Trade union buses bring workers closer to home

On the morning of February 14, the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor continued to organize the “Trade Union Bus Trip - Spring 2026” program, transporting nearly 1,000 members and disadvantaged workers across the province to their hometowns to celebrate Tet reunions with their families.

Bui Thi Bich Thuy, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor, and trade union officials give lucky money to workers’ children before departure. Photo: Courtesy of the trade union

The “Trade Union Bus Trip” is not only a means of transportation bringing workers home for Tet but also a journey carrying love and responsibility. Behind each ticket handed over lies the trade union's empathy and support for workers’ hardships after a long year of striving to make a living.

Touching stories of migrant workers

Le Thi Anh Tuyet (from Ha Tinh Province), a worker at TKG Taekwang Vina Joint Stock Company (Tran Bien Ward, Dong Nai Province), is among those in difficult circumstances who received a bus ticket from the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor to return home for a family reunion during Tet.

On the morning of the 27th day of the 12th lunar month, Tuyet and her young child arrived early at the gathering point with their luggage to board the “Trade Union Bus Trip”. After more than a decade of celebrating Tet away from home, this year’s spring is expected to be especially meaningful for her with a Tet spent in the warm embrace of family and loved ones.

Workers’ families gather before boarding buses to return home for Tet. Photo: N. Hoa

While waiting for departure, Tuyet emotionally shared, “My family has two young children. The older child lives with grandparents in their hometown, while the younger one stays with the parents in a small rented room. Due to financial difficulties, my husband decided to remain in Dong Nai to work through Tet for additional income, leaving only the mother and child to return home, with the support of the trade union. For more than a week, I have been counting down the days, eagerly waiting for the moment to board the bus and go home,” she said.

Similarly, Mai Thi Hue (from Thanh Hoa Province) woke up at 4 a.m. to prepare her belongings and arrange transportation to Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Zone to check in for the journey. Amid the chilly pre-Tet weather, the sight of the petite woman quietly standing beside bags filled with a year’s savings moved many onlookers. She said, “I hardly slept the previous night due to excitement, simply wishing for dawn to arrive quickly so I could begin my journey home.”

Workers excitedly return home on trade union buses on the morning of the 27th day of the 12th lunar month. Photo: N. Hoa

Having spent more than 10 years celebrating Tet away from home, Hue said she watched her co-workers hurry back to their hometowns with heavy hearts each year. She said emotionally that after a year of work, her income was only enough to cover her children’s schooling, daily expenses, and rent. So whenever Tet came, she had to stay in her rented room, calling home and listening to the laughter and conversations of relatives, with tears quietly falling. This year, receiving support in the form of a bus ticket to return home made her joy feel as if it burst forth. The trip not only takes her hundreds of kilometers back to Thanh Hoa, but also carries her deep longing for reunion after months of hard, exhausting work.

Although the journey home may stretch hundreds or thousands of kilometers, with the trade union's companionship, that distance seems shorter. It is a vivid demonstration of the spirit “Where there are workers, there is the trade union,” always accompanying, sharing, and protecting workers’ legitimate rights and interests. 

For many passengers on the departing buses, more than a decade has passed since they last celebrated Tet at home. After years of missing family reunions due to livelihood pressures, this Tet marks a long-awaited return. For migrant workers, Tet is not merely about a full meal but about the sacred moment of coming home, sitting beside parents in a familiar house, and hearing the warm laughter of family after a long and demanding year. This year, as their wishes come true, it will surely be a complete Tet season filled with love for the workers.

Sharing burdens, spreading love

According to the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor’s report, after four days of implementing the “Trade Union Bus Trip - Spring 2026” program, which began on February 11 (the 24th day of the 12th lunar month), a total of 72 buses have departed, transporting nearly 2,800 disadvantaged workers to central and northern provinces for Tet reunions. Each trip not only ensures safety and proper scheduling but also carries trust and warmth for workers.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor, gives lucky money to a worker’s child before departure. Photo: N. Hoa

Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor, Bui Thi Bich Thuy, said the “Trade Union Bus Trip - Spring 2026” program is an annual activity of the Dong Nai Trade Union, intended to share difficulties with union members and workers who, for many years, have not been able to return to their hometowns for Tet. As many workers face limited incomes and rising travel costs during Tet, the free bus tickets provided help ease financial burdens, giving them peace of mind to return to the embrace of their families and make up for the Tet seasons they previously missed.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Thang gives Tet lucky money to a worker’s child before departure. Photo: N. Hoa

At the gathering points, the sight of trade union officials attentively checking in on workers, giving Tet lucky money, and offering reminders to each person before departure created a warm, caring scene. Handshakes, New Year wishes, and teary, emotional looks underscored the program’s deep humanitarian value. As the buses rolled out on the late-year, early-morning hours, they not only shortened geographical distances but also brought a springtime to union members and workers, carrying faith and hope for the new year.

Trade union officials take photos with workers before departure at the gathering point in Trang Bom Commune. Photo: Courtesy of the trade union

Throughout the journey, trade union staff continue to accompany workers, closely monitoring the situation, providing timely assistance, and listening to their concerns and aspirations. This dedication highlights the trade union's representative and supportive role, ensuring that every journey home is not only safe and convenient but also filled with warmth and solidarity.

By Nguyen Hoa - Translated by Minh Hong, Minho