According to the Da Nang City Statistics Office, February - coinciding with the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year - tourism and consumer service activities in the area are bustling. In February alone, the total number of visitors served at accommodation establishments is estimated at more than 1.2 million, an increase of 6.6% compared to the same period in 2025. Revenue from accommodation and dining services reached an impressive level of 4,530 billion VND, an increase of 14.7% compared to the previous year.
However, in February, despite high labor demand, only 137 people were employed through official connections. Meanwhile, the number of people who submitted applications and were resolved to receive unemployment benefits reached 1,969 cases, with a disbursed amount of more than 51 billion VND.
Ms. Tran Huyen, a native of Da Nang, has been attached to seasonal cleaning work for more than 5 years. Instead of joining a large hotel to have insurance, she chose to work freelance. During the peak days of Binh Ngo Tet, Ms. Huyen raced from one restaurant to another.
Last Tet, there were a lot of customers, I couldn't finish the work. But after Tet, if customers are absent, they immediately let me take a break. Working seasonally, it's real cash and rice, but sickness is self-sufficiency, no social insurance, no Tet bonuses at all. Whoever calls, I just do it," Ms. Huyen shared while cleaning at a beachfront eatery.
Not only older workers, but also part-time students are being caught up in the low-income spiral. Nguyen Hong Dieu, a 3rd year student in Da Nang, is working as a seasonal clothing salesperson with a salary of only 15,000 VND/hour.
In the context of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in February in Da Nang increasing by 3.93% compared to the same period last year, especially the food and food service group increasing sharply (up 5.31%), Dieu's salary became too low.
Each 5-hour shift, I only get 75,000 VND, not enough for a decent meal and gasoline money. I work to gain more experience and cover some tuition fees, but really with this salary, if there is no family support, I cannot survive in the city," Dieu confided.
This salary of 15,000 VND/hour is even much lower than the general level, but because they are seasonal workers, without contracts, Dieu and many other young people have no voice to demand their rights.
According to the Statistics Office, the labor use index of enterprises only increased slightly by 0.5% compared to the same period, while tourism revenue increased sharply. This proves that enterprises are maximizing seasonal and short-term labor to handle the huge workload during the recent Tet holiday.
