Holidays and simple choices

For Mr. Tran Du (originally from An Giang province, currently living and working in Binh Duong province), this year's holiday wasn't a time for returning home or family meals. Instead, it was a somber period. He suffers from complications of gout affecting multiple joints, varicose veins in the lower limbs, and osteoarthritis of the knee, making walking difficult. "I was walking normally, then suddenly illness struck, forcing me to take time off work. Being home alone is depressing. Colleagues call to check on me, and I call them back to joke around, but being home all the time is very stressful," he expressed. Childhood memories of his hometown still flood back whenever he feels empty: the image of the sweet tamarind tree by the ditch, the rows of sapodilla trees his grandmother planted, the times swimming in the river, gatherings with his friends… If his health improved, he planned to go back home and have a casual get-together with his friends…

Holidays are also a time when workers in the transportation industry are busier than ever. Nguyen Minh Trung (a driver for a bus company in An Giang) said: “During major holidays, passenger demand is very high. Driving through the night is normal.” On average, Trung gets one day off per week on a rotating basis, dedicating almost all of his time to driving. Despite the hard work, he doesn't feel disadvantaged.

As the major holiday approaches, the streets of Long Xuyen are bustling with people and vehicles, signaling that a busy period of travel and shopping is drawing near.

“That’s the nature of this job. My family understands, so they don’t blame me. Holiday pay is doubled, as compensation. I remember two years ago, during a holiday, a young woman forgot to bring money for her ticket. She stood at the bus station, feeling lost and unsure what to do. My fellow bus assistants and I chipped in to buy her a ticket back to Chau Doc City. She was very touched and called to thank us after the holiday. Helping someone makes me feel better,” he shared. If he had a full holiday, he would long to be home, have dinner with his wife and children, and get a good night’s sleep. He enjoys transporting people home for family reunions, but he himself rarely gets such opportunities. Perhaps that’s why he cherishes these peaceful moments even more!

While many streets are bustling with people and vehicles in the days leading up to the holidays, few pay attention to the sanitation workers who keep the city clean and tidy. Ms. Ngo Thi Hoang (An Giang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company) regularly starts her shift at 5 a.m. and finishes in the late afternoon. Even on holidays, the work remains unchanged, and is even more demanding. "During holidays, there's more trash than usual, so we have to come back and collect it many times a day. We work until 4:30 p.m. before we rest," she said. When asked if she was sad about not getting a break like everyone else, she just smiled: "I'm used to working. During holidays, the streets are crowded, there's more trash, so we have to work more thoroughly. I'm happy to see that I'm sweeping and cleaning so that people can walk around comfortably without having to step on trash."

“During holidays, we sell goods just like on regular days. There are more customers on holidays because people have more free time to shop. Everyone signs up for the job because they get triple pay. If I get a few days off, I want to go back to my hometown to visit my mother, have a home-cooked meal, and not have to go anywhere far,” shared Le Thi Tuyen (a sales employee at a supermarket chain in Long Xuyen City).

Each person's holiday takes on a different form. Some travel far, some choose to stay home, and others have no choice due to health conditions or the need to earn a living. But in these stories, we find simplicity, responsibility, and a quiet yet profound love for life. Because sometimes, a holiday isn't about luxury, but about a moment of rest after a day's work, a family meal, or a phone call to check in with loved ones. And for them, that's more than enough.

VIEN AN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/ky-nghi-le-va-nhung-lua-chon-binh-di-a419550.html