When the clusters of fireworks brightly lit up in the sky of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and many major cities closed, on the roads still smelling of firework smoke, amidst the garbage dump full of plastic bottles, nylon bags, paper scraps..., environmental sanitation workers quietly entered their shifts.
The sound of bamboo brooms sweeping on the road surface, the sound of garbage collection trucks regularly rolling in the late night.
They restore a clean appearance to the streets, so that on the morning of the 1st day of Tet, people step out into the streets with a fresh and neat feeling.
In crowded places watching fireworks, garbage is often piled up.
After only a few hours of fun, public space can turn into a "battlefield" of packaging and leftover food. The work of sanitation workers is therefore even more strenuous.
They have to work overnight, taking advantage of every hour to collect, sort, and transport in a timely manner, avoiding congestion and pollution.
Among those unsightly images, there are still bright spots worth cherishing.
Many young people stayed after the festival, proactively collecting trash, picking up each can of water, piece of paper and putting it in their bags. These small actions show that community awareness is gradually being raised.
When people understand that every piece of garbage they leave behind will become a burden for others, change will begin.
But even with more voluntary hands, the main task still belongs to the sanitation workers. The cleanliness of the city is the result of their sweat and perseverance.
A civilized city is not only measured by tall buildings or brilliant fireworks, but also by the way residents treat the common space.
Littering indiscriminately not only violates environmental sanitation regulations, but also shows disrespect for the community.
Each trash bag placed in the right place is a cultural act, each time bowing down to pick up trash is a way to show civic responsibility.
At the beginning of the year, when walking on a clean road, remember that there are people who have stayed up all night to preserve it.
Gratitude does not stop at words of thanks but must be transformed into specific actions. Do not litter, limit disposable plastic items, and remind relatives to do so together.
The city is clean and beautiful not thanks to the magic after New Year's Eve but thanks to the silent footsteps in the night and thanks to the awareness of each citizen.
If everyone changes from the smallest thing, the burden will be lighter on the shoulders of environmental workers.
And spring will be truly complete, not only because of the fireworks in the sky, but because of the civilized lifestyle underground.
