"Where is the train?", "Where is this?", "Mom, are we almost at grandma's house?",... these are the questions asked by workers' families on the train (train SE16) named "Union Train - Spring 2025" organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
The Spring Train takes workers in difficult circumstances home to celebrate Tet with their families.
They are workers from the Central provinces who come to Ho Chi Minh City to work, but with low salaries and the burden of daily life, for many years they have not had the opportunity to return home to celebrate Tet with their relatives.
"The last time I celebrated Tet with my parents was in 2018, also with free bus tickets given by the union. It's been more than 6 years now," Ms. Bui Thi Thuy (from Anh Son district, Nghe An) began her story with us.
This time, Ms. Thuy's family (5 people) left Ho Chi Minh City on train SE16 with free train tickets sponsored by the Vietnam Trade Union.
Ms. Thuy said: "I work at PouYuen Vietnam Company, and my husband is a freelancer. My monthly income is about 20 million VND, but having to raise 3 young children, combined with living expenses and rent, means there is no surplus each month. From then on, the desire to return home to celebrate Tet with my parents became more and more difficult.
Before that, my family also planned to continue staying in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate Tet this year, the promise "I'll come back next year" will not be fulfilled. But luckily, my family was sponsored by the Vietnam Trade Union to buy round-trip tickets. Really, our family is very happy. Knowing that we were coming back, from the moment we boarded the train, my parents and siblings in the countryside kept calling, asking how far we were, everyone was eager to see each other after many years apart."
Two rows away, the family of four, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong (from Anh Son district, Nghe An) said they just hope the train will go faster so they can get to their hometown soon to see their relatives.
Ms. Huong said that the last time she celebrated Tet with her parents was 4 years ago, when she returned home to give birth.
“We have been working away from home for many years, but we still have to rent a place to live. Our monthly income is only enough to cover our two children's education and daily expenses. If we are frugal, we can save 1-2 million VND in case our children get sick. We really want to go back to our hometown during Tet, but our family's financial situation does not allow it, so we have to accept it," Ms. Huong confided.
