As a first -year student at the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda, Bui Hong Duyen (hometown in Hoa Binh) decided not to go home for a long day. Instead, I enlisted to serve a broken shift at a cafe on Tran Quoc Hoan street with a salary of 25,000 VND/hour.
"There are many restaurants on holidays, need more people. I work from 7am to 10pm, earning nearly 300,000 VND a day. Including holidays, if I work hard, I can save nearly 1.5 million, saving some of the living expenses to help my parents for nearly a month, Duyen shared.
Not only Duyen, many young people from the northern mountainous provinces such as Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Son La... also choose to stay in the city during the holidays instead of returning to their hometown.
The reason is mostly to save on travel costs and take advantage of extra work to help the family.
To Ngoc Mai (from Cao Loc district, Lang Son province), currently a communications employee of a media company in Hanoi, said: "The company only gives me 2 days off, so I stay in the city because I work on holidays and my salary is higher than normal days. On occasions like these, the company has its own bonus regime, so I want to take advantage of this to earn more to cover living expenses".
Mai shared that staying at the company for a holiday with her younger sister and 2 younger siblings, in the same situation away from home, took 3-4 hours to drive, so they both chose to stay in Hanoi.
In addition to economic momentum, many young people also see this as an opportunity to experience another Hanoi, more peaceful and deserted than usual.
"I walked around Hoan Kiem Lake, visiting relic sites that were previously only crowded with people. Hanoi has been sunny these past few days, no vehicles, and it feels relieved wherever I go, Mai said.
Not only to make money or relax, many young people also said they stayed to enjoy the solemn and sacred atmosphere during the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification - a special milestone in the history of the nation.
All central streets are decorated with brilliant flags and flowers, loudspeakers continuously broadcast revolutionary songs and news reports about the day the country "does not let the river run its course".
I felt very moved when I passed through many streets and saw a group of young people playing the national flag for free and singing the national anthem by Hoan Kiem Lake. Staying in Hanoi at this time, I feel like I am living in a heroic atmosphere that I rarely feel normally, Ngoc Mai added.
Although they miss home a little, most young people in mountainous areas clearly define their goals when choosing to stay. They not only seek opportunities to make money, but also learn to live independently, integrating with the urban lifestyle - an important baggage for the future journey.
On the occasion of the April 30 and May 1, 2025, cadres, civil servants and public employees will have 5 consecutive days off from Wednesday, April 30 to Sunday, May 4, by swapping working days from Friday, May 2 to Saturday, April 26.
This is the longest holiday of the year after Tet, creating conditions for workers to rest, travel or participate in activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.
For non-state employees, the holiday schedule may vary depending on the employer's decision. However, according to the provisions of the Labor Code, employees are entitled to at least 2 days off on holidays of April 30 and May 1.
