* I'm...
Lan, 34 years old, a worker at Bac Thang Long Industrial Park (Hanoi) used to have years of running around every time Tet was near. She is the eldest daughter-in-law, so giving gifts to both sides of her family used to be a "nightmare" for Lan. "During the days before Tet, my company often works overtime to make up for the Tet holidays to meet orders with partners. Therefore, there is no time to shop while the responsibilities of being a daughter-in-law still have to be fulfilled. But this year is different, I have found a way to "go to the Tet market" without having to rush back and forth" - Lan said.
The way of "going to the Tet market" that Lan described is actually the story of "Online Trade Union Tet Market" - a program organized by the General Confederation of Labor with the participation of units, organizations and enterprises. Trade union members and employees of the Vietnam Trade Union system will all be able to shop on chotet.congdoan.vn. In particular, there will be 200 trade union members with outstanding achievements in labor and production, actively participating in trade union activities; trade union members who are still in difficulty and have low income will receive support of 500,000 VND through the program's vouchers.
Following Lan's instructions, I tried to access the website chotet.congdoan.vn and was surprised, because this is not simply a "market" but a supermarket with full sets of Tet gifts, time, household items, beauty products and even agricultural products. In total, there are nearly 2000 items for workers to choose from. What is special is that the items here are all deeply discounted, some items are discounted up to 70%. The way to buy is also very simple, just 3 steps: Access chotet.congdoan.vn, select the product you want to buy, enter your phone number and click to order.
I think that the idea of an online "Union Tet Market" is really practical for workers, especially those who are far from home like Lan, to both get a job and shop for Tet and Tet gifts for their families to ensure joy for a happy Tet.
And even in terms of transportation, the 4.0 technology era also helps people not have to go back and forth to deliver Tet gifts to their relatives. There is a system of economical and fast delivery. Just through an application, Tet gifts will be delivered to the right place.
But then, will Tet become less popular? I read somewhere that Tet Nguyen Dan is one of the biggest holidays in Vietnam. Tet always carries with it extremely meaningful and humane values because of the moments of reunion, gathering and connection. Traditional Tet has become a sacred belief in the spiritual life of every Vietnamese person. However, in recent years, Tet is changing because of the appearance of technology.
It can be said that we have been living in a new decade of technology, of smart devices, of artificial intelligence and unlimited creativity and innovation. Since the digital technology reform took place, people's lives have changed a lot. The most obvious manifestation is that if in the old Tet, the markets held at the end of each year would bring us a bustling and vivid Tet atmosphere, now everything is available on online shopping sites.
We will no longer have to go to great lengths to find them, but just stay at home and order them with a simple click of the mouse. If in the past, due to the distance, people had to send New Year greeting cards bought at grocery stores, now, with technology, and especially the participation of artificial intelligence (AI), people can design their own New Year greeting cards with a strong personal touch. If in the past, before Tet, people carefully prepared bright red envelopes to give to the elderly and lucky money to children, now that many online payment applications have appeared...
Of course there are still people who remember the old Tet, but with the age of science and technology, human life must change to adapt and be suitable.
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When I was working in Nghe An, I met Thanh - a native Hanoian who followed the call of love to start a career in Vinh. Thanh is an only child, lives in the suburbs, his family has a rule that Tet is a time for reunion. This year, I texted Thanh and he replied: "This year, my wife and children will celebrate Tet in Vinh, not go back, my grandparents happily agreed". Thanh explained: "My parents' generation had to go home every Tet, considering it a day of reunion after many years apart. But now with technology, there is no more separation, every day parents talk to their children, grandparents talk to their grandchildren through video calls. On New Year's Eve this year, I will also "livestream" for the whole family to see each other, welcome the moment of transition, that's also fun, bro".
So, Tet Sum vay now is not simply a matter of having to travel from far away, sometimes thousands of kilometers to get home. Technology has developed, with many forms of Zalo, Messenger, Livestream, Viber..., no matter where you are, you can connect. People can see each other, join in the atmosphere of preparing for Tet, sometimes enjoy the taste of Tet "from afar". This has helped shorten the distance and fill the longing.
However, this does not mean that the need to meet during Tet and Spring has decreased. Trade Unions and businesses continue to accompany workers, especially those in difficulty, with free buses, trains, and flights. It is the responsibility of the organization to bring workers home and welcome them back to work after Tet.
After all, the advent of technology applications has made human life more convenient. Geographical distances are shortened, social communication becomes easier than ever. Human needs are increasingly supported by technology. It is very difficult for us to stand outside and cannot stop the wheel of technology from turning. The important thing is the attitude, the way each person receives and behaves will determine the value of our life.
Technology 4.0 can help us easily buy and have many things. However, human values, sharing, love, culture, personal experiences, cannot always be bought or replaced by technology. That is the indigenous culture that needs to be preserved against the encroachment of globalization, international integration, and de-territorialization. No one else, each of us needs to determine what are the true values that can nourish the soul and preserve national traditions. Technology does not destroy the taste of Tet, it only changes the consciousness and form of celebrating Tet...
With the efforts of the Party, the State, social organizations including the Trade Union and enterprises, workers everywhere are preparing to welcome a new Spring, a Spring that is both warm and affectionate but also a Spring in which technology is showing its values so that everyone feels closer together, with a complete Tet Sum Vay.
