Ms. Den Thi Tieu Van (born in 1994) is a worker at Vietnam Green Environment Joint Stock Company (Tay Ninh province).
More than 10 years ago, due to difficulty finding a job in her hometown, according to the advice of a friend, she went to Tay Ninh to apply for a job. Having a job, life gradually stabilized. Although she had not bought a house, her and her husband's income was enough to cover living expenses and raise 2 children.
Due to high travel costs, during the long period away from home, she could only return to her hometown for Tet about 3 times. “My family currently has 4 members. If the whole family goes home by plane, according to my calculations, the ticket price alone is about more than 20 million VND. This is the same amount as the total monthly income of both husband and wife,” Ms. Van recounted.
Therefore, Ms. Van plans not to return to her hometown for Tet this year. But after hearing trade union officials at the company say that there is a program of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to support air tickets for the departure, she registered and was one of the people who received free air tickets.
Knowing the information about being supported with tickets, I am very happy. My youngest child and I will fly; and my husband and eldest child will go back by train later," Ms. Van said.
The female worker plans to hunt for cheap air tickets when going to the South, otherwise she will book train tickets to save costs. According to Ms. Van's calculations, being given a plane ticket, she saved about 7 million VND.
Air ticket support is a very meaningful program for workers, creating conditions for those who have not returned to their hometowns for many years to celebrate Tet with their loved ones. I hope the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor will continue to implement this program for many years to come," Ms. Van expressed.
Mr. Bui Dinh Hieu - a worker at Ching Luh Vietnam Footwear Co., Ltd. (Tay Ninh province) is also one of the cases who received free air tickets. Like Ms. Van, Mr. Hieu has worked at the company for 10 years, only occasionally returning once.
My family has 4 people, but I only dare to go home to 1 or 3 people, not to the whole family because it is too expensive," Mr. Hieu said. Mr. Hieu plans to hunt for cheap tickets on the 2nd and 3rd days of Tet to return to the South to work, but has not yet succeeded.
According to Mr. Hieu, if the whole family of 4 members returns to their hometown for Tet, the airfare alone must be more than 20 million VND, not including other expenses. Meanwhile, the income of both husband and wife is only enough to cover living expenses, part of which is sent back to support their elderly parents in their hometown.
The program of giving free air tickets to union members is very meaningful, supporting a part of the costs of workers at the end of the year, increasing the trust and attachment of union members and workers to the trade union organization," Mr. Hieu shared.
Ms. Van and Mr. Hieu are 2 of the union members who received free air tickets to return home for Tet in the "Trade Union Flight - Spring 2026" program organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
According to the plan, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor allocates 500 one-way air tickets and 500 gifts worth 300,000 VND/gift (in cash) to the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation, Dong Nai Labor Federation and Tay Ninh Provincial Labor Federation to support union members and workers returning home for Tet. Each union member and worker supported may be accompanied by a relative (wife/husband, father, mother or child).
Flights within the framework of "Trade Union Flight - Spring 2026" are organized from February 12 to 16, 2026 (ie from December 25 to 29 of the At Ty year). The starting point is Tan Son Nhat airport (Ho Chi Minh City), the destinations include Noi Bai airport (Hanoi), Vinh airport (Nghe An) and Phu Bai airport (Hue City).
