After the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, Ms. Vu Thi Hue (from Phu Tho province) returned to the factory in Tra Noc Industrial Park, Can Tho City to continue working. Through a phone call, she expressed to us: "I have been much more excited these days. I called to report to reporters that I told myself I would focus on working hard, and next year I will definitely return to my hometown to visit my parents.
The confidences more or less made us feel warmer and more reassured. Because in the process of working, putting ourselves in her situation, we could not help but choke up.
Like every year, during the Lunar New Year holiday, our reporters often meet expatriate workers to listen to their stories. Ms. Ut - Owner of Huyen Tram boarding house (Phuoc Thoi ward) led us to meet Ms. Hue (a female worker who has not returned to her hometown to visit her family for 9 years) right at the time she was making handmade apricot blossom branches to welcome Tet.
At first, Ms. Hue was somewhat hesitant because she was not used to it, but when she understood our sincerity, she nodded and proposed: "My story is not happy, I am afraid that telling it right away during Tet will affect everyone. Wait until everything calms down, can we write about it?
While sitting at work, Ms. Hue slowly opened her heart: "Left my hometown at the age of 18 to go to the South, I followed to work at many companies, from Tien Giang, now Dong Thap, to Can Tho, then got married and had children. But the marriage was not as complete as expected, my husband and I had no common ground. After irreconcilable rifts, my husband and I decided to stop in civilization, together nurturing and caring for the future of our children".
Since moving out to live alone, Ms. Hue has become more withdrawn. On weekdays as well as holidays, she goes to work and then comes home to cook, rest, rarely interacts with friends and it seems that she herself does not want to "take another step".
Since when, the walls have become places to listen to all the feelings and sorrows of a woman nearly 40 years old. Then, time passed silently, and Ms. Hue could not confide in her parents.
I became shy like that and then fell into a state of deadlock, even severe stress because of worries, because of food and clothing" - Ms. Hue added.
When we asked about what was most worrying to her at this time, Ms. Hue suddenly became silent for about 10 seconds and then looked into the distance: "I am the youngest daughter, so my parents are old. When my parents are sick, I feel very sorry, but I only know how to ask and confide, and cannot tell everything from the bottom of my heart.
From a certain perspective, we understand her feelings, because as children, no one wants to let their parents feel burdened when they are wandering in a foreign land. However, if this situation continues, silence will gradually create a scary gap. It is not only the geographical distance between Phu Tho and Can Tho, but also the distance between two motherly hearts.
When she heard us talk about the above, Ms. Hue's eyes suddenly became somewhat full: "Today talking to a Lao Dong reporter, I think I have relieved some of my feelings. When my heart is relieved, I feel the Tet season passes peacefully.
At the end of the conversation, we invited her to eat, but she refused, partly because she was shy, partly because she wanted to prepare some delicious dishes herself to welcome her children down to rent a room to eat with her.
I gradually realized that I am not as lonely as I thought. Around me are also children and parents, relatives, although they cannot comfort me as I want, they are really always by my side when I need them" - Ms. Hue smiled and added.
