Stepping down from the train to the platform with her belongings, Ms. Vi Thi Ha (from Tan An commune, Tan Ky district, Nghe An) could not hide her emotions and tears when the Union supported her to return home with a train ticket for 0 VND.
She confided: “My mother and I are far from home working as garment workers in Song Than Industrial Park, Binh Duong province. Due to difficult circumstances, we have to save money to take care of our family. We have not been able to return to our hometown for the past 5 years. Now, with the support of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL), we can return to our hometown with free train tickets and return to work after the Tet holiday, so my mother and I can return to our hometown with our father and husband to have a happy Tet holiday.”
According to Ms. Ha, for the past 5 years, every time Tet comes, she and her daughter feel nostalgic for their family, relatives, the rustic dishes of their hometown, and the bustling spring festivals. However, due to difficult circumstances, the mother and daughter have to suppress their feelings and encourage each other to overcome the sadness.
“I don’t know what words to express the joy of returning home on the zero-dong train. I would like to express my family’s and my deep gratitude to the Trade Union. The round-trip ticket from the Trade Union for my mother and I this Tet holiday is a priceless gift, supporting and giving wings to my family’s dream of reunion,” Ms. Ha said emotionally.
Getting off the Vinh train platform from the Union train, the family of Mr. Vi Van Dong (42 years old, from Chau Tien commune, Quy Chau district, Nghe An) said that he and his wife came from Nghe An to work at a leather shoe company in Binh Duong, and their circumstances were very difficult.
Their second child has a rare disease called Kawasaki disease and has to go to the hospital once a month. The couple's salary is only enough to cover rent, food, and child care.
For 7 years, the couple's family has not been able to return home to celebrate Tet. The children have not been able to experience the taste of Tet with their grandparents because the cost of returning home for Tet is too high.
Now, thanks to the Tet train tickets supported by the Trade Union, they have the opportunity to see their two children again after many years apart. "My family is very grateful to the Trade Union and the relevant agencies for helping us return home for Tet after so many years apart," Mr. Dong shared.
The "Zero-VND Train" program organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor aims to support workers in especially difficult circumstances to return home to celebrate Tet with their families.
After hard work and being far from home, thanks to the support of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, this year's Tet holiday, thousands of workers in difficult circumstances will be able to return home to celebrate Tet with 100% support for round-trip tickets.
This is a very meaningful and humane program, helping hundreds of workers in provinces and cities far from their hometowns to have the opportunity to return home to celebrate Tet and reunite with their families after long years of working away from home to earn a living.
