15 years away from her hometown in Thai Nguyen to work as a worker in Hanoi were also the time when Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh (character's name has been changed) rented a room. Previously, when she was single, she rented a room alone in Bau village, Kim Chung commune (now Thien Phuc commune, Hanoi). After getting married, she and her husband rented a more spacious room.
After many changes of residence, she is currently renting a room in Nhue village, Thien Loc commune. After giving birth, she quit her job at the company and is currently unemployed. All household expenses depend on her husband's income (about 12 million VND/month). Her eldest son was sent to his hometown to be cared for by his grandparents, to save costs and make it more convenient for his child's education.
Ms. Minh said that after many years of living far from home, the amount of money the couple saved was insignificant.
Our income is only enough to cover our living expenses away from home and save a part. With the current high housing prices, owning a place to live in Hanoi is just an unattainable dream, said Ms. Minh.
Ms. Minh added that she and her husband plan to continue renting a house for many years to come.
"We plan to rent a house. In a few years, when I am old, I will return to my hometown," said Ms. Minh.
According to Ms. Minh, in her hometown, she and her husband had a piece of land given by her grandparents. They will try to work for a few years to have some money to build a house later. In her hometown, with a couple of hundred million VND, she and her husband could build a spacious house. Ms. Minh shared that she still knows that when she returns to her hometown, she will face many difficulties in work (it is very difficult to find a new job when she is old) as well as her children's education, but this is the most feasible way.
Many workers have returned to their hometowns after a period away from home to make a living. Mr. Dong Trong Khanh (from Thanh Hoa) and his wife have been repatriated for more than 2 years. The couple has been working as workers in Thang Long Industrial Park (Hanoi) for more than 10 years. During this time, their lives are closely linked to humid rented rooms.
"I don't remember how many times I had to move a room, from single to married," said Mr. Khanh.
Mr. Khanh said that with the couple's low income while still having many things to cover, and their families on both sides not being supported, they cannot buy a house in Hanoi: "Therefore, during the work process, my husband and I spent savings to build a house in the countryside."
The two children were sent back to their hometowns to be taken care of by their grandparents and taken to school to save costs; while the couple rented a cheap room to save costs. 2 years ago, when the house in his hometown officially started construction on the land given by his parents, his wife returned to her hometown first to look after the construction; and he stayed for another year to earn more income.
When the house was inaugurated, Mr. Khanh also left his job in Hanoi to return to his hometown. He continued to apply to work as a worker in Thanh Hoa.
"Although the salary is lower because we start from the beginning, and the travel distance is many times longer than when we arrived in Hanoi, it is still better to return to the countryside, because we have our own house to live in, not have to rent, and be close to our wife and children, we can guarantee that our children will study and take better care of them," Mr. Khanh shared.
According to a survey by reporters, many worker couples consider their time as workers in Hanoi as a means of livelihood, and do not intend to stay long-term. They plan to work as workers for a while, then at the right time will return to their hometown and find another job. Despite many difficulties in finding new jobs, they already have a house and are no longer renting.
