Flying with Vietnam Airlines: “I’m coming home this Tet”

“I’m coming home this Tet.” This simple, brief sentence from Ms. Thai Thi Suong, a worker at Ching Luh Company (Thuan Dao Industrial Park, Tay Ninh), was enough to bring her parents and family in Nghe An to tears of joy. After three long years of separation due to geographical distance and the burden of making a living, her dream of reunion has finally come true.

The "Difficult Equation" of a Child Living Far from Home

Leaving her hometown of Nghe An to start a life in the South in 2005, Ms. Thai Thi Suong has spent over 20 years away from home. The life of a migrant worker is naturally difficult, and it became even harder as her husband is a freelance laborer with unstable income. Meanwhile, their young child is in school, and both sets of parents are elderly and unable to work. “Since 2020, my biological father has been bedridden due to a stroke. Being so far away, I couldn't visit or care for him frequently,” Ms. Suong shared sadly.

The longing for her parents was always there, becoming even more painful every Tet season. “Tet is a time for families to gather, but I could only send greetings to my parents via texts or phone calls. Seeing my elderly parents quietly taking care of each other and welcoming New Year's Eve in solitude broke my heart,” she confided.

However, with a distance of 1,300 km and difficult living conditions, returning home for Tet was a difficult equation for her. “By bus, it takes over a day if everything goes smoothly; if there’s traffic, it takes two days. For women and children, traveling by bus for such long periods is exhausting. And by plane, the round-trip tickets for the whole family exceed the affordability of workers like me. So, I had no choice but to suppress my longing,” Ms. Suong said.

A Reunion Dream Comes True

The heartfelt sentiments and the hard work of Ms. Suong were understood and recognized by the Trade Union and her company. This year, through the “Union Flight” program, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and Vietnam Airlines presented her with a special gift: free air tickets for Ms. Suong and her son to return home for Tet.

“When I heard I was being given air tickets, I thought I was dreaming. Returning home is happiness, but it’s even more wonderful to fly with Vietnam Airlines. Furthermore, I’m not just flying alone; I’m going with my son. This year’s Tet will truly be a complete reunion for my family,” Ms. Suong shared excitedly.

It is estimated that the free flights will save her about 7 million VND. With this amount, she plans to buy medicine for her father, Tet gifts for her mother, and better preparations for both sides of the family. “The ticket home is valuable both materially and spiritually. It makes me feel shared with, supported, and respected. I am very grateful to the VGCL and Vietnam Airlines. After Tet, I will definitely return to work on time and strive to do my best,” she expressed.

Ms. Suong’s journey home is one of thousands of reunion stories that the VGCL and Vietnam Airlines are co-writing through these sentimental flights.

Soon, the cabins of Vietnam Airlines’ modern aircraft will be filled with laughter, excitement, and tears of happiness from workers across the country, including Ms. Thai Thi Suong. As the “Union Flight” takes off, Vietnam Airlines serves as more than just a transportation provider; it connects emotional bridges, bringing children far from home back to the warmth of their families and helping more homes enjoy a complete and cozy Tet reunion.