The Lunar New Year (Tet) is not only the transition period between the old year and the new one but also contains many spiritual and cultural meanings to Vietnamese people. It is also an opportunity for family reunion. As Tet approaches, Vietnamese people, no matter where they are or what they do, all look forward to returning home.
Tet is also an opportunity for people to look back at themselves, and then look at people around them, which inspires them to do something for people who are more disadvantaged and less fortunate. With that spirit, almost every locality, industry, and sector is implementing programmes to provide material and spiritual support for disadvantaged people in society, so that everyone can have a happy Tet.
For Vietnamese people, the Lunar New Year is not only a traditional cultural feature but also an opportunity to promote the nation’s spirit of solidarity and sharing.
Thanks to programmes such as “Tet Reunion – Spring Sharing” or “Tet not far from home”, workers with difficult circumstances, suffering from work accidents, occupational diseases, serious illnesses or having working time reduced are supported by trade union at all levels. Meanwhile, social policy beneficiary families and poor households receive support from the labour, war invalids and social affairs sector.
Organisations, agencies and companies are offering free plane, train or bus tickets for workers and students who are living or studying in big cities but unable to afford a trip to return home for the Tet celebration. People living and working in remote areas, border areas, islands, and disadvantaged areas will also receive free rides and Tet gifts. Organisations, unions, businesses and people join together to support disadvantaged people.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2024, the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels coordinated with agencies to give gifts worth 17.7 billion VND (USD) to poor families in remote border areas, islands, ethnic minority areas, and people who are affected by natural disasters, pandemics or workers who have lost their jobs.
On January 21, the Hanoi Labour Confederation and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) organised the “Tet Reunion – Spring Sharing” and “Tet Trade Union Market” in 2024, bringing a warm atmosphere of Tet to tens of thousands of trade union members and workers in the capital city.
Chairman of the Hanoi Labour Confederation Pham Quang Thanh said such events have been held annually for the last ten years, helping trade union members and workers with difficult circumstances to get opportunities to return home for the Tet celebration.
Under the Tet reunion programme, in the last ten years, the city’s labour confederation has given beneficiaries 14,500 gift packages worth more than 18.85 billion VND (766,000 USD), and 12,500 bus tickets worth more than 8.2 billion VND. It also built and repaired 529 houses worth more than 8.91 billion VND plus more than 3.1 billion VND in total given to winners in lucky draw events.
The confederation also organised delegations with the participation of representatives from central and local agencies to visit and give Tet gifts worth more than 5 billion VND to 4,200 trade union members and workers.
This year, Ho Chi Minh City plans to spend over 915 billion VND from its budget to support social policy beneficiaries, retired officials, elderly people in difficult circumstances, and disadvantaged children.
In addition, the city’s Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs plans to support 21,422 poor households with a sum of 1,250,000 VND each. Every near-poor household in the city will receive 1 million VND. Thousands of gifts and train/bus tickets will be offered to workers, students, and children who are treated at hospitals.
With the joint efforts, it is expected that no one will be left behind and everyone will have a happy Tet.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has also asked ministries, agencies and localities to support and ensure social welfare for people and workers during the Lunar New Year 2024.
He said that the Party, State and Government have been paying attention and asked for practical actions to ensure social welfare and a joyful, healthy, safe and happy Lunar New Year 2024 for people and workers.
People are excited to welcome the Lunar New Year – the Year of Dragon. Tet is a time for sharing. Happiness is the only thing that multiplies when shared. The Vietnamese tradition of sharing, particularly during the Tet festival should be preserved and promoted further so that everyone will have a happy Tet, which paves the way to a new year of joy, peace and prosperity./.
