Instead of reuniting with family or traveling , many young people are using the Tet holiday to work.
Instead of viewing working during Tet (Lunar New Year) as a trade-off or a sacrifice of family reunions, many Gen Z believe it's a fun and enriching experience.
Cultivating independence
This year's Tet holiday marks the first time Huynh Minh Dat (24 years old, from Binh Dinh province) hasn't returned home, choosing instead to stay in Ho Chi Minh City. Several reasons led to this decision: travel costs during Tet are too high, while Dat wants to save money to pursue new knowledge and skills after the holiday. His regular job is as an MC, but from the 26th of the lunar month until the 6th day of Tet, Dat will be working part-time at a pho restaurant. Initially, his family objected, but after hearing his reasonable explanation, they became less worried and encouraged him.
Working at a pho restaurant, Dat is very satisfied with his choice because his salary during Tet (Lunar New Year) is many times higher than usual, and he also gets free meals. He hopes to save a considerable amount to send home to help his parents and prepare for his personal plans after Tet. The approaching Tet makes Dat feel a pang of nostalgia as he longs for the atmosphere of family reunions. However, Dat realizes this is a precious time to learn independence and prove his adaptability.
"Through serving customers during the Lunar New Year holidays, I'm sure I'll broaden my worldview , understand the hardships involved, and appreciate the fruits of labor even more," Dat asserted. He had thoroughly researched the employer to avoid risks and reminded himself not to overwork himself to the point of affecting his health.
Putting aside the microphone for now, this Tet holiday, Minh Dat will be working in a pho restaurant.
Enriching life experience
For Le Nghi Thuan, a student at Greenwich University (Vietnam), working during Tet (Lunar New Year) is not only about the attractive income but also about honing life skills. Currently studying Event Management, Thuan has participated in several short films and worked as a collaborator for competitions and festivals. In addition, Thuan maintains a job at a coffee shop in Binh Tan District. She handles barista duties, takes orders, and cleans. Each week, she works about 4-5 shifts, each lasting 4-6 hours. Having no plans to travel during Tet, Thuan signed up to work throughout the holiday. "With a salary three times higher than usual, I hope to have a decent amount of money to cover personal expenses, and save the rest," Thuan shared.
Nghi Thuan at her favorite workspace in the cafe.
However, Thuan still dedicated the second day of Tet (Lunar New Year) to reuniting with her extended family. For her, that was enough to make Tet complete. This was Thuan's first year working throughout Tet, and most of the staff at the restaurant working during these days were students. Therefore, Thuan and the young people easily connected, cared for, and supported each other. Thanks to her part-time job, Thuan improved her communication skills, learned to manage her emotions, and expanded her social relationships. For her, it was an effective way to learn from real life alongside her studies.
Nghi Thuan (in the blue shirt) during an event.
Dr. Nguyen Vinh Quang, a specialist in educational management and founder of the QEdu Career Guidance and Skills Organization, analyzed: "Young people who take advantage of working during holidays instead of going home to reunite with their families need to understand that this is not a negative thing. They should utilize technology to maintain contact with loved ones." Regular video calls and messages will help people feel close despite geographical distances. On the other hand, don't forget to seek out and create meaningful moments right at the workplace. Sharing meals and conversations with colleagues helps build relationships and brings enthusiasm.
According to Dr. Quang, young people need to pay attention to self-care. Even with busy work schedules, they must still eat, rest, and exercise properly. Working during Tet (Lunar New Year) helps cultivate discipline, responsibility, and independence, accumulate experience and financial resources, and build a foundation for the future. "All efforts today will yield sweet fruits tomorrow. Spending Tet away from home is not a loss, but an opportunity for young people to grow and become stronger. Maintain an optimistic spirit and be ready to embrace challenges," Dr. Nguyen Vinh Quang advised.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/ban-tre-trai-nghiem-cay-tet-196250118211950179.htm
