Leaving the city for the countryside: why wander around aimlessly, making life so tiring?

Leaving Hanoi for Saigon, then returning to Hanoi, and finally leaving Hanoi again to return to my hometown after 20 years of living there, I realized one thing: wandering around aimlessly only makes life tiring.

A young person's moment of reflection as they observe the bustling nightlife on Ly Thai To Street (near Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi) - Photo by Luong Dinh Khoa

As Tuoi Tre Online reported, the story of young people leaving big cities to return to their hometowns to start a career is not new.

According to statistics from 2023, the rate of immigration to Ho Chi Minh City increased by only 0.67%, equivalent to about 65,000 people (compared to approximately 200,000-250,000 people per year previously).

Regarding current trends, a reader with the account "Nguoi Sai Gon" (Saigon People) shared their thoughts: "I hope Tuoi Tre newspaper will publish more humane and meaningful articles."

"Today's society needs to encourage people to build up their hometowns, stay close to their parents to show filial piety, and think more positively."

To offer another perspective, here is a sharing from reader Luong Dinh Khoa about the story of leaving the city and returning to the countryside.

Leaving Hanoi for Saigon and then returning to Hanoi.

In 2003, I came from Hung Yen, my hometown known for its longan fruit, to Hanoi as a freshman at the Academy of Journalism and Communication.

I loved and explored Hanoi with all the excitement I had long awaited.

My entire youth, filled with joys and sorrows, was spent here, to the point where I once thought I could never leave Hanoi.

I remember back in early 2014, after closing my tea shop, I went to Saigon to experience new opportunities, but I always missed Hanoi. My heart felt heavy, never at peace.

Then I decided to return to Hanoi – the place where I spent my vibrant youth, and where I felt a deep affection for every street and corner.

The 30-year-old decided to stay in Hanoi, with a new opportunity: taking charge of communications for a private school.

Before this, I never thought I would work in the education field. The first time I heard students and parents address me as "teacher," I was deeply moved and felt the need to live up to that title.

And I have dedicated my heart and soul to this work, accompanying students and connecting with parents on their journey to perfecting the knowledge and character of thousands of elementary school students each year…

Life is swept along in the daily grind of earning a living.

Despite being in a relatively suitable educational environment, the hectic pace of life, the struggle for daily necessities, and the daily grind of working eight hours a day, still makes me feel like I'm living the life of a "robot."

I was full of energy in the morning, but by the time I got back to my room, I was completely exhausted. I still managed to get up and cook a simple meal, even though I was alone.

The only time I have for myself is the evenings – I dedicate it to creativity, writing something, making videos to spread positivity online. But there are also times when I have a lot of work to do, and I still end up working on my computer until late at night.

Life goes on like this. Every 3-4 weeks, I drive home for a Saturday afternoon visit, then rush back to the city on Sunday afternoon, ready for another week of work.

Everything was so rushed that I didn't have time to truly relax and deeply appreciate the peaceful place that holds such a dear name: home.

There's no place like home.

In 2023, I decided to leave Hanoi and return to my hometown after 20 years. After a year of leaving the city and returning to my hometown, I feel incredibly peaceful and relaxed.

I suddenly realized that no matter how deep the bonds, at a certain point, separation becomes necessary for each person to learn new lessons, gain deeper self-awareness, and become more resilient in life.

Because life is constantly changing, no bond can last forever.

I suddenly realized that Hanoi, Saigon, or even my hometown are actually the same destinations.

Through the storms and struggles of life, people naturally feel the need to pause, let go of things, and find inner peace. And the greatest peace, which will never change, is being with family, under the roof of childhood, with mother and father.

Therefore, choosing to live and work in the city or return to the countryside is actually less important than each of us listening most clearly to the deepest echoes within ourselves, understanding our own abilities and life values.

Finding peace in my beloved home after 20 years of renting in the city, I felt a deep sense of melancholy upon hearing a line from Trinh Cong Son's song: " Why wander around aimlessly, making life so weary?"

A person leaving the city for the countryside may do so because of their abilities, but also because of a preference for a particular life value and a shift in mindset they are striving for.

When people have sufficient self-understanding—understanding themselves, their life values, and the beliefs they are pursuing—they will undoubtedly make the most suitable choices for their journey.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/roi-pho-ve-que-di-dau-loanh-quanh-cho-doi-moi-met-20241102112109692.htm