On January 4, Quoc Minh (25 years old, from Dong Thap province), a customer service employee in Ho Chi Minh City, was still glued to his computer screen, his hand never leaving his desk phone.
Every 2 minutes, Minh receives a complaint call from a customer. The phone rings continuously, all the pressure is on the 25-year-old man, making him unable to rest for a second.
Many young people choose to work on Tet holiday to receive high salaries and bonuses (Illustration: Van Hien).
"If you can't solve it, don't blame me!", the customer on the other end of the line threatened. Such tense calls made Minh even more tired.
After 3 years working in Ho Chi Minh City, this is the first time Minh has not returned home for Tet. The reason is that the company announced that it will pay 3 times the normal salary for employees who agree to work on holidays.
"In previous years, in order for my family to have a full Tet holiday, I had to spend 10 million VND of my savings on shopping and giving lucky money to my family. Usually, after Tet, the money runs out, and I have to save it all up again. This year, because I wanted to have some extra money, I chose to stay in the city, both to save money and earn more money, and promised my family I would come back next year," Minh explained.
During Tet, after work, the young man felt sad when he saw the crowded streets, busy preparing for Tet and reuniting with his family. Looking back at himself, Minh felt even sadder when he didn't even have the mood to buy himself a new shirt.
"When my grandmother called home to tell me that I wouldn't be returning home for Tet, she cried a lot. I felt very sad and my heart ached, but what can I do? Life is still difficult," Minh said.
As a customer service employee, Minh has to work 9 hours a day and earns 9 million VND a month. The young man confessed that the money he earns is only enough for him to pay for his rent and daily expenses.
To have enough money to live on, give money to his parents, and have some extra money, Minh agreed to be away from home this Tet holiday.
"I miss home so much, but I will try to come back next year to reunite with my family. This year I had to miss it to make ends meet. Hopefully in the new year, I will find another job with a better salary, so I can take care of my family and not have to be so far away from home," the young man said.
Not only Quoc Minh, Van Thanh (23 years old, from Dong Nai province), a kitchen staff, also has 3 years of "seniority" working during Tet.
Lam said that at first he was not used to this, he always felt homesick and sad. Gradually, he realized that working during Tet not only brought him 3 times more income than usual, but the atmosphere during these days also made him feel more excited.
Van Thanh believes that working during Tet can help him increase his income and is an experience that helps him mature (Photo: NVCC).
"During Tet, the restaurant is very crowded with customers, serving is harder but I feel very happy. Because it is a holiday, customers are usually happier and more easy-going than usual," Thanh said.
Working in the service industry, the 23-year-old man has to work 9-12 hours a day. Sometimes, Thanh does not return home until late at night. However, the young man does not feel sorry for himself because he receives a high income and feels more mature after memorable experiences.
"Although I can't reunite with my family during Tet, I will take advantage of the time after Tet to visit my parents. Thanks to my family's constant encouragement, I have become stronger and dare to sacrifice for greater goals," Thanh said.
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