Choosing to leave the city for the countryside: Getting rid of urban pressure but not too dreamy

Bạn trẻ rời phố về quê một phần để gần gũi gia đình và cuộc sống nhẹ nhàng hơn - Ảnh minh họa: Y.TRINH — Young people leave the city to return to the countryside partly to be closer to family and have a more peaceful life - Illustration: Y.TRINH

Get rid of the pressure of the city

On the trip full of belongings from his hometown Rach Gia, Kien Giang to Ho Chi Minh City nearly 3 years ago, Ngoc Thien brought with him the dream of a comfortable life. At first, he did many jobs to support himself, including working as a factory worker in District 7.

Then, fate brought the young man in his twenties to work for a lottery agent. The agent trusted him to manage the sales point on No Trang Long Street (Binh Thanh District).

He said: "At that time, my income was nearly 10 million VND/month. The owner also let me stay at the place I was selling, so I didn't have to pay rent." The job was stable and easy, but Thien suddenly quit. Everyone was surprised.

"I came back to help my family. I am the second oldest brother, I have three younger siblings, the youngest is only 1 year old, there is no one to take care of them," Thien said about his decision to "return home". In the beginning, he felt a bit regretful about his old job.

Leaving the city to return to the countryside, Thien is no longer as leisurely as he used to be as a lottery agent manager. He helps his parents sell vegetables at the market. Recently, he started working at a construction site near his home, earning 4-5 million VND/month.

Being diligent, Thien applied for a job as a waiter at a coffee shop in the evening, earning an extra 1-2 million VND/month.

"After leaving the construction site in the afternoon, I went straight to a coffee shop in the center of Rach Gia and worked until 10 pm. Adding up the two salaries, it still wasn't as good as the one in Saigon, but I was able to save a little to help my family and take care of my younger siblings," Thien confided.

Another thing that made Thien feel relieved when he left the city to return to the countryside was that the cost of living was lower. His mother cooked meals for him, and he didn't have to drink and eat expensive food like he did in the city.

"Coming back here is good because I'm close to my parents and siblings, so I'm happy. I'll slowly find a better job," Thien said optimistically.

Miss Saigon, but choose a stable life

Having returned to his hometown for several years now, Mr. Van Nhon (38 years old, owner of Nhon hair salon in Thuong Phuoc 1 commune, Hong Ngu district, Dong Thap) said that his life is now stable. More than ten years ago, he went to Ho Chi Minh City to learn hairdressing. Then he saved up to open a salon in Phu Nhuan district.

Everything was going well until the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. After two years of struggling, he had difficulty paying for the premises and other expenses.

Rời phố, anh Nhơn về mở salon tóc nơi quê nhà Hồng Ngự, Đồng Tháp - Ảnh: Y.TRINH — Leaving the city, Mr. Nhon returned to open a hair salon in his hometown Hong Ngu, Dong Thap - Photo: Y.TRINH

The city gives us many things. Staying there might give us more opportunities, but in the end he chose to return to his hometown. Having been in the city for quite a while, he said: "Life in Saigon has all the conditions. I'm used to living in Saigon, and I miss my hometown."

After returning to his hometown, after a while, in early 2023 he opened a hair salon near his house. He took the same name as when he was in Saigon.

Old land treats... old people. Where you live, you get used to it. He shared that in the countryside, the number of customers is also sparse. In return, the cost of the premises is cheaper. "I'm happy to be close to my family," he said.

For young people who intend to leave the city to return to the countryside, he advised: "If you don't have a job to return to the countryside, it will be very difficult, you won't know what to do. Not to mention, working in the countryside will not bring the same income as in the city...".

Therefore, if you want to return to your hometown to live, young people must think carefully, considering the advantages and disadvantages.

Prepare everything to leave the city

With the mindset of changing her living environment, Ms. My Thanh (31 years old, communications specialist) said she and her husband are preparing everything.

Four years ago, they bought a garden plot in the suburbs of Da Lat City and are gradually paying off the remaining loan.

Her current job in Ho Chi Minh City brings in nearly 20 million VND/month, but she confided: "I like a peaceful life, I like the cool air. Up there, I will be a half-time farmer, growing a few trees and vegetables."

Not at all dreamy, she said that if they went to the highlands, the couple would still have to ensure their finances. Money might not be as good as in the city, but they would be able to live well and save a little.

"My husband is doing business together outside, things are going well. I will take an online job, open an English class. We still have a small apartment, we will rent it out here."

Finding a job is difficult, so I left the city and returned to the countryside.

The economy is improving but the forecast is still difficult, so although not massive, there is a wave of workers choosing to leave the city to return to the countryside. The number of involuntary repatriations is increasing.

Source