Get back to work early
In the late afternoon of the 4th day of Tet, Mr. Truong Viet Thanh (Quang Trung ward, Thanh Hoa) returned to Hanoi after having a farewell meal with his family.
Mr. Thanh is currently the head of the waiter department of a Japanese restaurant system in Hoan Kiem ward (Hanoi). Mr. Thanh's Lunar New Year 2026 holiday starts on the 29th of Tet and ends on the 4th.
The restaurant system where I work operates throughout Tet. Last year I was on duty from the 30th of Tet to the 3rd, this year I took turns taking leave, so I started working from the 5th. Many people working in agencies and businesses are used to taking leave according to the State schedule, we provide services, so returning to work a few days early, even working throughout Tet, is very familiar," Mr. Thanh said.
Early in the morning of the 5th day of Tet, many companies in Phuong Liet ward industrial cluster (Hanoi) also started to return to work.
Mr. Trieu Dinh Nam (living in Thanh Liet commune, Hanoi) is 1 of 20 workers of Tuan Minh Production Co., Ltd. in the group who returned to work early from the 5th day of Tet.
Mr. Nam said that to keep up with orders, his company allows employees to proactively register for Tet work schedules. Employees working throughout Tet have special preferential treatment and benefits; the group that leaves late and returns to work early is also well treated.
“We registered our work schedules before the Tet holiday, so everyone proactively arranges personal work. The majority of workers and employees working throughout Tet are people living in Hanoi; people from far away provinces often stay on a common schedule. The company also creates conditions for workers to proactively register their work schedules, this has become a tradition,” Mr. Nam said.
Talking to Lao Dong reporters, a representative of the Hanoi Employment Service Center said that in the capital, in manufacturing enterprises, the rate of workers returning to work on the first day reached a high level, commonly from 90-95%. For businesses with stable orders, overtime schedules have been set before Tet, "starting work early" is almost a mandatory requirement to ensure production progress.
How do businesses "hold" workers?
Clearly aware of the risk of labor shortage after Tet and ensuring production and business progress, many businesses proactively implement measures to retain workers. In addition to lucky money at the beginning of the year, some units apply dedicated bonuses, support gasoline and car money, and arrange flexible work schedules in the first week so that workers can stabilize their health and psychology and return to work soon.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Tung - Director of Chi Anh Fine Arts Co., Ltd. (Thanh Xuan ward, Hanoi) said that for many years, his company employees have often registered for Tet holidays of about 4 days. Groups registering to work late, groups registering to return to work early always account for about 70% because the company's remuneration is very good.
On the morning of the 5th, my company returned to normal working hours. After a quick meeting with department heads, personnel quickly returned to normal, especially in the departments directly involved in production and business...", Mr. Tung shared.
Also according to Mr. Tung, understanding the psychology that employees all want to have a long Tet holiday with their loved ones and family, for many years, in addition to ensuring stable jobs, sufficient living income and a safe working environment, his company has also made efforts to increase welfare for employees. Employees who go to work during Tet or return to work early, all on the spirit of voluntary registration and this group has a total income about 4 times higher than the average daily income.
“For us, the atmosphere of the first working day of the year is therefore not only limited to lucky money envelopes or good luck wishes. We also announce a preliminary production and business situation and commit to improving the rights and welfare of workers in the new year. Through this, workers see the responsibility and companionship of the business, they will be determined to accompany us,” Mr. Tung affirmed.
