'Dream Flight' brings thousands of disadvantaged workers home for Tet

'Chuyến bay ước mơ' đưa hàng ngàn người lao động khó khăn về quê ăn tết- Ảnh 1. — "Dream Flight - Reunion Journey 2024" is the next stage of the program for many years, helping to share the burden for workers to have a fuller life when Tet comes and spring comes.

Occasionally remembering, Mr. Hung would rub his hands together, his mouth exclaiming but still smiling. It had been 3 years since he had been able to go back to his hometown to visit his mother, and he was able to go back by plane. This was the first time Mr. Le Van Hung had been on a plane!

Vietnam Airlines flight VN218 carrying disadvantaged workers home for Tet departed from Ho Chi Minh City and landed at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) at 8:15 p.m. Mr. Le Van Hung was one of the passengers on this special flight.

'Chuyến bay ước mơ' đưa hàng ngàn người lao động khó khăn về quê ăn tết- Ảnh 2. — After many years away from home, the worker's family was happy to return home to visit their family.

Sitting with him were workers who had not been able to return home for Tet for a long time, and many had not returned home for many years because of the burden of making a living. Partly, they planned to stay for Tet to earn more income for their families, and partly because of their limited economic conditions, they could not afford to travel. The dream of returning home became distant.

'Chuyến bay ước mơ' đưa hàng ngàn người lao động khó khăn về quê ăn tết- Ảnh 3. — Quite early before the flight departed, many workers were present at Tan Son Nhat airport to prepare for the journey home.

'Chuyến bay ước mơ' đưa hàng ngàn người lao động khó khăn về quê ăn tết- Ảnh 4. — Ms. Nguyen Kim Loan (right), President of Binh Duong Provincial Labor Federation and member of the Presidium of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, attended and encouraged the workers.

After 8 years of working in a foreign land, Le Van Hung's family can only "pack up" and take a bus home to celebrate Tet. The bus journey from Binh Duong to Thanh Hoa lasts 2 days and 2 nights, the return trip is the same, so the time at home is only 3-4 days. Not to mention, the family has small children, taking a bus is very difficult, but "what can we do, we can only afford the bus ticket" - Mr. Hung said. Taking a plane home to celebrate Tet, for him, is truly "a dream" that he never even dared to dream of.

'Chuyến bay ước mơ' đưa hàng ngàn người lao động khó khăn về quê ăn tết- Ảnh 5. — Workers are enthusiastically supported by ground staff to complete procedures and prepare for the flight.

However, the pandemic came, the company reduced jobs, workers had their working hours and income cut, and even bus tickets became too expensive for Hung's family. It has been 3 years since the family was reunited. Every Tet holiday, Hung could only call his mother to encourage and comfort her. He felt heavy-hearted but he still had to comfort himself because he was afraid that if he was sad, his mother would be sadder.

"Over the past few years, I have heard about Vietnam Airlines' program to support workers returning home for Tet, but I have not registered because I thought it would be impossible. This year, the company's union and the labor federation supported me. I still cannot believe that I will be able to fly home for Tet. When I arrived at the airport, the airline also prepared a shuttle bus and gave gifts to everyone. It was very touching. On the flight, there were also couples and workers who were flying for the first time like me. Just looking at each other was enough to sympathize. I was so happy. My mother heard the news and has been at home since last night, probably not able to sleep. It was really touching," Le Van Hung shared, choking up.

'Chuyến bay ước mơ' đưa hàng ngàn người lao động khó khăn về quê ăn tết- Ảnh 6. — Adorable image of a baby enjoying a hot meal on a flight

"Dream Flight - Reunion Journey 2024" is the next stage of the program that has been going on for many years, helping to share the burden for workers to have a fuller life when Tet comes and spring comes. The funding source to sponsor 100% of the airfare for workers comes from Vietnam Airlines' charity auction, taking place on December 5, 2023. The auction items are typical products and services of Vietnam Airlines and its partners.

'Chuyến bay ước mơ' đưa hàng ngàn người lao động khó khăn về quê ăn tết- Ảnh 7. — All workers on the union flight are supported with 100% free airfare. Vietnam Airlines also arranges cars from Noi Bai airport to the transfer stations, to support workers to return to their hometowns in the localities quickly.

After Tet, Vietnam Airlines will continue to arrange flights departing from Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Van Don to Ho Chi Minh City to bring workers back to work and stabilize their lives.

Vietnam Airlines Deputy General Director, Mr. Dang Anh Tuan shared: "The applications we received were all from extremely difficult circumstances. There were workers who had not been home for many years. There were children who had not been able to return to their hometowns to see their grandparents and relatives since birth. Although this is not the first year Vietnam Airlines has organized flights to bring workers home, nor the first time we have read letters of sharing like this, but every year, every time we read the letter, knowing each situation, we are still very moved. This is the motivation for the airline to organize the annual Dream Flight - Reunion Journey program."

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