Late in the afternoon, in a small coffee shop in the middle of Hanoi, Nguyen Anh (30 years old) - a communications employee - sat down to look at the laptop screen.
She said, sometimes feeling like a person outside the race: I used to think that when I was 30, I would have a small apartment, a family and a stable job. But now, I only have a savings account under 200 million VND and a vague fear that I am being left behind."
Nguyen Anh rented a room with a friend in Dong Da. The room is over 20 square meters, just enough to include a bed, a desk and a bookshelf.
She works in the field of communications - a profession that once made her passionate, but after 6 years, her excitement is gradually replaced by pressure. "My income is about 18 million VND per month. It sounds good, but after deducting housework and living expenses, I can't save almost anything. There is always a feeling of not stopping on the machine, doing a lot, spending a lot, and then doing it again".
My friends, some have children, some buy a house. Every time I browse social networks, I find myself inferior. But then I wondered: if I had a house and a car, would I be really happy?", Nguyen Anh said.
Last year, she decided to attend a small investment course. Not to get rich, but to better understand money. She shared: "I used to leave my money in the bank, thinking it was safe. But now I understand, not leaving money to work is also a way to lose it".
She started to spread her savings into small amounts, investing in fund certificates and skills courses. More importantly, she learned to stop comparing herself to others.
"The age of 30 makes me realize that there is no stable model. Each person has a different rhythm of life. I don't need to be like anyone else, just need to move forward," Nguyen Anh confided.
In a small house nestled on the hillside in Kim Boi commune (Hoa Binh), the sound of the keyboard rang out at noon.
Bui Thi Phuong Thao (30 years old) - a legal consultant - still regularly works and prepares legal documents for customers.
But unlike a few years ago, when she was busy between appointments, now, her office window opens into the field that had just been harvested, with a occasional stench amidst the cold winds of early winter.
I used to think that only in the city can there be a chance to develop. But at the age of 30, I realized that when I am mature, sometimes I have to choose a place that feels peaceful" - Phuong Thao said.
Graduating from Hanoi Law University, Phuong Thao used to work for a large law firm in the city center. With a stable income and a large network of customers, she is considered a model of a "successful woman".
However, after getting married, she chose to leave the city and return to her hometown with her husband - a civil servant working in the locality.
Many people say I am crazy, in the process of developing but have returned to my hometown. But I don't regret it. I used to think that my value lies in my monthly salary, in my company's business card. Now, I feel the greater value is living close to my family and having time for myself," she said.
Even though she left the city, Phuong Thao did not give up her expertise. With her existing knowledge and experience, she opened a small at- home legal consulting service, supporting local individuals and businesses in contract procedures, business registration and land file processing. Income is not as high as before, but stable and enough for a woman in her 30s to be financially independent.
In the countryside, the cost is much lower. I don't need to shop or eat out often like in Hanoi. Income decreased but pressure also decreased. The important thing is that I still do the job, still feel like I am contributing, just in a different way" - Phuong Thao said.
On her desk, the documents were arranged neatly.
Behind is a small kitchen corner, where she prepares lunch and talks over the phone with customers. That "re convenience" made her admit that she was living in two roles, but in two relieved roles.
Many people think that women returning to their hometown is accepting to stay at home and depend on their husbands. I am different, I chose to return to my hometown to be more free, not to take back myself" - Phuong Thao laughed.
