In these days leading up to the Tet festival, Da Nang’s airport, coach and railway stations have been crowded with people who are returning home to celebrate the festival with their families.  However, there are some poor people, including lottery ticket sellers, who have to stay in the city to continue earning a living over Tet in order to send money home to their families.

Fifty-five-year-old Nguyen Thi Loi from Quang Tri Province’s Vinh Linh District, is a typical example.  This single woman lost her parents and 9 brothers and sisters in the American war.  Leaving her home town at 18 years of age for a better life, the war-disabled woman went to northern and southern localities to sell anything to earn a living.  Since then, she has never returned to her home town to celebrate Tet.

Arriving in Da Nang in 2009, wheelchair-bound Ms Loi goes around the city selling lottery tickets.  Her eyes were full of tears when she said that she misses her home town very much, especially when she passes the railway station.  The train whistles remind her of her childhood and bring memories of her parents, brothers and sisters.

Ms Nguyen Thi Loi

A 40-year-old woman from Quang Nam Province’s Dien Ban District is another example.  She does not want her name in this story because she doesn’t want to make her children feel sad if they read about their mother.  Although her hometown is only about 60 km from Da Nang, she has not been back there to celebrate Tet with her 2 children since she left home 5 years ago.

When she was 30, her husband left her and the children due to the family’s poor living conditions.  As a result, she has to shoulder the burden of caring for her 2 school-aged children and elderly parents-in-law.  She said that by staying in Da Nang over Tet she will save ticket costs and earn more money from selling lottery tickets to cover the tuition fees of her children and the living expenses of her family.

Leaving home in Quang Nam Province’s Nong Son District for a better life about 50 years ago, 78-year-old Tran Thi Anh has, since then, never returned to her home town to celebrate Tet.  Her husband died when she was just 29 years old and she now has no relatives in her home town.

Arriving in Da Nang 3 years ago, Mrs Anh has earned a living by selling lottery tickets.  However, at present she is lying motionless after her left leg was broken in a traffic accident in July 2015 whilst she was walking along Nguyen Cong Tru selling tickets.  Fortunately, she is being cared for by her fellow countrywoman, 74-year-old Nguyen Thi Que, who does the same job as her.  Although the kind-hearted old lady usually returns home to celebrate the festival with her relatives, this year she will stay in the city over Tet to take care of her old friend.

All families in Da Nang are enjoying the bustling atmosphere of preparing for Tet but a number of poor people have to work very hard over Tet to earn their livings and support their families.