Contribute money, call for connections, and celebrate Tet on zero-cost buses

During the days filled with the atmosphere of Tet, Mr. Ho Ngoc Thanh (40 years old, residing in Hai Chau district, Da Nang ) is going back and forth preparing meaningful Tet buses for hundreds of poor workers.

Mr. Ho Ngoc Thanh gets information to register for bus tickets to go home for poor workers - Photo: DOAN NHAN

Hope for union of poor workers

Stopping her junk cart in front of the zero-dong Tet bus ticket collection point on Trieu Nu Vuong Street (Hai Chau District, Da Nang), Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (60 years old, from Thang Binh District, Quang Nam ) tearfully shared: "When I heard about the free bus tickets to go home for Tet, I came right away. People who make a living by collecting lottery tickets and junk in the boarding house have registered, so I feel very happy."

Ms. Phuong was moved when Mr. Thanh enthusiastically guided her, recorded information and advised her to take care of her health during the cold days at the end of the year. “This year, the scrap metal business is more difficult because the number of unemployed workers is increasing, and the amount of scrap metal collected is also decreasing. Difficulties are compounded by illness. We are very grateful for help like this,” Ms. Phuong expressed.

For many poor workers, buying bus tickets to go home during the days before Tet is always a big worry. Mrs. Truong Thi Thuy (70 years old, from Quang Ngai ) and her grandson Le Thanh Long Nhat (14 years old) also share that worry.

For many years, Ms. Thuy has returned to her hometown on the free Tet bus organized by Mr. Thanh. Ms. Thuy said: “I am sick and my family is in a difficult situation, so I had to take my grandchild to Da Nang to sell lottery tickets. My grandchild had only been selling lottery tickets for two months when he got sick and could no longer work. This year, he is no longer able to continue earning a living, so it is very difficult for us to prepare to return home for Tet. Luckily, thanks to Mr. Thanh and these free buses, we can return home to celebrate Tet.”

Ms. Thuy said that Mr. Thanh also appealed for help to help Nhat continue to go to school instead of following her to sell lottery tickets.

The journey of zero-cost bus trips starts from the heart

To have those charitable trips, Mr. Ho Ngoc Thanh spent many months before Tet calling for support and connecting kind-hearted hearts. In previous years, when he saw poor workers wishing to return home but not having the means, some of whom were so busy worrying that they could not even buy a ticket home, he and a group of close friends pooled money to rent a 16-seat car to take them home for Tet.

“At that time, there were only two buses, taking workers from Da Nang to Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh. But then, I realized that the demand from the people was very high. Many people kept asking about buses to other provinces, so I decided to do more,” Thanh shared.

With that passion, Mr. Thanh called for help from philanthropists, organizations and the community to organize zero-dong bus trips. And these trips have been going for seven years.

The bus not only helps poor workers return to their hometowns but also brings Tet gifts and small but emotional lucky money envelopes, helping them feel warmer during Tet holidays away from home.

This year, Mr. Thanh organized 12 trips of 16-seat and 45-seat buses from Da Nang to the provinces from Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai and all the way to Quang Binh. But this year is also the year that Mr. Thanh is worried about.

“Although the number of trips has increased, the economy is so difficult that I cannot call for more Tet gifts like every year. This year, I only have lucky money envelopes worth 100,000 VND and a pair of banh chung cakes for each passenger,” said Mr. Thanh.

The zero-dong Tet bus trip is also a moment filled with love and hope for a warm Tet for the poor. And Mr. Ho Ngoc Thanh still wants to continue his journey of spreading joy and Tet to the poor workers.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gop-tien-keu-goi-ket-noi-geo-tet-tren-nhung-chuyen-xe-0-dong-20250120101005428.htm