The unsung heroes who beautify the streets.

On the evening of the 28th of Tet (Lunar New Year), it was drizzling and the north wind was biting cold, but on the streets of Hoang Mai town, sanitation workers were still diligently working, oblivious to the crowds rushing home.

For over 10 years, Nguyen Thi Vinh, a worker at Hoang Mai Urban Environment Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, has been dedicated to the streets during Tet (Lunar New Year). Decorating her house and shopping for Tet supplies can only be done with the help of her family or in a few spare moments. Because of the nature of her job, which requires constant vigilance on the streets to ensure cleanliness, especially with most of her working hours at night, the hardship is multiplied many times over.

Every Tet holiday, from the 23rd day of the lunar month (when people worship the Kitchen God) until the 30th day of Tet, the amount of waste generated in the area is sometimes three or four times greater than in other days of the year. In the final days of the year, the amount of waste increases even more, and she and her colleagues often have to work until almost dawn, only returning home when the streets are clean and free of accumulated trash.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh shared: "In the days leading up to Tet, the workload increases, but we always encourage each other to keep trying. It's not only a way to make a living, but also a way to beautify life and society."

On another street corner, near Mai Hung market, after the Lunar New Year market on the last afternoon of the year, piles of garbage emanated, emitting a variety of odors. Five female sanitation workers diligently carried bags of trash onto a cart, picking up discarded items that people hadn't yet put in. Despite the chilly weather, sweat still dripped from behind their masks. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang, one of the longest-serving workers at the company, shared that a typical workday for the workers starts at 8 PM and lasts until the next morning. This job requires patience and hard work, and the income isn't high, so not everyone is willing to stay long-term. Most of the company's workers are over 30 years old; younger people are generally not interested in this type of work.

Sympathizing with and sharing the hardships of the workers, in addition to Tet bonuses, the leadership of Hoang Mai Urban Environment Investment and Development Joint Stock Company always pays attention to the lives and health of its employees during Tet.

Mr. Dau Van Ha, Director of Hoang Mai Urban Environment Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, said: "The company currently has 32 employees. During the 28th and 29th of Tet (Lunar New Year), the workload increased 3-4 times, and workers had to work 3 shifts continuously. Although the company still faces many difficulties, we still try to increase the workers' salaries by half a month, and also provide them with food and milk allowances to motivate them to work efficiently during these peak days."

Before, during, and after the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon, the company increased the number of specialized vehicles and deployed 100% of its workers to collect waste, ensuring that no waste accumulated or piled up on streets and in residential areas.

In addition, to promptly encourage sanitation workers, the leaders of Hoang Mai town and the town's organizations also visited and presented Tet gifts. These gifts, handed directly to the workers on a cold winter night, contributed to motivating and sharing, helping the workers feel warmer as Tet and the Spring season approached.

As the year draws to a close, walking along the wide, clean streets, one truly appreciates the hard work and silent contributions of the environmental workers to the community. This quiet work is highly commendable, contributing to making Hoang Mai town increasingly clean, beautiful, and civilized.