr. Nhan said that currently Ho Chi Minh City has more than 7 million workers working at factories and enterprises, of which more than 60% are workers far from home.
With the motto "Tet comes to all union members and workers, leaving no one behind", the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation has selected and proposed that the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor support more than 7 billion VND to support round-trip train tickets, bringing 2,293 union members and workers back to their hometowns to celebrate Tet in the northern provinces and cities. Trains depart from February 9 to 14, 2026 and return in the afternoon from February 20 to 24, 2026. There are also 820 people supported with air tickets and about 5,000 people taken home by car organized by the trade union.
Trade Union Train" bringing workers home for Tet is an annual program with profound humanistic meaning, initiated from the reality of caring for workers of the Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau Trade Unions in the past. From those effective ways of doing things, the program has been spread and replicated nationwide with the active coordination and support of Vietnam Railways Corporation and many related agencies and units. For many union members and workers, being reunited with family and relatives after 1 year of hard work during Tet is a great joy, and also a motivation for workers to work more actively and effectively, contributing to the development of businesses, Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the whole country in general" - Mr. Nhan emphasized.
