On the morning of February 13 (ie, December 26 of the year At Ty), Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuat and family members in Y Yen commune, Ninh Binh province wrapped banh chung under the eaves of the house. This was her favorite job every year-end day before, when she was young, but since leaving home to earn a living, she rarely had the opportunity to do it.
15 years after leaving her hometown to Tay Ninh to earn a living, her home visits can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The last time she went home was 6 years ago, in the summer.
For the past 15 years, I have not come home for Tet. That is also the time when I have not been able to wrap banh chung on Tet, and have not been able to go with everyone to wish Tet," Ms. Tuat said.
Having not wrapped banh chung for a long time, at first, Ms. Tuat was a bit clumsy, then gradually got used to it. The square, beautifully blue banh chung packages gradually took shape under her hands.
Ms. Tuat is one of the workers who were allowed to fly on a trade union flight organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, taking workers back to their hometowns for Tet. She was "attached" with her youngest child; one child traveled by passenger car with her uncle back to their hometown; and her husband and eldest child celebrated Tet in Tay Ninh.
I really want my whole family to celebrate Tet in my hometown of Ninh Binh this year, but due to difficult economic conditions, my husband and eldest son have to stay in Tay Ninh to celebrate Tet; my three children and I celebrate Tet in Ninh Binh," Ms. Tuat shared.
Ms. Tuat's husband works as a freelancer, with unstable income. Her salary has to cover daily living expenses and raise 3 children to study. For many years, she has not dared to return to her hometown for Tet because of high ticket prices and many other expenses. According to her calculations, just the fare for a passenger car, 2 ways back and forth for the whole family must be up to 20 million VND, not including other expenses.
This year, she planned to continue not to return to her hometown, but when she was supported by the Trade Union organization with air tickets, she changed her mind.
Every year I am away from home, but my whole family celebrates Tet together; this year I will meet my parents, siblings, but I will not celebrate Tet with my husband and children," Ms. Tuat said sadly.
The female worker hopes that in the near future, the Trade Union Flight program will continue to be implemented and hopes that one year later, all members of her family will be supported with bus tickets to celebrate Tet together in the North.
Ms. Dao Thi Thinh's family (worker of TKG Taekwang Vina Joint Stock Company, Dong Nai province) will also be "divided in half" this Lunar New Year. Thanks to the trade union flight, she and her youngest child can return to their hometown in Hung Yen to celebrate Tet with their mother; while her husband, mother-in-law and eldest child celebrate Tet in the South.
Ms. Thinh said that her and her husband's income is only enough to cover living expenses and raise two children to study. If buying air tickets for her husband and children will be very expensive, she wants to use that money to raise her children to study. Moreover, this year, her mother-in-law from Hai Duong came to visit and celebrate Tet in Dong Nai.
The eldest son also wanted to go home for Tet with his mother, but in the end, the person who went home with her was her youngest son. The youngest child is 15 years old this year, but has only returned to his maternal hometown once when he was only 1 year old. She wants to take her back so that she can meet her grandmother and connect with her roots.
Being able to celebrate Tet after 27 years away from home, Ms. Thinh is very happy, but she hopes that one day, the whole family of 4 members will celebrate Tet together at her husband's house in Hai Duong and her wife's house in Hung Yen.
I hope the Trade Union Flight program will continue to be implemented in the coming years, contributing to helping workers' families far from home like us have the opportunity to celebrate Tet together in our hometowns," Ms. Thinh shared.
