For this year’s April 30th and May 1st holidays, many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City have arranged for their employees to have a long holiday from April 27th to May 1st. However, instead of going back to their hometown to visit their families or going on vacation, many working-class families choose to stay in their rented rooms to save money.
Going around the crowded rental areas near Tan Tao Industrial Park (Binh Tan District), Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone (District 7), Linh Trung 1 and 2 Export Processing Zones…, it is easy to see many worker families choosing to gather together during the holiday, they eat at home instead of going out.
For this year’s April 30th and May 1st holidays, workers have 2 – 5 days off
Ms. Nguyen Thi My Le (from Thanh Hoa) rents a room in Binh Tan District, currently a worker at PouYuen Vietnam Company Limited, said that this year the business created conditions for employees to have a 4-day holiday. However, her family of 4 still decided to stay in their room to celebrate the holiday.
“Our income is still limited, while if we go back to our hometown, it will cost a lot of money, and going out during these days is expensive, so my family chooses to stay at home. On the other hand, after the holiday, my children will start their second semester exams, so I want to take advantage of this time for them to review their lessons” – Ms. Le said.
Holidays are a time for workers to rest and recharge
Mr. Nguyen Van Thai’s family (from Dak Lak), currently renting a room in District 7, also stayed home to celebrate the holiday. Mr. Thai is a freelance worker, recently, the work has not been stable, so his income is also unstable. His wife works at Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, the company only gives 2 days off. He hesitated to take his children to some sightseeing spots in the city, but he was worried about the hot weather, and the traffic jam, finally his family agreed to buy some delicious food to eat and rest at the boarding house.
“The weather is as hot as fire, thinking about having to crowd at the entertainment venues, it’s better to stay home. We will have more time to rest and recharge at the boarding house, and it is also more economical” – Mr. Thai said.
Workers’ families gather together during the holiday
Meanwhile, Mr. Bach Van Thanh (from Tra Vinh) is currently renting a room in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City, said that whether it is a 2 or 4-day holiday, the whole family will only stay at the boarding house. He said that not only his family, but also 2-3 other households, his brother and sister all came to Ho Chi Minh City to work as workers and live together in this boarding house. On the holidays of previous years, everyone would get together to go to the market to buy food and cook, this year it will be the same.
“Cooking and eating together at the boarding house is both fun and economical. Holidays are a time to rest and relieve stress after hard working days. Therefore, we want to spend this time to recharge our health and gather with our family” – Mr. Thanh said.
In recent years, the work has not been favorable, last year the business where Mr. Thanh and his wife worked laid off many workers, and he struggled until the beginning of 2024 to find a stable job. Life is already difficult, his family has to try to save more money because the children are all in school age, next year the eldest will go to university.
His family has never thought of going on vacation during holidays, Tet is only to go back to their hometown to save money. Therefore, he himself does not want the holiday to be too long, just maintaining the weekend so that the workers can rest and regain their energy.
Instead of crowding at the entertainment venues, workers choose to eat at home to save money
Talking about their plans for the holiday, most workers said they would rest in their rented rooms, take time to clean the house or organize cooking and have a party together…
