Fostering well-being and happiness among workers

The recent collective wedding ceremony for 12 worker couples from disadvantaged backgrounds in Dong Nai Province evoked deep emotions and joy, as it shared simple yet touching stories of married life, testimonies to beautiful love stories, and their journey of overcoming hardship to build and nurture lasting happiness.

The couples share their happiness as they take part in the 2025 Collective Wedding Ceremony. Photo: Nguyen Hoa

The collective wedding ceremony, organized by the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor, was held to offer a meaningful gift rich in humanitarian value, reflecting the Trade Union’s care and concern for both the material and spiritual well-being of workers across the province.

Double the happiness

The couples selected to participate in the 2025 Collective Wedding Ceremony are all union members and workers from disadvantaged backgrounds, currently employed at enterprises across the province. These are husbands and wives who have spent many years together, raising children side by side, yet never had the opportunity to hold a proper wedding. For the first time, dressed in radiant traditional wedding ao dai and hand in hand, as they entered the ceremonial hall to receive the blessings of colleagues, family members, and trade union representatives at all levels, many couples could not hold back their emotions.

Hoang Thi Thanh, a worker at Grand Gain Footwear Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Dong Xoai II Industrial Park, Dong Xoai Ward), and her husband, Bui Thanh Danh, were among the couples honored to participate in this meaningful collective wedding. Recalling their love story and the moment they stood together on stage to exchange wedding rings, a symbol of love and lasting commitment, Thanh could not hold back her tears of happiness. For her, the dream of a simple wedding in the presence of both sides of the family has finally come true.

Thanh shared that her father passed away early, leaving her mother to raise four children alone under difficult financial conditions. Her husband's family was in a similar situation, so the couple only registered their marriage and were unable to hold a formal celebration. After 16 years of living together, Thanh said her greatest happiness lies in having two well-behaved children and a loving, supportive husband. “We are truly joyful, deeply moved, and profoundly grateful to the Dong Nai Trade Union. Today’s happiness is something we will likely remember for the rest of our lives,” Thanh said.

Similarly, Tran Thi Luong and Tran Van Thang, both employees of Nagae Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Long Duc Industrial Park, Dong Nai Province), were also among the couples participating in this collective wedding ceremony. Thang shared that the couple had been together for six years but had never had a complete wedding. Over the years, he had always wished to make it up to his wife, but the constant struggle to make ends meet and long hours at the factory meant his promise remained unfulfilled until now.  

Speaking about the journey of building a home together with his wife, Thang recalled that when they registered their marriage and began living together, the couple only gathered their two families for a small, modest meal. Although they never had a grand wedding, they have stood by each other through many hardships until today, when they are finally able to walk hand in hand into the ceremonial hall and exchange wedding rings like so many other couples. Thang said he had never imagined that he and his wife would one day have such a wonderful, warm, and truly fulfilling wedding.

His wife, Tran Thi Luong, shared her emotions: "Even though this wedding came late, it holds profound meaning for me and the other worker couples." She expressed her deep gratitude, adding, “We were nervous yet incredibly delighted to see such a meticulously organized ceremony and to wear these vibrant traditional 'ao dai.' I never thought we would be part of such a meaningful program or receive such warm care and solidarity from the Trade Union.”

The trade union helps turn workers’ dreams into reality

The 2025 Dong Nai Provincial Collective Wedding Ceremony is one of the most practical and humane initiatives undertaken by the Dong Nai Trade Union for its members and workers across the province. The event reaffirms the Trade Union’s role in accompanying and supporting workers in their daily lives, especially those facing difficult circumstances. At the same time, it helps generate a broad ripple effect among union members and workers by promoting a civilized, cost-effective wedding model that honors and celebrates the nation’s traditional cultural values.

Notably, by participating in the collective wedding ceremony, workers received comprehensive support from the Trade Union, encompassing everything from wedding attire and makeup to venue arrangements, with every detail carefully and thoughtfully prepared. In addition, sponsoring organizations presented the couples with wedding rings and many valuable gifts to congratulate them on their happiness. More importantly, the ceremony will remain an unforgettable memory for these workers, as their long-cherished dream of a complete and meaningful wedding has finally come true.

Attending the collective wedding ceremony in Dong Nai, Do Hong Van, Deputy Head of the Labour Relations Department under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, expressed deep emotion upon witnessing the joy and complete happiness of the 12 worker couples. Hong Van shared that when people reach adulthood and marriageable age, everyone hopes for a full wedding ceremony and dreams of a happy, fulfilling married life filled with good wishes. However, not every couple has the means to organize a proper wedding, especially workers who face difficult circumstances.

Do Hong Van emphasized that the collective wedding ceremony carries profound spiritual value, reflecting the care, sharing, and support of the Trade Union for couples facing difficult circumstances. It also provides an opportunity for workers to more clearly feel the Union’s concern and companionship during essential milestones in their lives. “The program not only serves as a bridge to happiness for union members, but also acts as a source of encouragement, helping workers strengthen their trust, deepen their attachment, and find greater motivation to strive forward in life,” Do Hong Van noted.

 By Nguyen Hoa – Translated by Thu Cuc, Minho