Workers return to their hometowns on flights organised by Vietjet, HD SAISON and the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour. Photo courtesy of Vietjet

HCM CITY — As airfare during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday is much higher than the regular rate and tickets are not easy to come by due to the rise in demand, it is a precious gift for Lê Thị Tuyết Mai, a migrant worker in HCM City, to get a free ticket to fly back home to celebrate Tết with her relatives.

Mai, who works at Nissei Electric Co. Ltd. at Linh Trung No.1 Export Processing Zone, burst into tears as she received a flight ticket to return home to the central province of Bình Định on January 18 (December 27th on the Lunar Calendar).

“I have not returned home to celebrate Tết with my relatives over the last three years. This year I can enjoy a happy Tết with my family,” she said.

Mai is one of 69 migrant workers who were given free flight tickets for family reunions during Tết holiday as a reward for their hard work and contribution to their companies’ growth over the past year, said Vũ Thế Vân, president of HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority’s trade union.

They have not celebrated Tết with their relatives in their hometowns for at least two years, Vân said.

Warm family reunions during Tết season have also come for nearly 500 workers returning to their hometowns on flights organised by Vietjet, HD SAISON and the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour.

Two flights departing from HCM City to Vinh (Nghệ An Province) and Thanh Hóa Province on the evening of January 11 brought joy and happiness to disadvantaged workers who have not been able to celebrate Tết with families for many years.

Speaking about the special flights during the Tết holiday this year, Vice President of the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour, Phan Văn Anh, said, “the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labor appreciates the attention, support and companionship from Vietjet and HD SAISON to give disadvantaged workers the opportunity to return to their hometown to celebrate the 2023 Lunar New Year."

"During this time, many workers have faced difficulties in life because of the pandemic, however the support of enterprises including Vietjet and HD SAISON to ensure jobs and provide loans or free flights have become bright spots, the flames of hope that help workers have more strength to overcome difficulties, continue to work, contribute and bring good values for themselves, family and society,” Anh said.

"We hope to cooperate continually with Vietjet and HD SAISON in many meaningful programmes and activities like this in the future, bringing many practical benefits and improve life for employees," he said.

Vietjet Vice President Đỗ Xuân Quang said, “these journeys full of happy smiles are not only for workers but also for hundreds of disadvantaged families, who have relatives working far away and have not been reunited for many years."

“In the future, Vietjet will continue to bring more flights of love, not only flying across Việt Nam but also extending to destinations across Asia and over the world,” he said.

Not only do they receive free tickets to go to their hometowns to celebrate Tết, passengers on the special flight back home also received Tết gifts from Vietjet cabin crews.

Vietjet flights have brought disadvantaged workers across the country to their hometowns to reunite every Tết holiday, sharing love and joining hands with the community to support disadvantaged people in society. —VNS