After 27 years, returning to his hometown for Tet with his elderly mother for the first time thanks to "trade union flight

First time flying home for Tet

Although today (February 12), the "Trade Union Flight" organized by the VGCL just took workers working in southern provinces and cities to their hometowns in the Central and Northern regions to celebrate Tet, but in recent days, many workers who were given air tickets by the VGCL have been eagerly waiting for the moment to board the plane to return to their hometowns to reunite with their loved ones during Tet.

Ms. Bui Thi Hop, a worker at Dat Viet Co., Ltd. (HCMC), said that since 2001 she left Ha Tinh to go to the South to work, earning about 9 million VND/month, while her husband works as a security guard with a low salary. The family of 4 lives in a small rented room, spending nearly 4 million VND per month on rent, electricity and water. Due to economic hardship and illness, for the past 4 years she has not been able to return to her hometown for Tet, even though her father has a serious illness. She herself has just had her her herniated disc surgery. When she heard the news that her father had esophageal cancer, she could only cry silently because she could not return home to visit. Fortunately, the union supported air tickets for Tet, her wish to reunite with her family has now come true.

Ms. Pham Thi Thu Dung - from Hung Yen (formerly Thai Binh) - said that since 2019, when she came to Ho Chi Minh City to work at Tenamyd Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, she and her husband still have to rent a room and have not been able to return to their hometown for Tet for many years. The family in their hometown is farming, income is precarious; last year her father had a work accident and is being treated. Thanks to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor supporting air tickets, her husband and she have the opportunity to reunite with their family during Tet, which she calls a great comfort to her parents.

Thanks to the trade union, I can celebrate Tet with my mother after 27 years

Ms. Dao Thi Thinh (from Hung Yen province) went to Dong Nai province to work as a worker at TKG Taekwang Vina Joint Stock Company (Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park, Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province) from 1999. For 27 years, Ms. Thinh has never been able to return to her hometown to celebrate Tet with her family, the reason is also due to difficult circumstances.

In a small, quite modest house in Long Hung ward, Dong Nai province, Ms. Thinh recounted: Her husband is working as a security guard for a company but the job is very precarious, with low income. She has 2 children, one child is in his 3rd year at a university in Ho Chi Minh City and has to work part-time after school to help his parents, one child is 16 years old this year. Her mother-in-law is 81 years old this year, currently living with her and her husband.

Ms. Thinh said that her biological mother currently lives in Hung Yen province and is old and weak, so she really wants to visit her family and celebrate Tet with her mother. Fortunately, she was given a plane ticket by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to return to her hometown to celebrate Tet with her son, so she is very happy and happy.

I am really very grateful to the Vietnam Trade Union organization. Thanks to the trade union, I am able to celebrate Tet with my mother after 27 years," Ms. Thinh shared.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Dai (working at PaiHong Vietnam Co., Ltd., Bau Bang commune, Ho Chi Minh City) is one of the workers who was given air tickets to return to her hometown in Hue city. Also because of difficult circumstances, Ms. Dai has not celebrated Tet with her family for many years.

I thank the VGCL for caring about workers far from home, giving us air tickets to return to our hometowns to celebrate Tet and reunite with our families. I am very happy and excited to wait for the boarding time," Ms. Dai said.

And Mr. Bui Van Duong (Essential Home Furniture Co., Ltd., Long Nguyen ward, Ho Chi Minh City) said that it has been 3 years since his family had the conditions to return to their hometown for Tet because of expensive travel costs.

I am very surprised and happy to receive a plane ticket from the union, creating conditions for my family to return to my hometown to reunite with the extended family for Tet. I am very grateful to the union," Mr. Duong confided.