Industrial production bustling after Tet

From February 23, the seventh day of Lunar New Year (Tet), production activities at industrial parks across Dong Nai have become vibrant again as enterprises officially resumed operations after the nine-day Tet holiday. Hundreds of thousands of workers returned to factories on schedule, showing optimism and determination to fulfill early-year orders.

Workers resume production after the Tet holiday at Saitex International Dong Nai Co., Ltd. (Amata IP, Dong Nai province). Photo: Nguyen Hoa

With a spirited start, production lines are expected to reach high productivity in the first working days of the new year.

Getting down to work right after Tet

Reports from enterprises on the first working day indicate that 90-95% of workers were back at work. This is seen as a positive signal, creating favorable momentum for companies to quickly stabilize operations and meet order schedules right from the beginning of the new year.

At Pouchen Viet Nam Co., Ltd. in Bien Hoa ward, Dong Nai province, more than 95% of workers resumed work after the Tet break. Nguyen Tan Phap, Chairman of the company’s grassroots Trade Union, said employees quickly regained their working rhythm and were determined to achieve high productivity. “With the strong emulation spirit shown from the first working day, the company expects to meet its production and business targets in the first quarter of 2026,” he noted.

Similarly, at many other enterprises, company leaders and Trade Union officials were present early in the morning to welcome workers back at factory gates. At Pou Sung Viet Nam Co., Ltd. in An Vien commune, Dong Nai province, the reception was carefully organized, fostering a positive working atmosphere with New Year greetings and cordial handshakes between the company leaders and workers. The company also prepared cakes and drinks as small tokens of encouragement, helping boost morale on the first working day after Tet.

Le Nhat Truong, Chairman of the Trade Union of Pou Sung Viet Nam Co., Ltd., said that thanks to the company’s proactive efforts to grasp its workers’ situations before and after Tet, along with implementing practical welfare policies, the rate of employees returning to work on time was high. Welcoming workers at the gate was one way to motivate them to quickly get back to production lines and enhance productivity and quality in the new year.

Enterprises in textile, garment, leather and footwear and electronics industries have secured orders through the end of the first quarter of 2026 and even into the second quarter, providing favorable conditions for growth from the early year. Inside factories, machines hummed steadily while workers focused on their tasks. Nguyen Thi Lan, an employee at TKG Taekwang Vina JSC in Bien Hoa 2 IP, Tran Bien ward shared that she was eager to return to the factory after Tet, reunite with colleagues and resume the production rhythm. The festive atmosphere was further enlivened by Tet greetings and lucky money envelopes from the company leaders and Trade Union officials, strengthening employees’ motivation and attachment to their jobs.

Creating momentum for work in the new year

According to the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labour, around 95% of workers in the province returned to work on February 23, signaling a stable and positive start to the year. The high return rate was attributed to timely salary, bonus and welfare policies implemented by enterprises. During the Tet 2026, Tet bonuses ranged from a minimum of 4 million VND per person to as high as 840 million VND per person, with an average of 11.4 million VND.

With vibrant emulation movements taking shape from the beginning of the new year, enterprises and workers in Dong Nai are optimistic about a year of smooth production and business operations, achieving new milestones and making meaningful contributions to the province’s economic growth.

Alongside monetary bonuses, many enterprises coordinated with grassroots Trade Unions to organize year-end union meals, present Tet gifts and arrange festive activities. Shuttle buses were also provided to transport workers home for Tet and bring them back to work, thereby strengthening bonds and encouraging long-term commitment.

Deputy Director Ngo Ngoc Thuan of Dong Phu Cuong JSC in Thong Nhat commune said that to recognize employees’ contributions, the company offered an average Tet bonus of 14.5 million VND per person in 2026, up 20% compared to 2025. In addition, more than 2.3 billion VND was awarded to staff and workers who completed last year’s plan 16 days ahead of schedule.

On the company’s opening day, February 24 (the eighth day of Tet), workers who returned to work on time received a bonus of 500,000 VND each, while those working continuously for seven days, including the opening day, received 700,000 VND. “These policies encourage employees to return to work on schedule and create a joyful atmosphere in the early days of the new year,” Thuan said, adding that the company currently has abundant orders and is recruiting an additional 1,000 workers to expand production. New applicants at the beginning of the year also receive lucky money and other support.

To facilitate workers’ resumption of work after the Tet holiday, the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labour implemented a program providing bus fare support for Trade Union members and disadvantaged workers from other provinces. Upon returning to work, employees submit their tickets to the Trade Union to receive reimbursement equivalent to the regulated bus fare at the time of travel. This initiative helps ease financial burdens and enables workers to resume production with peace of mind.

According to Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labour Bui Thi Bich Thuy, the two-way free bus ticket support program for disadvantaged union members who have been unable to return home for Tet for years demonstrates the trade union’s care and companionship, while also helping prevent localized labor shortages after Tet  holiday.

By Nguyen Hoa – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha