People who are afraid to go back to their hometown because they are not rich yet

15 years only 2 times back home

Mr. NVN from Ngoc Lien commune (Cam Giang) just returned to his hometown half a month ago. The reason for returning this time was to receive news that his mother was seriously ill. Although it was summer, Mr. N. returned alone, his 3 children and wife remained in the South.

15 years ago, when he was still a young man, Mr. N. followed his friends to Bu Gia Map (Binh Phuoc) to start a career as a carpenter. A few years later, Mr. N. married a local woman and had 3 children. The family's expenses increased day by day, his wife only stayed at home as a housewife, and the 10-year-old child also dropped out of school to help his father at the carpentry workshop. "If the whole family goes back, the plane ticket will cost about 20 million VND round trip, which is about 2 months of the family's income. But going back to my hometown, I can't go back empty-handed, I have to bring some gifts for relatives and neighbors, so honestly, I only go back to my hometown for urgent matters," Mr. N. said.

Like Mr. N., Mr. HVP in Hai Duong City "moved south" when the city was still a town. At first, Mr. P. worked as a busboy on the North-South route, then got married and settled in Ho Chi Minh City. After nearly 30 years, Mr. P. still lives in a rented house in a remote area. Despite working far away, Mr. P. rarely returns to his hometown. Mr. P. said: "Traveling is expensive, but it's also embarrassing for family and friends. When I was away from home, the town was still simple, but now that I'm back, it's developed strongly. My children and friends are all well-off, so honestly, I feel a bit self-conscious. There was a time when I thought about moving my whole family back to my hometown, but I didn't have a house, and I'm old, so I had to give up. Many people who go far away have a hard life, not just living in big cities makes them rich."

Mr. P. also said that 5-6 years ago, his nephew went to Korea to work at a hospital and then got married there. His grandparents strongly objected because they were afraid that his nephew would marry a foreigner and "lose him". However, the nephew had a stable job and a good income, so the whole family returned to his hometown several times a year. "Only when he had the means would he be brave enough to return to his hometown. People like us really have to think carefully every time we return to our hometown, we can't just book a flight back just because we feel like it," Mr. P. added.

Work everywhere

People who leave to work in other provinces and cities are "by default" considered well-off by many people. This notion is even more common for those who "go to the West", but in reality it is not so.

Mr. Tran Van Manh from Cam Giang came to Germany in 1997 and has settled down. He is running a restaurant and has a stable income. Mr. Manh said: "The income here must be brought back to Vietnam to be considered comfortable, but the cost of living in Germany is very high, so I have to stay up late and wake up early, and work hard to save a little. From 1997 until now, I have only been back to my hometown 3 times. Twice was when my parents passed away, once was to do some paperwork. No matter where you go, you have to work to make a living. In Europe, it is also difficult to make a living, not as comfortable as many people think. In fact, life in my hometown now is much better than abroad in many ways."

Also in Germany for decades, Mr. HTT from Thanh Ha only lives on unemployment benefits. Although he has been in Europe for many years, Mr. T. said that life is too difficult, "going forward is difficult, going back is difficult", he does not dare to return to his hometown. His wife in the countryside has been divorced for a long time, the children are grown up without their father by their side to help. Mr. T. said that many years ago he intended to return to Vietnam permanently but hesitated for a long time and could not decide, so he accepted to stay and see what happens. "Many times I wanted to help my children with some money for their education and to build a house, but I did not have any. When my son got married, I did not dare to return because the ticket price was up to thousands of USD, so I had to accept it. At least twice, my children in the countryside asked to borrow money to build a house because they thought I was well-off, but in reality, it was very difficult," said Mr. T.

According to Master Hoang Trung Thanh, Hanoi University of Culture, labor migration is completely normal, but it is true that people in the countryside consider people living in the city or people who have escaped as "well-off". That unintentionally puts pressure on them. Every time they return to their hometown, the cost of transportation and gifts is a problem. When they return from a business trip far away from home, they also have to bring some gifts for relatives, neighbors. This makes many people who go to work far away feel apprehensive and have an inferiority complex, so they are afraid to return to their hometown. "On the contrary, many people who are far away from home also put pressure on themselves. When they leave their hometown, they all set a goal of success before returning, but when business is not going well, they will have an inferiority complex. Therefore, everyone should consider people who go to work far away from home like the people around them every day, who are successful and have hardships, so that they will no longer be afraid to return to their hometown as they have been," said Master Hoang Trung Thanh.