Near Tet, at the boarding house 217 TL16 (3B quarter, Thanh Loc ward, district 12), the atmosphere was bustling when the landlord announced that he would hold a year-end party and give gifts to all tenants.
Landlord Nguyen Thanh Tam said this is the 18th year his family has held a year-end party and given gifts to more than 400 tenants.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam (left) specifically announced the year-end party and gave gifts to Mr. Pham Viet Nghia, the tenant (Photo: Xuan Truong).
The year-end party is scheduled to be held on January 27 (17th of the 12th lunar month). Mr. Tam's family has made a list and ordered 31 tables of food to entertain guests in the boarding house.
Besides organizing the year-end party, Mr. Tam and his wife also prepared 165 gifts including cooking oil, candy, fish sauce, coffee... (each worth 400,000 VND) to give to each rented room.
The total cost of organizing the event was more than 150 million VND, Mr. Tam expressed, "it is nothing after a difficult year for workers and laborers who lost their jobs". The year-end party in the boarding house does not have great material value but is an opportunity for people in the same situation and living environment to reunite, gather, and share the pressure of a difficult year.
"If you play, play to the fullest! I don't think I do this to show off, but I feel responsible for my boarding house," Mr. Tam confided.
Mr. Tam went to each room to invite everyone to the year-end party (Photo: Xuan Truong).
Mr. Tam recounted his journey more than 30 years ago from his hometown in Binh Dinh to Ho Chi Minh City to start a business, working in many jobs, from being a worker, electrician, mechanic, factory manager... He also lived in dilapidated rented houses, with very limited living conditions, and understood the hardships of workers.
After a period of struggling and saving some money, in 2005 Mr. Tam's family built 40 rooms in this area. Later, the landlord borrowed more capital from the bank to expand the number to 165 rooms.
"I used to live in a rented house, so I understand the difficulties and hardships of people from the countryside who come to the city to live on others' hands... We have kept the room rent here low for many years," Mr. Tam explained.
The average price of the boarding house is 1.8 million VND/room/month. In total, the owner can earn nearly 300 million VND/month.
Mr. Tam's family raises chickens and grows vegetables to host a New Year's Eve party for their tenants (Photo: Xuan Truong).
Mr. Pham Viet Nghia (63 years old, from Binh Dinh) said that his family has been staying here for more than 17 years, is satisfied and has no intention of moving because of the understanding and sympathy of the landlord.
According to Mr. Nghia, during difficult times, landlords often reduce room rates and provide rice, food, etc. to tenants. Many people here consider the boarding house as their own home.
"For workers and laborers far from home, the care from the landlord somewhat eases the feelings of being far from home, helping us feel the atmosphere of Tet reunion. It is the affection from strangers but very close and sympathetic," Mr. Nghia confided.
The boarding house has 165 rooms and more than 400 people living there (Photo: Xuan Truong).
Having lived here for 18 years, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Chi (freelance worker) is impressed by the activities to care for workers and people in difficult circumstances in this community of workers from all over the country.
"Every year, the landlord organizes a year-end party and gives gifts to everyone. This year, the year-end party was held early, and most of us tenants have not returned to our hometowns yet, so almost everyone attended," Ms. Chi added.
On this occasion, the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Union also presented 100 gifts and benefactors also registered to present 20 gifts to people staying at the boarding house.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin, many landlords in Ho Chi Minh City also organized year-end parties and many other Tet activities for workers and poor laborers to encourage each person to overcome difficulties and welcome a peaceful and smoother new year.
Source
Comment (0)