Tet - "money-making season" for service workers
Near Tet, the demand for eating, playing, organizing events, year-end parties, and early year parties increases sharply, leading to a large demand for service personnel, kitchens, receptionists, sound and lighting techniques, logistics... Many service businesses are willing to pay salaries 2-3 times higher than normal days, even with hot bonuses per shift or event.
Mr. Tran Trung Anh - a waiter at a restaurant in Yen Hoa ward (Hanoi) - said that he has registered to work throughout Tet for the third consecutive year.
In the months of the year, my income is about 9 million VND/month, but working for Tet can increase by one and a half times, even double. Staying in Hanoi for 3 years working for Tet, each Tet season I have an income equal to a whole month of normal work," Mr. Trung Anh shared.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, an employee of a home kitchen brand in Phu Thuong ward (Hanoi), working overtime during Tet, workers not only receive remuneration and bonuses much higher than usual days, but 100% of homeowners also order parties and lucky money for the serving group.
For many years, our Tet part-time group has agreed to put all the lucky money and lucky money from the homeowner into a common group, then divide it equally among the staff in all departments. Thus, everyone has more money, everyone is happy. This is also a motivation for me and many colleagues to register to work throughout Tet," Ms. Ngoc shared.
Not only general laborers, many skilled workers in the event service industry also choose to work throughout Tet. Mr. Trinh Duc Tung - sound and lighting technician said that each working day during Tet can receive 1.2-1.5 million VND, not including food and accommodation allowances. "The work is hard, working many nights, but in return, the income is enough to cover debts and living expenses at the beginning of the year," Mr. Tung said.
Compensating for a year of precarious income
Ms. Hoang Thi Mai Chi - a part-time worker at an event center - said that the decision to work throughout Tet is not entirely due to "craving for money" but stems from the pressure of making a living. In 2025, the labor market is still facing many difficulties, many service industries are recovering slowly, working hours are reduced, and income is unstable. For workers hired in shifts, in hours, in peak months there is almost no savings.
Ms. Chi said that part-time workers only rely on peak periods such as the end of the year, holidays, Tet. "If you take Tet holiday, it's like missing the biggest opportunity to make money. Working Tet is hard, but in return there is money to worry about spending at the beginning of the year, sending home for the family," Ms. Chi shared.
In fact, for many migrant workers, the cost of returning home for Tet is increasing, while income does not increase correspondingly. Staying in the city to work, both saves travel costs and has additional income, becoming a practical choice. However, increased income during Tet also comes with no small trade-offs. First of all, not being able to reunite with family, especially for workers far from home. Many people accept celebrating Tet "happily", taking advantage of a few hours of rest between long shifts.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong - former Director of the Institute of Labor Science and Social Affairs - said that workers who stay to work overtime during Tet, besides high income, face many difficulties and risks.
“The working intensity during Tet is usually much higher than usual days. Restaurants are crowded with customers, events take place continuously, working hours last until late at night, even overnight... Work pressure, physical and mental fatigue are inevitable. More worryingly, most service workers work throughout Tet in a seasonal form, verbally agreed, without labor contracts, without insurance. When labor accidents, wage disputes or sudden shift cuts occur, workers are often in a weak position,” Ms. Lan Huong emphasized.
