“I’ve determined to remain in Hanoi to work this Lunar New Yr as an alternative of going residence,” mentioned Hoang Tung, 24, from the northern province of Nam Dinh. Tet (Lunar New Yr),Vietnam’s greatest and most essential pageant, will final from Feb. 8 to 14, 2024. The standard pageant will peak on Feb. 10.
Tung talked about that he had obtained his college diploma two years in the past however has not but discovered a job, so he’s at the moment working as a ride-hailing driver. Each time he goes residence for Tet, he feels weak to questions from relations about his job and revenue, and comparisons with extra profitable members of the family. Due to this fact, he has regularly developed a dislike for celebrating Tet in his hometown and prefers to remain within the metropolis to work, seeing it as his solely choice for a cushty vacation.
One other motivation for Tung staying in Hanoi for Tet is funds.
“Going residence means spending a lot of money on presents for relations and choices,” he mentioned, including that working in Hanoi throughout Tet can earn him two to 3 instances his regular wage, as much as VND15 million (US$616) in only one week.
“My household suggests going residence, however I select work over household reunions for a happier and extra comfy vacation.”
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The pattern of Vietnamese youth selecting to not return to their hometowns for Tet is turning into more and more frequent. Illustration picture by Freepik |
Statistics from the Ho Chi Minh Metropolis Division of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs present that through the 2022 Tet Lunar New Yr vacation, 1 million staff selected to remain within the metropolis. These included 420,000 industrial park staff, a 30% improve from 2021.
Southeastern Binh Duong province’s labor union knowledge for Tet 2023 additionally recorded over 450,000 staff staying at their workplaces, practically double the determine of 250,000 in 2021.
Dr. Nguyen Duc Loc, head of the Social Life Analysis Institute, believes the pattern of younger individuals avoiding returning to their hometowns for Tet has turn into frequent during the last 5 years, primarily as a result of financial pressures ensuing from the gloomy huge image and concern of household expectations.
Sharing Tung’s sentiments, Thuy Hien, a 27-year-old workplace employee in Hanoi, has chosen to keep away from Tet for the final two years, partly as a result of she feels the cash saved from a 12 months’s work isn’t sufficient for a Tet homecoming.
“I labored onerous final 12 months and saved about VND40 million,” she mentioned. “However spending on snacks, meals, peach blossoms, garments, home decorations, and giving fortunate cash throughout journeys to my hometown for Tet could rapidly deplete this quantity, leaving nothing for financial savings.”
Furthermore, Hien is bored with repetitive questions from relations about her “love life, job, and wage,” which makes her exhausted, she mentioned.
Due to that, regardless of understanding she’s going to face criticism from relations, Hien accepts it in an effort to be within the capital all through Tet for a extra relaxed vacation. Along with her mother and father’ help, she has deliberate a solo journey throughout this 12 months’s vacation to each unwind after a tough 12 months and get monetary savings for future wants.
Tourism statistics present that touring throughout Tet is turning into more and more well-liked in Vietnam. The Ministry of Transport of Vietnam recorded 9 million home vacationers throughout Tet 2023, practically a 50% improve from 2022.
Nguyen Minh Man, advertising and marketing director of journey firm TST Vacationer, famous that Tet tour bookings are rising sharply, with vacationers preferring all-inclusive packages to distant locations.
Whereas this pattern appears to profit some younger individuals, Loc warns of its downsides, such because the erosion of conventional customs.
Based on the skilled, Tet reunions usually are not solely an event for celebrations but additionally essential for passing down cultural information and collective reminiscences to future generations.
“If younger individuals select to remain in cities for Tet not due to stress however to reside in another way from conventional customs,” he mentioned, “will probably be a regarding social phenomenon associated to the disruption of custom and the discontinuation of passing down conventional tales, an idea that sociologists have identified.”
Due to this fact, he suggests that every household, group, and area wants extra appropriate cultural practices in order that younger individuals really feel the Lunar New Yr reunion is extra of a pleasure than a burden of stress, facilitating the continuation and transmission of cultural information and collective reminiscence in every place.
In any other case, younger individuals will proceed to expertise what Tung and Hien did.
“If I say I don’t have a boyfriend, they are saying I’m not competent,” Hien mentioned. “If I say I’ve one, they proceed to ask what his title is, the place he lives, what his job is, how previous he’s, and so forth.”
“Each household gathering throughout Tet appears like an disagreeable interrogation.”